UPCA was founded in 1993 as the Universities Psychotherapy Association (UPA) with the object of furthering the development of psychotherapy training.
Since then the objectives and organisation of the association have evolved to encompass a greater focus on protecting the public in addition to its original aims.
UPCA is run by a governing body known as the Council. The objectives of UPCA are to:
- To protect the public by promoting safe and ethical psychotherapy and counselling practice amongst its members.
- To enhance and develop public confidence in members psychotherapy and counselling practice.
- To promote high standards of psychotherapeutic training and education.
- To provide a forum for the exploration of the common ground of psychotherapy and counselling.
- To develop the academic and research base of psychotherapy and counselling.
Council Members

Alistair Ross
CHAIR OF UPCA COUNCIL
Associate Professor Psychotherapy
Oxford University

Nancy Hakim Dowek
REPRESENTATIVE UTC
DProf Course Leader
NSPC
Foundation Course Leader
Existential Academy

Oktober Evennett
COUNCIL MEMBER
Co-Lead of the
Child & Adolescent
Psychotherapeutic Counselling Programme
University of Cambridge

Phil Goss
CHAIR OF ETHICS & COMPLAINTS
Director Counselling and Psychotherapy
University of Warwick

Faisal Mahmood
COUNCIL MEMBER
Head of Counselling and Psychotherapy
Birmingham Newman University

Dwight Turner
CHAIR OF TRAINING & STANDARDS
Counselling and Psychotherapy Psychodynamic Course
University of Brighton

Gary Winship
CHAIR OF RESEARCH
Associate Professor, Faculty of Social Sciences
University of Nottingham

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UPCA VACANCIES
COMING SOON

Committees
The following committees report to the UPCA Council: