Online and phone therapy (OPT) competence framework, user guide and training curriculum
Raising training and practice standards in counselling and psychotherapy

The original framework (telephone and e-counselling competence framework) was first published in February 2016. Since then, this area of counselling has changed markedly as technology has evolved and new media have been developed. 

The COVID-19 pandemic and the requirement for many of our members to move to online or phone counselling reinforced the need for the framework and curriculum to be updated.

This updated online and phone therapy (OPT) competence framework and user guide for working with adults provides members with a more robust, up-to-date framework to support training and practice in OPT.

It acknowledges the advances in technology since the original publication and includes the competences to work via video platforms.

Competences

The competence framework identifies the knowledge, skills and abilities required by practitioners who wish to work with clients via OPT.

Curriculum

The training curriculum is aimed at training providers who wish to deliver training for OPT. It is designed to be flexible to meet the varied needs of different training providers, students and practitioners with a range of past OPT experience or previous OPT training.