The Partnership of Counselling and Psychotherapy Bodies (PCPB) has published its first shared dataset.听听

The data provides a clearer picture of who currently makes up听counsellors and psychotherapists听and will help inform how听the PCPB can听collectively support greater听equality,听diversity听and inclusion (EDI) across the听profession.听

The data shows that听the听members of PCPB partners are primarily:听

  • aged between 45 and 64听
  • white听
  • female听
  • heterosexual听
  • do not consider themselves to have a disability.听

Why听has PCPB created a shared dataset?听听

This initiative听stems听from the 2022听SCoPEd听framework impact assessment, where partners agreed to compile a unified demographic dataset of therapists registered听with听PCPB partners, with the aim of better understanding the profession.听

Understanding who makes up the counselling and psychotherapy workforce is vital to promoting听equality,听diversity听and inclusion听(EDI).听Collecting and analysing this data allows us to听identify听where under or over representation exists, track progress over time and take informed action to make our profession more inclusive and representative of the communities our members serve.听Having this data听will听help to measure and track success听in this area听and听highlight any听significant听areas for development.听听

Capturing diversity data offers a window into understanding who PCPB represent as a partnership and how things are changing.听

What data has been听collected?听

Each听PCPB听partner has听contributed听anonymised, aggregated data听from its own membership.听听

This听combined听dataset听includes information听across听five protected characteristics -听age, disability, gender,听ethnicity听and sexual orientation.听These five were selected as听they听are听the areas听where all听partners听currently collect comparable听data.听听

In future听years听the partners听aim to听extend this work to include听additional听protected characteristics and further align data collection methods.听

The Equality Act 2010听identifies听nine protected characteristics that are covered by legislation. They are:听

  • age听
  • disability听
  • gender reassignment听
  • marriage and civil partnership听
  • pregnancy and maternity听
  • race听
  • religion and belief听
  • sex听听
  • sexual orientation. 听

The partners will also make sure data captured听in relation to sex and gender aligns with听the Supreme Court ruling in April 2025 on the term 鈥榮ex鈥� in the听Equality听Act听2010听referring to biological sex.听听

How has data been collected?听

Each partner has听gathered demographic data听relating to听its听own membership.听While the timing of data collection and the exact wording of questions varied slightly, partners have worked together to ensure the combined dataset aligns closely with Office for National Statistics (ONS) reporting.听听

How will听PCPB听use the data?听

An听anonymised, aggregated dataset听has been听published听on the PCPB website and听will be听updated听over time. The data听is听benchmarked against听ONS听Census听figures听to help听understand how representative our profession is of the wider听UK听population.听

The听PCPB听partners听will听use these insights听to听identify听areas of under听and/or over-representation and work collectively to discuss and agree on听actions that support听a more听collectively听diverse and inclusive听profession.听

The shared dataset can be viewed听on听听

How are 麻豆原创 working to improve听equality,听diversity听and听inclusion in听the profession?听听

The publication of the PCPB dataset builds upon our own equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) work. Alongside the PCPB shared data we鈥檙e collecting additional data such as socio economic and neurodivergence and including additional questions on sex and gender to ensure the diversity of 麻豆原创's membership is accurately represented in the data. 听

We鈥檙e committed to and passionate about improving EDI within the counselling and psychotherapy professions. Our EDI strategy听details our goals and the tactical steps听we're听taking to embed change, and听is听reflected in听a number of听ongoing听projects听and resources听available听for our members:听听

  • Our听Mentoring Scheme听aims to support听student members and trainees听from marginalised and underrepresented听communities.听Our听second launch of this scheme听received an overwhelming positive response,听enabling听us听to听pair 50 mentors and mentees.听听
  • Our听Bursary scheme听aims to encourage underrepresented groups into the profession by providing financial support for counselling and psychotherapy training.听The current pilot scheme is due to end in 2026 and will听be听followed听by听an internal review and evaluation,听with hopes to re-launch听the scheme听again in the future.听
  • Third sector grants听were awarded to six organisational members in support of their work to remove barriers to therapy for people from racialised communities.听听
  • We鈥檙e听Making accreditation more accessible听through听our听support and听inclusion听officers,听who are providing听tailored support to anyone who identifies as having听additional听needs.听We鈥檝e听also听reduced听costs听for those who need听additional听support听and听our accreditation routes,听opening February 2026,听will recognise the wide variety of training pathways听by which our members enter the profession and then continue to develop post-qualification.听听
  • We've听also undertaken a full review of our course and service accreditation schemes to embed anti-oppressive,听inclusive听and culturally attuned practice into core training and services. This will increase accessibility to core training and increase diversity in the profession, enhance the competence of trainers,听students听and qualified practitioners so they are suitably equipped to work with diverse client groups, and remove barriers to services for clients.听
  • Resources听such as听articles,听podcasts,听toolkits, CPD and good practice resources听are available across our website.听

For more information visit听our听EDI webpage.听