Frequently Asked Questions |
|
| What is the PPA? | Why do we need a graduate association and what does it provide? | What does it do? | What complaints do graduates now follow? | Who is eligible to join? | Is it necessary to join? | What does it cost? | How is it managed? | |
| What is the PPA?
This is the graduate association for the Psychosynthesis & Education Trust (PET) and is currently provided for the use of the graduates & students of the Psychosynthesis & Education Trust & graduates from other training institutes and counselling & psychotherapy organisations. The purpose of the PPA is to foster, develop and maintain excellence in the practice of counselling and psychotherapy by the promotion of professional standards, and through offering CPD programmes and providing a forum for support and networking. In addition its aim is to spread the word of Psychosynthesis out into the wider community. [back to top] What does it do?
Within the next few years, it is likely that UKCP will move to a system
of direct individual registration and a centralised complaints procedure,
in which case the function of the PPA may be reduced.
What complaints do graduates now follow? |
Why do we need a graduate association
and what does it provide?
Under UKCP regulations as they stand at the moment, each training organisation (the 'member organisation') is currently still responsible for the ongoing registration and re-accreditation of graduates. It is also responsible for designing and administering the ethical codes and complaints procedures that psychotherapy graduates adhere to. Hence it makes sense to have graduate associations oversee these processes in conjunction with the training organisations. Yet, it is also important that graduates, who are professionals in their own right, do not have to remain entirely beholden to the organisations who originally trained them, hence we have set up an association that is legally and administratively independent of PET. Furthermore, training organisations under UKCP regulation must make provision for the continued professional development of their graduates. This is best organised by and for the body of graduates themselves in conjunction with the administrative resources of the Trust. Members profit from substantial discounts on CPD and Public Programme events. The organisation also currently handles the complaints procedure. The PPA l provides a forum for graduates and students to come together professionally and socially, as well as stay in touch with the activities of the Trust. The PPA had a dedicated page on the main PET website but a new independent web site is now launched and it is hoped that this will be a tool fo networking and communication. It is hoped that through networking and access to a database of members. people will arrange and organize various events both professional and social in their local areas, helping to reduce the isolation felt by practitioners in private practice. Members can access an on-line register of counsellors and therapists, available to the public, for a small fee. As far as counselling-level graduates are concerned, the BACP requires
training organisations to make provision for continuing professional development
and BACP practitioners can also benefit from the complaints handling procedure
and the social and professional networking opportunities. For students
joining also provides an opportunity to take part in training, to network
and to begin to develop a professional identity. |
| Who is eligible to join?
Psychotherapy graduates of the Trust who are eligible for UKCP registration may be full members. Initial registration with UKCP will simultaneously entail membership of the PPA. Other categories of membership are available for counselling-level graduates, for students from PET, graduates from other training institutes and counselling & psychotherapy organizations. Associate membership is available for people interested in being involved with activities of the Psychosynthesis & Education Trust. [back to top] |
Is it necessary to join?
For a graduate to maintain ongoing registration with UKCP it is necessary to join, for the reasons explained above. In time, it is envisaged that graduates could move between associations (for instance a PET graduate could join Karuna's professional organisation), provided they satisfy the initial registration conditions of the respective destination member organisation. It is hoped that many people will want to join in order to have access to the facilities available from being a member of the PPA. [back to top] |
| What does it cost?
In addition to annual individual UKCP registration, graduates will pay £45 for membership. Some of this will go towards the additional administrative costs borne by the Trust in processing the new UKCP annual registration paperwork. Other categories of membership currently stand at £20 for counsellors and £10 for students and associate members. These prices are current for Jan 2008 but may go up in the future as the PPA expands. See joining page. [back to top] |
How is it managed?
The PPA has been set up as a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee. The Association employs Caroline Duggan as part time Graduate Development Officer, to develop and administer the association. More on the board. We are seeking currently to expand board membership and member involvement.
|