‘THERAPY AND ME’

Meet the woman at the helm of the UKCP and discover why she believes it can awaken a new you

In this frank interview, Professor Sarah Niblock, CEO of the UK Council for Psychotherapy, shares her thoughts, feelings and experiences of therapy – both in a professional capacity and as someone who found healing and growth in the psychotherapeutic process

For many people, seeking psychotherapy is the hardest part. Those who reach out and set themselves on this journey often find the transformative nature of psychotherapy an awakening process in their lives, which is why so many UK Council for Psychotherapy members start off as clients.

In this special Q&A with Sarah Niblock, the chief executive of UKCP, we find out about her experience of psychotherapy and what advice she would give those wanting to take the potentially life-changing step of accessing psychotherapeutic support.

Do you think the perception of therapy is changing?

There is still a stigma, which we know from surveys with the public we have conducted during lockdown. There are numerous reasons for this, including the medicalisation of emotions, the lack of parity between mental and physical health in health funding and provision, along with the dread that having depression or anxiety on your health record could have a negative impact on your employability or credit score.

The word ‘counselling’ seems to have garnered some acceptability but ‘psychotherapy’ seems to conjure up images of severe mental illness – which isn’t true, as our articles and podcasts have sought to challenge.

What would you say to someone who is thinking about having psychotherapy for the first time?

I would say congratulations! Making the decision to have psychotherapy is a wonderful investment in your health and future, as well as that of your loved ones. Psychotherapy works where short-term treatments may not. A brief blast of, say, cognitive behavioural therapy or medication may help alleviate immediate symptoms and provide relief, but the underlying issue causing the symptoms needs to be identified and addressed.

That can take time, and psychotherapy tends to be a medium to longer term commitment. Its power is transformative and lasting, and the effects radiate to those around you. Forget the myths of psychotherapists as people in power, or that you have to be seriously unwell to warrant their services. You are in the driving seat in a trusted and unique relationship with another person who happens to be highly trained and capable of helping you access deep psychological issues and find the inner resources for living a more positive life. You wouldn’t trust an underqualified legal adviser with important affairs, so why would you choose an untrained therapist?

How should we go about finding a therapist who is right for us?

Psychotherapist is not a protected title in the UK, so it is vital to ensure you only work with practitioners who are on a professional register such as UKCP, which is accredited by the Professional Standards Authority. It will ensure that your therapist is bound by our code of practice, is highly trained, supervised and insured. Our UKCP ‘Find a therapist’ search engine allows you to search by postcode, as well as a range of other

filters, so you can find someone who suits your needs.

Many of our practitioners also offer remote therapy, so geography doesn’t have to be a limiting factor. Speak to a few and see who you feel most drawn towards. There are countless different types of psychotherapy, but it is the unique trust and rapport between you and the therapist that is the most powerful remedial tool. It’s fine to take your time. Therapists not only work with individuals, but couples, families and groups, covering children as well as adults.

What’s your personal experience of having psychotherapy?

I had therapy for two years when my son and daughter were babies. Having grown up in less than ideal circumstances, I was anxious to ensure that I could parent my children positively and not transmit the trauma I had experienced or repeat mistakes. That ended up being a side issue. The sessions delved into many emotional experiences from my youth that none of us has the emotional awareness or articulacy to process at a young age. It offered me the opportunity to properly process them with an adult’s perspective. Through this, I gained a sense of inner confidence and the acknowledgement that I did have the emotional resources to raise my children to be happy and healthy. What’s fascinating is that 20 years later, I still feel the positive effects.

You’ve been the chief executive of UKCP since 2017. What attracted you to this field, and what have been your and UKCP’S biggest achievements during your tenure?

I came from the university sector, where mental health issues are at crisis levels among staff and students. UKCP was looking for a particular blend of skills and experience spanning media, research and leadership, and I also have a lot of experience in delivering accredited training and managing regulations in universities.

We are now working collaboratively, not only with the counselling profession but also psychology and increasingly psychiatry to raise the profile of mental health with policymakers. Additionally, the legacy of the murder of George Floyd in the US and the protests against racial injustice have caused us to reflect deeply and make major changes towards ensuring psychotherapy is welcoming and accessible to all, regardless of background.

You see a great number of people complete their training to become UKCP-accredited therapists – what’s the greatest beneficial change you see in them during that journey?

We’ve grown our membership by a third in the time I have been with UKCP. Training as a psychotherapist is a brilliant foundation for life and a host of other careers. Imagine a world in which every sector took a human-centred approach?

For more on training, go to psychotherapy.org.uk For podcasts, go to psychotherapy.org.uk/podcasts