Pastoral accompaniment at the end of life
Aim of training: The purpose of this training session is to equip and enable pastoral carers and ministers to accompany those within our churches and communities who are at the end of their life.
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ACC's unique place in the world of professional counselling/psychotherapy in the UK
ACC’s registered and accredited counsellors/psychotherapists are recognised within the professional counselling/psychotherapy world as having achieved the appropriate education, skill, and knowledge to be able to practice safely in all settings. Our levels of membership map to the Scope of Practice and Education (SCoPEd) competency framework developed by six Professional Standards Authority accredited bodies, including ACC, BACP, and UKCP which represent over 75,000 counsellors and psychotherapists. ACC members are employed in the same way as other professional counsellors/psychotherapists, for example, the NHS, schools and universities, prisons, employee assistance services and private counselling/psychotherapy services. ACC members’ unique value is ensuring that clients have choice in selecting a counsellor or psychotherapist who shares, values and respects religious faith and spirituality. Importantly, ACC members work with people of all faiths and none, without discrimination, and within a code of ethics and practice.
As an example of the value of providing a service that is open to all, delivered by counsellors who are Christian, NHS England and NHS Improvement commissioned ACC to provide a counselling service to their employees between 2021 and 2023.
accord
Accord is our members-only publication, created quarterly for professionals working in counselling and psychotherapy and linked professions, including pastoral care. It provides thought-provoking pieces about practice issues at the intersection of faith and spirituality, mental health and wellbeing. Whether you’re a practitioner, student or educator, the journal offers useful, up-to-date content to support your work and keep you connected to the wider professional community.
Accord is edited by Claire Musters who can be contacted by emailing accord@acc-uk.org. Claire welcomes your ideas for future articles, so please feel free to contact her at the address above with your suggestions.
Members can access all issues by using their login details and heading to E-Accord in the resources area. Non-members can read a selection of articles from accord using the link below.
Read articles from accord
Counselling training
Qualifying training
If you are hoping to qualify as a counsellor, or progress in the profession, we have a directory of courses run by organisations affiliated with ACC at all levels. Visit our Find a training course.
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) with ACC
Throughout the year we offer relevant, enriching and affordable CPD training to support your continuing professional development as a counsellor/psychotherapist. We invite trusted and experienced trainers to deliver high quality teaching in-person and online. If you are an ACC member, you will receive regular emails about any upcoming ACC training as well as training delivered by members or associates, and free members-only forums.
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Pastoral care workshops and courses
We are committed to promoting quality pastoral care through our training resources which enable pastoral carers to:
- BEGIN their pastoral care journey of coming alongside others
- DEVELOP their pastoral gifts & knowledge
- DEEPEN and equip those in pastoral ministry in more specialist areas
Each training is delivered by experienced trainers, who encourage the sharing of experience, embrace discussion, facilitate participants to develop their skills, underpinning all, with scripture and prayer. All workshops and courses are delivered via Zoom in a safe and respectful online community. A workbook is provided and a certificate of attendance is issued upon completion of training.
Find out moreUpcoming Events
Working with shame
This training will explore shame from a biopsychosocial perspective with reference to various shame models including Shame Containment Theory. It will look at the origins of shame in people’s lives and the growing impact it can have over time. It is well known that Adverse Childhood Experiences can have a detrimental impact on adult life, patterns of behaviour and relationships, and shame can play a part in that.
Setting up and running a pastoral team
This training session is aimed at potential and current pastoral team leaders and church leaders seeking practical information to assist them in setting up and running a pastoral team within a church context.
Latest News
Commission for the future of counselling and psychotherapy
ACC is proud to be part of the Partnership of Counselling and Psychotherapy Bodies (PCPB) and welcomes the launch of an independently chaired Commission for the Future of Counselling and Psychotherapy. The Commission will hold a series of four structured, thematic roundtable sessions, with the first one taking place on 16 October 2025. The sessions will bring together voices from across the sector, decision-makers and those with lived experience.
Concerns regarding unexpected payment taken by “theacc.co.uk” or “ai-acc.co.uk”
A further update on concerns regarding unexpected payment taken by “theacc.co.uk” or “ai-acc.co.uk”
NHS England publishes – Staying Safe from Suicide
ACC and the SCoPEd partnership welcome the publication of ‘Staying Safe from Suicide’ by NHS England.