With psychotherapy becoming a wide alternative to many that dont want to resort to anti-depressants or other medication to resolve their issues it is of great importance that the different groups of practitioners are properly and carefully governed especially because they are dealing with people in some times a very fragile state.

It was during the 60's and 70's that the main associations started to form and now there are many different governing bodies through out the sector of psychotherapy.

Most of these associations when they were originally started focused mainly on counselling this was only until psychotherapy became more well known and practiced through out many different countries. Below are some different associations and formal groups that have formed in this sector over the years since psychotherapy has become a well known therapy;

- British Association of Psychotherapists This is an association formed in the 1951s when psychotherapy was still under going great developments. Oppose to governing the sector the association works to training people in the sector to an acceptable level before they start work in the area. it is one of the foremost recognised psychoanalytic groups in the UK and works not only on an adult level but works with children and adolescent psychiatrists in order to try and further study into the sector as a whole. This is because the more they can learn from the patients the more they can start to understand what triggers this kind of behaviour in all kinds of people no matter how old or young.

- British Psychological Society This group also works to help people gain an education in the subject but acts more as a governing body as they have main goals and responsibilities set out for them that include making people aware of the good affect psychology has on the public as a whole and then as well as the promotion of the subject they also have national responsibility for ensuring all their members that are practising the subject are trained to the highest possible level, both education wise and also experience.

- European Association of Psychotherapy This works on a larger scale as it focuses on a wider range of subjects and of course over a variety of countries with in Europe. Similar to the society above they act more as a governing body ensuring that all their members are qualified to work in the sector to a certain standard. You would be required to send in a document similar to a CV stating all your qualifications and experience as a psychotherapist to the EAP and from this they would ensure all the information was correct and if they were satisfied with your background and qualifications then they would be able to accept your application.