Return to practice
Return to practice
ACC wants to support qualified counsellors/psychotherapists to, where possible and appropriate, return to practice after a break. We recognise that it can seem daunting to return, especially after a long break.
ACC recognises the need to be flexible in how we support counsellors/psychotherapists who want to return to practice. Each person’s circumstance will be different, and this leads to the need for an individual case-by-case approach. This policy allows therapists to undertake a self-assessment of their readiness to return and what they need to do to prepare to return to seeing clients and/or supervisees, and for them to be guided in that by ACC in relation to standards, competence and public safety.
For a new applicant to the register who has not been practising for more than two years, or a current registrant returning from a practice break after two years or more, ACC will arrange a meeting to discuss a return to practice process that is shaped for each person.
Prior to and at this meeting, we will consider together:
- The nature of your break from practice and whether during the break, you remained involved in the profession, for example, as a trainer or academic, or in a related employment.
- To what extent were you able to engage in CPD activities and/or experience in related roles, including being part of another regulated profession.
- New developments within the profession or with practice standards since you went on a practice break.
We can then identify:
- Gaps in knowledge that need filling.
- Skills that need refreshing.
- Further training or other forms of CPD that need to complete to close these gaps and indicative timescales.
- Use of supervision during the preparation process, choice of supervisor and how many sessions might be needed in readiness for a return to practice.
- An appropriate setting for a return to practice, for example, in a local counselling service rather than in private practice.
- A phased return to practice for those who have taken a break due to health concerns.
- For new applicants to membership of ACC, which of these activities need to be completed before being accepted into the register.
- Whether a practice review will be required in 12 – 18 months of returning to practice.
We recommend that all applicants returning to practice contact registrar@acc-uk.org for advice before beginning the application process. For current ACC registrants returning to practice, please see ACC’s Practice Break Guidelines in the members’ area and contact registrar@acc-uk.org.