1. In these Statutes the following words have the meanings assigned to them, that is to say:

(i) the Association means the European Association of Counselling Psychology, mentioned in Section 2, Art. 1;

(ii) “Counselling Psychology” is the English spelling of “Counseling Psychology” which is used in American contexts ; “Counselling Psychology” highlights the link of “Counselling” and “Psychology” and thus the term “Counselling” will not be considered a synonym to “Counselling Psychology”

(iii) Council means the Full Members Council mentioned in Section 5, Art. 1;

(iv) Eligibility country means the country through which membership eligibility is met, mentioned in Section 4. Art. 2.a.

SECTION 2 - NAME, DOMICILE AND LANGUAGE

1. The Association is named 'European Association of Counselling Psychology'.

2. The Association has its domicile in Canterbury, United Kingdom.

3. The Association recognizes all European languages as equal means of communication. It is acknowledged that the mastery of the various languages is distributed across Europe, albeit differentially, thereby offering the possibility of fruitful communication across national boundaries. For practical reasons English is chosen as the main language that is used for communication in the official bodies of the Association, as well as for its publications. The bi-annual conference makes use of English and one or more other languages.

a. will organise (or co-organise with a national Counselling Psychology Association or Counselling Psychology Division/Section of a national Psychology association) conferences, including the European Conference of Counselling Psychology

b. will develop means for communication, including a European Journal of Counselling Psychology

c. will found Task Forces

d. will support the development of curricula and accreditation standards for Counselling Psychology, as appropriate

f. will advocate for the views and interests of its members in political and administrative contexts within Europe

g. will cooperate with relevant scientific and professional bodies in and outside psychology, at the national and international level

h. will contribute to efforts to facilitate the mobility of Counselling Psychologists within Europe

i. will support cooperative activities of its members

j. will employ other ways of promoting the interests of Counselling Psychology in Europe

k. will stimulate the development and supply of continued education on issues and methods of particular European concern

l. will cooperate with publishers in order to have representative European publications on Counselling Psychology

 SECTION 4 - MEMBERS

1. The Association has the following, mutually exclusive categories of members:

a. Full Members

b. Associate Members

c. Affiliate Members.

2. Eligible for election as Full Member is any applicant, provided that he/she

a. is citizen or long term resident of any European country or has completed accredited Counselling Psychology training in any European country

b. provides evidence to the Association’s appropriate officer (e.g. Registrar) that he/she is qualified in “Counselling Psychology” at doctoral level

c. abides by the codes of ethics and practice of the Eligibility Country

d. if the Eligibility Country has statutory registration of Psychologists in general and/or Counselling Psychologists in particular, that such requirements are fulfilled.

3. Eligible for election as Associate Member is any individual who

a. is citizen or long term resident of any European country or is enrolled in an accredited Counselling Psychology training in any European country

b. provides evidence the Association’s appropriate officer (e.g. Registrar) that he/she is currently enrolled in an accredited “Counselling Psychology” course

c. abides by the codes of ethics and practice of the Eligibility Country

d. if the Eligibility has statutory registration of Psychologists in post-graduate training that such requirements are fulfilled, as appropriate.

4. Affiliate membership is offered to applicants who do not meet the above criteria but are interested in supporting the development of Counselling Psychology across Europe.

5. Associate Members and Affiliate Members are prohibited from using their membership of their Association as a way of communicating that they are qualified in Counselling Psychology

6. Members are admitted by the Registrar. The admittance takes place in accordance the procedure described in the Rules.

7 Membership suspension and expulsion

a. To safeguard standards, if a member is under formal investigation for infringement of the national Code of Ethics or other offences leading to a sentence or measure such as loss of a national license/ State Registration, their membership of the European Association of Counselling Psychology will be suspended. 

b. In the case that a member is judged to have committed the violation either by a court of law or by a national committee on professional ethics, his or her membership of the European Association of Counselling Psychology will be terminated (of course, if an appeal were to be successful in reversing previous decisions of the court of law or the national committee, their membership of the Association would be reinstated).

c. As part of applying for membership of the European Association of Counselling Psychology, members accept the responsibility of informing its officers of any developments linked to the above so that appropriate action can be taken.

8  Membership terminates

a. upon written request of the member

b. upon decease of the member

c. by expulsion.

SECTION 5 – THE FULL MEMBERS COUNCIL

1. The highest authority within the Association is held by the Full Members Council.
The Council is presided over by the president.

2. The Council is composed of the Full Members.

3. The Council

a. decides on all issues of policy

b. establishes the Rules

c. changes the Statutes

d. elects the members of the Association’s officers

e. sets the rates of memberships fees and  other subscriptions.

4. Decision making.

a. Decisions on the statutes or in the case of dismissal of the President are taken by a 2/3 majority of votes of the Full Members

b. The Association’s officers can make decisions to enable the smooth running of the Association, provided that these are guided by the Full Member’s previous decisions.

c. All other decisions are taken by a simple majority of votes of the Full Members.

SECTION 6 - OFFICERS

1. The Association will have several officers, including the President and the President Elect, who will take all appropriate actions in order to achieve the objectives of the Association, as guided by the Council.

2. Presidents are elected for a term of four years (comprising two as President Elect and two as President).

3. In order to reflect the Pan-European scope of the Association, there shall be not more than one officer from a single country.

4. Presidents are elected by the Full Members.

5. Eligible for election is any Full Member of the Association who has been nominated as candidate by 10 Full Members.

SECTION 7 - TASK FORCES

1. In order to achieve the objectives of the Association may delegate tasks to Task Forces.

2. Task Forces receive their task assignment for a limited time maximum period being 2 year.

3. Task Forces shall maintain regular contact with the Association’s officers and no less than half-yearly.

SECTION 8 - OTHER PROVISIONS

1. The Statutes can be revised by vote of the Full Members, provided that the proposals are notified at least 45 days before such a vote takes place.

2. Foundation Transitory arrangements,

a. Foundation Transitory arrangements will be in force until  there are 1000 Foundation Full Members

b. No joining fees and no annual membership fees will be charged during the Foundation Transitory period (at the end of this period, the Council could review this)

c. Pavlo Kanellakis will be the representative of the Association during the Transitory period.