Complementary Therapy in the UK - Effective Regulation

I have been watching with considerable interest the intrigue surrounding Regulation of Complementary Therapies over recent years and thought it timely to put pen to paper on the issue.   

Now as a Practitioner, in my case Polarity Therapy (but quite honestly it really could be any therapy) I have been involved in teasing out how best to be regulated in a way that satisfies the authorities, whilst at the same time ensuring it is a light touch that I find doesn’t compromise my holistic sensibilities. 

For a regulator to be effective and credible it must satisfy all camps:

• be a bridge between the public and the therapist that focuses solely on issues of public safety. not venture into areas where it doesn’t need to, like therapeutic efficacy or accreditation of training courses
• be politically neutral
• provide a truly Voluntary and Self-Regulatory (VSR) process
• the therapies it regulates must be involved to ensure their systems are not in any way compromised by the process of regulation

What I am interested in is an organisation that focuses on what it is intended to be – a system of Voluntary, Self Regulation (VSR)

For me to sign up to an organisation that places me on a public register; that will enable any member of the public to check my credentials I must be happy that I am not compromised as a therapist.  I want assurances that the standards against which I operate and am being assessed:

• are achievable, sensible and focus solely on issues relating to a client’s safety when in my care; 
• define how issues of safety are inherent within my treatment plan offered as well as in my conduct; and  
• do not hinder me practising my therapy. 

These standards should not address issues of efficacy.  I believe effectiveness is for the therapist, the therapy and its Professional Associations (PA) to address.  This position I am glad to say is supported by Government. 

A VSR Regulator need not involve itself in aspects of training in a specific therapy except on specific issues of  public safety that can be identified and addressed. Again, there is no conflict here, it is simple and self-evident. 

Issues of public safety are separated from issues of therapeutic value so the PA can focus on representing the interests of the therapist and therapy and helps promote what makes its therapy “Exclusive”.

In addition to the points above, I want a regulator to operate at an appropriate level, avoiding unnecessary intrusion by acting firstly as an influencer and secondly an enforcer. 

Ideally, I would like to see a PA being recognised as taking responsibility for its members in its level of organisation, such that any VSR Regulator can confidently delegate many of the administrative tasks to a “trusted” PA. 

What would VSR mean to you and your PA?

• Your PA can introduce a streamlined process for providing a regulator with confirmation that your personal and professional details (proof of ID, qualifications, current insurance) are current and correct.
• Your PA can provide a regulator with a ‘group’ declaration, confirming their validity on your behalf; 
• Your PA demonstrates its commitment to VSR by demonstrating to the regulator its willingness to introduce and operate such a system.  
• In this way, your PA can play an integral part in VSR whilst ensuring the VSR Regulator remains at arm’s length and most importantly keeps your membership and administration fees to a minimum.

If a VSR Regulator could involve the PA of my therapy in the manner mentioned above I would be content that that VSR Regulator is achieving its remit through appropriate and relevant delegation.

I believe the British Complementary Therapies Council for Voluntary Self Regulation (BCTC) satisfies all of these criteria.

Don’t take my word for it, check it out at www.bctcvsr.org.uk

If you don’t want restrictive regulation imposed on your therapy, and are dedicated to keeping your therapy free from burgeoning bureaucracy then I recommend taking a closer look at the BCTC and forward this article to your PA executive for serious consideration. 

Your future and the future of your therapy are in your hands.

                                           Andrew Harry, UK Polarity Therapy Association