TABLE OF CONTENT
The Association of Child Psychotherapists (ACP) has been working to improve the mental health of infants, children, young people and families since 1949. It regulates the training and practice standards of child and adolescent psychiatry in the UK. This blog attempts to give an insight into the role of ACP in providing mental health services to children and young people.
What is the Association of Child Psychotherapists?
Since 1949, ACP has continued to expand and grow. It has over 900 members now working abroad and in the UK. The ACP has proven to be vital for formal recognition of child psychotherapy, mainly within the NHS. With a formal board meeting that convenes six times every year, the ACP is ready to recognize child psychiatric disorders.
Who Can Get Treatment From ACP?
There is an age limit for the people who can get treated by members of the Association of Child Psychotherapists in the UK. It provides services to children and young people up to the age of 25 years.
According to NHS,
“Child and adolescent psychotherapists (CAPT) work with children and young people aged up to 25 and their families and carers to assess and treat a wide range of psychological problems.”
ACP Members who get to treat patients over 25 years are advised to:
- Get in touch with the ACP Registrar.
- Move the patient to an adult psychotherapist
What Are Core Functions of The ACP?
The core functions of ACP are:
Regulation and Accreditation
The ACP training works to make experts in the field of youth psychiatry. This includes training programs to set rules for medical experts.
Research, Education, and Awareness
The Association of Child Psychotherapists prides itself on its research focused on improving adolescent psychiatry training. The ACP also highlights the need to understand youth psychiatric problems.
Ethical Monitoring
Enforcing the code of conduct for all ACP members, it ensures all of them practise the set standards of care for patients.

What is The Role of the Association of Child Psychotherapists?
ACP’s main focus is improving child psychiatry. The primary role of the ACP is to regulate the practice of child and young people psychotherapy. ACP training programs enable child and adolescent psychotherapists to follow the set standards.
ACP’s Impact on the Field
The Association of Child Psychotherapists aims to provide special care to those in need. According to an article “Access to Child Psychotherapy in High- and Low/Middle-income Nations: A Cross-national Perspective and Potential Approaches“,
“It is not uncommon that working-class and rural families still experience self-stigma, family stigma, and community stigma around the use of mental health services and engagement in psychotherapy.”
Andres J. Pumariega, et al.
This is where ACP comes in. While it is common for other communities to feel even more scared to come forward, ACP strives to provide equal chances of cure to all through its members.
ACP’s Role in Providing Prompt Treatment
The Association of Child Psychotherapists in the UK ensures that all children, young people, and families get treatment on time. The NHS recently launched a Long-Term Plan (LTP). This plan aims to guide child and adolescent psychotherapists. It may also help address complex mental health issues.
Mental Health Challenges of the Youth
Now, it is more important than ever to provide timely psychotherapy for kids and teens. This is because mental health issues have deep roots in young people. The growing demand adds to the delay or even lack of mental health services.
Let’s have a quick look at the recent and current issues.
- NHS England’s report on Mental Health of Children and Young People in England 2023 gives us the most recent numbers. In 2023, 20.3% of children and young people of age 8 to 16 years had a mental disorder. 23.3% for aged 17–19 year olds, and 21.7% for ages 20 to 25 years olds.
- Rates of probable mental disorder were similar for boys and girls aged 8 to16 years. It was twice as high for young women aged 17 to 19 years and more than twice as high for young women aged 20 to 25 years.
- About 40% of children who have mental health problems suffer from multiple disorders.
- Many children and young people have mental health issues due to early trauma. These children usually have complex needs, which are often hard to get. Such patients require a cure that uses a diverse approach.
What Does The Association of Child Psychotherapists Help With?
ACP members may work with a wide range of children and young people who have different issues because of their expertise and skill set. This comprises:
- Aggression
- Some forms of anxiety, such as panic attacks and phobias
- Problems with behaviour
- Death
- Depression
- Self-destructive behaviour
- Suicidal ideation
- Relationship issues with peers, parents, or siblings
- Trauma
Discover more about the role of a child psychologist.

