Letter: Ethical therapy

DR RAJ PERSAUD quite rightly brings the attention of your readers to the dangers inherent in the largely unregulated world of therapeutic treatments ("Trust me, I'm a shrink", Real Life, 14 March). However, Dr Persaud seems unaware that the professional training organisations are acutely aware of the need to ensure that their members adhere to the highest ethical standards.

The British Confederation of Psychotherapists publishes a register of members of constituent organisations. Registration by the BCP is only possible upon completion of long and detailed scrutiny of an applicant organisation's selection and training procedures, its constitutional structure and, most important, its code of ethics and complaints procedure.

KAREN STOBART

British Confederation of Psychotherapists, London NW2