Loose suspension

We would like to draw attention to the recent suspension of recruitment to person-centred counselling courses at the University of Strathclyde. The counselling unit is world-leading in its field and has an international reputation for its research clinic and training programmes. The suspension of courses will potentially cause irreparable damage to this reputation, as well as to students and staff.

We urge Strathclyde to lift the freeze on the search for replacements after the recent loss of two members of staff in the counselling unit. We call for the continuation of postgraduate counsellor education during the period of proposed development of undergraduate provision.

We believe that the move to course suspension will cause such significant damage to the standing of Strathclyde in the field of person-centred therapy training that the loss of both academic and professional contributions to the psychological therapies will be permanent. We urge Strathclyde to enter a process of consultation with all stakeholders and to reconsider the drastic action of course suspension.

David Murphy, University of Nottingham
Stephen Joseph, University of Nottingham
Andrew Samuels, professor of analytical psychology, University of Essex; former chair, UK Council for Psychotherapy
Brian Thorne, emeritus professor of counselling, University of East Anglia
Mick Cooper, professor of counselling psychology, University of Roehampton
Windy Dryden, emeritus professor of psychotherapeutic studies, Goldsmiths, University of London
Alberto S. Segrera, emeritus professor, Universidad Iberoamericana, Mexico
Alberto Zucconi, president, Person Centered Approach Institute (IACP); president, Italian Psychotherapy Training Schools Association (CNSP); board director, Italian Federation of Psychotherapy Associations (FIAP); secretary general, Italian Psychotherapy Association (SIPSIc); secretary general, World University Consortium (WUC); treasurer and trustee, World Academy of Art and Science (WAAS)
Andy Rogers, head of counselling, Sparsholt and Andover colleges of further education
Anne Goldie, trainer, counselling certificate, Glasgow
Arthur C. Bohart; professor emeritus, California State University
Dominguez Hills, fellow of the American Psychological Association
Belinda Harris, University of Nottingham
Bernie Neville, honorary professor, Swinburne University of Technology, Australia
Catherine Hayes, counselling for depression coordinator, University of Nottingham
Clair Higgon, MA counselling course tutor, University of Edinburgh
Colin Feltham, emeritus professor of critical counselling studies, Sheffield Hallam University
Craig Hutchison, lecturer, University of Edinburgh
David N. Elkins, past president, Division 32, Society for Humanistic Psychology, American Psychological Association; fellow, APA; professor emeritus of psychology, Pepperdine University
Del Loewenthal, professor of psychotherapy and counselling, University of Roehampton
Douglas W. Bower
Brian Rodgers, senior lecturer, psychotherapy and counselling / tari whakaora hinengaro ā whakangā rahu, Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand
Caroline Kitcatt, centre director, The Norwich Centre; managing director, Norwich Centre
Gillian Proctor, assistant professor counselling, University of Nottingham
Irene Dudley-Swarbrick, senior lecturer, Faculty of Health and Social Care, Edge Hill University
Judy Moore, former director of the Centre for Counselling Studies, University of East Anglia
Liz Ballinger, MA counselling programme director, University of Manchester
Sue Pattison, School of Education, Communication and Language Sciences, University Of Newcastle upon Tyne
Fiona Ferry, course tutor, children and young people, Simpson House in association with Middlesex University
Gail Evans, director, The Academy: SPACE, Sheffield
Germain Lietaer, emeritus professor unit of clinical psychology, KU Leuven, Belgium
Godfrey T. Barrett-Lennard, adjunct professor in psychology and health professions, Murdoch University, Perth, Australia
Graham Westwell, senior lecturer in counselling and psychotherapy, Edge Hill University
Greet Vanaerschot, professor of psychotherapy, Universiteit Antwerpen, Belgium
Iguaraya Morales, chair of scientific committee, World Association for Person-Centered and Experiential Psychotherapies and Counselling
Isobel Urquhart, tutor and supervisor, Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge
Ivan Ellingham, formerly of University of Hertfordshire
Jeffrey H.D. Cornelius-White, professor of psychology, Missouri State University
Jo Hilton, course tutor, counselling and psychotherapy, University of Edinburgh
John Marsden, University Centre, Blackburn College
John McLeod, emeritus professor of counselling, Abertay University
Ladislav Timulak, director, doctorate in counselling psychology, Trinity College Dublin
Lisbeth Sommerbeck, psychologist, Danish Carl Rogers Forum, Denmark
Maggie Robson, programme director, Keele University
Manu Bazzano, primary tutor, Metanoia Institute, London; visiting lecturer, University of Roehampton
Marjorie Witty, professor and university fellow, Illinois School of Professional Psychology
Martin Wilks, counselling psychologist
Michael Behr, professor of psychotherapy and counselling, University of Education, Schwäbisch Gmünd, Stuttgart
Michael J. Lambert, professor of psychology, Susa Young Gates University
Neill P. Watson, research professor and professor emeritus of psychology, College of William and Mary
Nigel Williams, University of West of England
Patricia Joyce, counselling trainer, Aberdeen
Patrick Joyce, course tutor, children and young people courses, Simpson House, Edinburgh
Paul Wilkins, author and trainer in person-centred therapy, formerly Manchester Metropolitan University
Pete Sanders, author, retired therapist, supervisor and educator, PCCS Books
Peter Pearce, faculty head, Metanoia Institute
Akira Ikemi, Kansai University, Japan
Shoji Murayama. Toa University, Japan
Yukishige Nakata, Kansai University, Osaka, Japan
Liz Bondi, counselling and psychotherapy, University of Edinburgh
Rhonda Goldman, Illinois School of Professional Psychology, Argosy University, Schaumburg
Richard House, former senior lecturer in psychotherapy and counselling, University of Roehampton
Rose Cameron, course tutor, counselling and psychotherapy, University of Edinburgh
Salvador Moreno Lopez, Zapopan, Jal. Mexico
Sheila Haugh, associate lecturer, Prážská vysoká škola psychosociálních studií, Praha, Czech Republic
Sissy Lykou, senior lecturer and programme convener, MA dance movement psychotherapy, Edge Hill University
Stephen Goss, principal lecturer, DPsych (professional studies) programme, Metanoia Institute, Middlesex University

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