Conclusion

Harris, M ORCID: 0000-0003-3124-4158 (2026) 'Conclusion.' In: Harris, M, ed. How to become a counsellor: a practical guide. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham, pp. 147-158. ISBN 9783032351401

Abstract

This final chapter draws together the central themes of the book and reflects on counselling as an evolving, ethically demanding and socially situated profession. It argues that counselling cannot be reduced to a fixed technique or professional identity but must be understood as a form of relational work, shaped by clinical supervision, reflection, lived experience, and accountability to clients and wider society. Revisiting the book’s core concerns, the chapter highlights the formation of the practitioner, the ethical and emotional demands of practice, and the importance of recognising how distress is shaped by institutional, economic, and cultural conditions as well as by individual experience. It also considers the future of the profession in a context of online therapy, digital tools, changing professional frameworks and renewed attention to inclusion, accessibility, and justice. This is particularly relevant as the new SCoPEd framework develops, and the introduction in November 2026 of a revised BACP Ethical Framework. Furthermore, a new Commission for the Future of Counselling and Psychotherapy is due to report in late 2026. An Appendix provides useful signposting to organisations, resources and further support.

Item Type:	Book Chapter or Section
Divisions:	School of Sciences
Related URLs:	https://link.springer.com/book/978303235...
Date Deposited:	02 Nov 2026 12:44
Last Modified:	02 Nov 2026 12:44
URN:	https://researchspace.bathspa.ac.uk/id/eprint/18033

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