Criteria for ACP-Registered Psychotherapists
ACP-registered child and adolescent psychotherapists normally should have
- 5 years of postgraduate education
- Including a four-year, full-time clinical placement typically with an NHS CAMHS
ACP Strategy 2021–2030
ACP Strategy 2021 – 2030 is a ten year plan.It also ensures to cover all the mental health issues listed above.
The following are some key goals created by this strategy:
- Improving the mental health of young people through key steps.
- Knowing their mental health is equally important as their physical health.
- Giving public access to the details of ACP to make them aware of the mental health of children and young people
- Ensuring timely provision of mental health services to children and teens.
- Adding fair practices to welcome people from all races.
How to Find Best Child Psychotherapists Near Me?
Today, psychotherapy has a lot of hurdles. In such tough times, the Association of Child Psychotherapists works towards boosting the efficiency of child and adolescent psychotherapists. They hold the rule book. They use it to ensure that all infants, children, and young people get therapy.
Concise Medico has a team of top-rated therapists ready to support you in the UK. Our Child and Adolescent Psychotherapists follow all the ACP standards. They ensure quick, efficient, and high-quality care for young people. Consult a Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Expert Witness for assessments.
FAQs
The Association of Child Psychotherapists (ACP) has been working to improve the mental health of infants, children, young people and families since 1949. It regulates the training and practice standards of child and adolescent psychiatry in the UK. This blog attempts to give an insight into the role of ACP in providing mental health services to children and young people.
What is the Association of Child Psychotherapists?
Since 1949, ACP has continued to expand and grow. It has over 900 members now working abroad and in the UK. The ACP has proven to be vital for formal recognition of child psychotherapy, mainly within the NHS. With a formal board meeting that convenes six times every year, the ACP is ready to recognize child psychiatric disorders.
Who Can Get Treatment From ACP?
There is an age limit for the people who can get treated by members of the Association of Child Psychotherapists in the UK. It provides services to children and young people up to the age of 25 years.
According to NHS,
“Child and adolescent psychotherapists (CAPT) work with children and young people aged up to 25 and their families and carers to assess and treat a wide range of psychological problems.”
ACP Members who get to treat patients over 25 years are advised to:
- Get in touch with the ACP Registrar.
- Move the patient to an adult psychotherapist
What Are Core Functions of The ACP?
The core functions of ACP are:
Regulation and Accreditation
The ACP training works to make experts in the field of youth psychiatry. This includes training programs to set rules for medical experts.
Research, Education, and Awareness
The Association of Child Psychotherapists prides itself on its research focused on improving adolescent psychiatry training. The ACP also highlights the need to understand youth psychiatric problems.
Ethical Monitoring
Enforcing the code of conduct for all ACP members, it ensures all of them practise the set standards of care for patients.

What is The Role of the Association of Child Psychotherapists?
ACP’s main focus is improving child psychiatry. The primary role of the ACP is to regulate the practice of child and young people psychotherapy. ACP training programs enable child and adolescent psychotherapists to follow the set standards.
ACP’s Impact on the Field
The Association of Child Psychotherapists aims to provide special care to those in need. According to an article “Access to Child Psychotherapy in High- and Low/Middle-income Nations: A Cross-national Perspective and Potential Approaches“,
“It is not uncommon that working-class and rural families still experience self-stigma, family stigma, and community stigma around the use of mental health services and engagement in psychotherapy.”
Andres J. Pumariega, et al.
This is where ACP comes in. While it is common for other communities to feel even more scared to come forward, ACP strives to provide equal chances of cure to all through its members.
ACP’s Role in Providing Prompt Treatment
The Association of Child Psychotherapists in the UK ensures that all children, young people, and families get treatment on time. The NHS recently launched a Long-Term Plan (LTP). This plan aims to guide child and adolescent psychotherapists. It may also help address complex mental health issues.
Mental Health Challenges of the Youth
Now, it is more important than ever to provide timely psychotherapy for kids and teens. This is because mental health issues have deep roots in young people. The growing demand adds to the delay or even lack of mental health services.
Let’s have a quick look at the recent and current issues.
- NHS England’s report on Mental Health of Children and Young People in England 2023 gives us the most recent numbers. In 2023, 20.3% of children and young people of age 8 to 16 years had a mental disorder. 23.3% for aged 17–19 year olds, and 21.7% for ages 20 to 25 years olds.
- Rates of probable mental disorder were similar for boys and girls aged 8 to16 years. It was twice as high for young women aged 17 to 19 years and more than twice as high for young women aged 20 to 25 years.
- About 40% of children who have mental health problems suffer from multiple disorders.
- Many children and young people have mental health issues due to early trauma. These children usually have complex needs, which are often hard to get. Such patients require a cure that uses a diverse approach.
What Does The Association of Child Psychotherapists Help With?
ACP members may work with a wide range of children and young people who have different issues because of their expertise and skill set. This comprises:
- Aggression
- Some forms of anxiety, such as panic attacks and phobias
- Problems with behaviour
- Death
- Depression
- Self-destructive behaviour
- Suicidal ideation
- Relationship issues with peers, parents, or siblings
- Trauma
Discover more about the role of a child psychologist.

Criteria for ACP-Registered Psychotherapists
ACP-registered child and adolescent psychotherapists normally should have
- 5 years of postgraduate education
- Including a four-year, full-time clinical placement typically with an NHS CAMHS
ACP Strategy 2021–2030
ACP Strategy 2021 – 2030 is a ten year plan.It also ensures to cover all the mental health issues listed above.
The following are some key goals created by this strategy:
- Improving the mental health of young people through key steps.
- Knowing their mental health is equally important as their physical health.
- Giving public access to the details of ACP to make them aware of the mental health of children and young people
- Ensuring timely provision of mental health services to children and teens.
- Adding fair practices to welcome people from all races.
How to Find Best Child Psychotherapists Near Me?
Today, psychotherapy has a lot of hurdles. In such tough times, the Association of Child Psychotherapists works towards boosting the efficiency of child and adolescent psychotherapists. They hold the rule book. They use it to ensure that all infants, children, and young people get therapy.
Concise Medico has a team of top-rated therapists ready to support you in the UK. Our Child and Adolescent Psychotherapists follow all the ACP standards. They ensure quick, efficient, and high-quality care for young people. Consult a Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Expert Witness for assessments.