The Network of the European Associations for Person-Centred and Experiential Psychotherapy and Counselling (NEAPCEPC) aims to achieve and maintain a high standard of training and practice for person-centred and experiential (PCE) psychotherapists and counsellors.

Amongst others, its goal is to serve the public through promotion of the person-centred paradigm. It does this by supporting and encouraging scientific study, as well as the improvement of practice in this paradigm, especially in the field of psychotherapy and counselling; also by engaging in socio-political processes to ensure the continued contribution of the paradigm in health, social insurance, education, academic contexts etc. (see Statutes II.).

In order to accomplish this objective NEAPCEPC proposes the establishment of a European Certificate for Person-Centred and Experiential Psychotherapy and Counselling (hereafter, PCE Certificate) for both organizations and individuals. This will help ensure that PCE psychotherapists and counsellors are trained according to NEAPCEPC standards. The PCE Certificate will also aid mobility of PCE psychotherapists and counsellors within Europe.

This is in accordance with the Principles of NEAPCEPC, the World Association for Person-Centered and Experiential Psychotherapy and Counseling (WAPCEPC), the World Council for Psychotherapy (WCP), the 1990 Strasbourg Declaration on Psychotherapy, the World Health Organisation (WHO) of the United Nations and the non-discrimination act valid within the framework of the European Union.

• Trainers

• Psychotherapists and Counsellors

The NEAPCEPC Board proposes a committee (hereafter, Certificate Committee) of at least three persons from at least three different members of the General Assembly who are not members of the current Board. The General Assembly elects the members of the Certificate Committee for a period of two years. Re-election is possible.

Applications for PCE Certificates are made to the Certificate Committee.

• NEAPCEPC Member Organizations send an application stating their promise to adhere to the ‘Principles for Person-Centred and Experiential Training and Further Training’ together with their details and current training regulations to the Certificate Committee. All Member Organizations will automatically be included in the online register.

• Trainers send their Curriculum Vitae (with special reference to their client/person-centred and/or experiential psychotherapy or counselling qualifications and their training experience) to the Certificate Committee together with their personal details and with confirmation of their status as a trainer by their organization. Candidates who do not wish to be listed in the online register (see below), must include a written statement to that effect.

• Psychotherapists and counsellors send their details to the Certificate Committee together with confirmation of their membership by their organization.

Respective forms will be made available through the internet. All data for the internet must be submitted electronically.

Applicants transfer a single fee at the time of their application for the PCE Certificate to NEAPCEPC to meet the expenses. This fee is set by the General Assembly. The fee is not refundable.

[Suggestion for the time being: NEAPCEPC Member Organizations 150 EUR, trainers 100 EUR, psychotherapists & counsellors 50 EUR.]

After receipt of the fee the application will be processed by the Certificate Committee. If there are any open questions the applicant will be contacted for clarification. If the application is in order the PCE Certificate will be issued and sent to the applicant.

The PCE Certificate will be issued in English, signed by a representative of the NEAPCEPC Certificate Committee and, in the case of individual applicants, by the NEAPCEPC Member Organization. The certificate may be translated by the respective NEAPCEPC Member Organization in to the language(s) of the country within which it is being awarded. The certificate will note requirements for its continuing validity (see below). A PCE Certificate awarded to trainers covers both the qualification for training and practice as a psychotherapist and/or counsellor (if applicable).

Should an application be refused by the Certificate Committee the applicant has the right of one appeal to the Board.

• The PCE Certificate for NEAPCEPC Member Organizations remains valid as long as the organization remains a Member Organization of NEAPCEPC and adheres to the criteria for the award of the PCE Certificate.

• The PCE Certificate for trainers remains valid as long as the trainer adheres to the criteria for the award of the PCE Certificate, undertakes regular supervision and further training in theory development and practice, contributes to the ongoing development of the paradigm in theory and practice and is a member of a NEAPCEPC Member Organization.

• The PCE Certificate for psychotherapists/counsellors remains valid as long as the individual adheres to the criteria for the award of the PCE Certificate, undertakes regular supervision and further training, supports the paradigm and is a member of a NEAPCEPC Member Organization.

Applicant details are only checked at the time of application. NEAPCEPC cannot be held responsible for the conduct of PCE Certificate holders after the award of the certificate. If NEAPCEPC receives reliable information regarding misconduct of PCE Certificate holders the organizations or persons in question will be removed from the register (see below).

NEAPCEPC Member Organizations are obliged to update the Certificate Committee one month prior to a NEAPCEPC GA with any new versions of their training regulations.

Public register of PCE Certificate holders

A register of all PCE Certificate holders will be made available for the public through the Internet.

• This register lists the name, country, address, phone and fax numbers, email address and website address of the PCE Certificate holder.

• NEAPCEPC Member Organizations can add a profile of the organization of no more than 300 words to the register

• Trainers can add a personal profile of no more than 200 words to the register.

All PCE Certificate holders are obliged to advise the Certificate Committee of changes to their details.

All individual counsellor/psychotherapist PCE Certificate holders are entitled to be listed in the public register (see above) with a direct online link to their personal website.

All PCE Certificate holders are entitled to use ‘Holder of The European Certificate for Person-Centred and Experiential Psychotherapy and Counselling (PCE-Certificate)’ in their business correspondence. This contributes to the promotion and support of the PCE paradigm.

All PCE-Certificate holders are entitled to participate in any symposia or conferences organized by NEAPCEPC at a reduced rate.

When moving within Europe PCE Certificate holders can easily present their client/person-centred and experiential credentials as a member of a NEAPCEPC Member Organization.