Professional Legitimacy enhanced by a scope of practice

Despite being a profession with a long history counselling in Aotearoa New Zealand continues to struggle for professional legitimacy. In this current economic environment social services are perceived to be at the bottom of the medical hierarchy, and hence subject to radical cuts in funding resulting in understaffing and long waiting lists. In contrast to these economic pressures, the demand for counsellors continues to grow in communities with increasingly complex mental health issues. This article advocates for the New Zealand Association of Counsellors (NZAC) to develop a scope of practice, along similar lines to the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), that would give counselling in Aotearoa the professional legitimacy it deserves to raise the profile of the profession. A scope of practice would give government organisations and the public confidence that counsellors have the education, skills and professional expertise to sit alongside our psychologist colleagues and other health and helping professionals to provide a specialised and essential service.