Psychotherapy Section

Strategic Goals of the BPS

1. Promote the advancement in psychological knowledge and practice
2. Develop the psychological knowledge and professional skills of our members
3. Maximise the impact of psychology on public policy
4. Increase the visibility of psychology and public awareness of its contribution to society
5. Attract new members and broaden our membership
6. Develop our organisation to support change

Within the context of psychotherapy, these translate into the following aims (Strategic Goals) of the Psychotherapy Section:

1. Promote the advancement in psychological knowledge and practice of psychotherapy
2. Develop the psychological knowledge and professional skills of our members within the context of psychotherapy
3. Maximise the impact of psychotherapy on public policy
4. Increase the visibility of psychotherapy and public awareness of its contribution to society
5. Attract new members and broaden our membership
6. Develop our Section to support change
7. Promote equality and diversity in psychotherapy (Strategic Goal 7 is not in the BPS Strategic Plan)

The aims of the Psychotherapy Section are:

• To further psychological understanding of the personal, social and cultural issues; (Strategic Goal 1)
• To promote scientific investigation of psychotherapy which employs research paradigms appropriate to its subject matter; (Strategic Goal 1)
• To provide a forum for the discussion and exchange of ideas in relation to the above which avoids aligning itself with any school within the broad discipline of psychotherapy; (Strategic Goal 7)
• To work closely with other Sections, Divisions and Special Groups of the society in pursuit of these aims, and where appropriate, to collaborate with external agencies and organisations. (Strategic Goal 6)

The objectives of the Section are:

• To disseminate information about such new ideas and approaches by means of a Review, e-newsletter and Facebook page; (Strategic Goal 1)
• To explore and communicate issues of importance for the discipline of psychology which are especially highlighted within psychotherapy and which challenge more simplistic notions of science; (Strategic Goal 1)
• To make available information about psychotherapy within the society and to relevant external bodies; (Strategic Goal 1)
• To actively reach out to marginalised and diverse groups and engage with a collaborative approach across people and communities to enhance the input of as many voices as possible; (Strategic Goal 7)
• To organise a varied and accessible annual programme of events, which promotes the discussion of new ideas and approaches within psychotherapy and are relevant to the Section's aims (Strategic Goal 1)
• To increase the numbers and breadth of our membership base; (Strategic Goal 5)
• To represent interests in psychotherapy and the psychology of psychotherapy on the Society's Council and Scientific Affairs Board; (Strategic Goal 6)
• To work towards becoming a Special Interest Group. (Strategic Goal 6)