Dear all,

 

First of all, let me express my gratitude for your presence here, which reflects your commitment to the advancement of our profession and the well-being of the people we serve.

I will not dwell on what counselling is and to whom this message is addressed, as I am confident that all of us here understand the importance and value of this profession. Instead, I wish to focus on the purposes and reasons that have brought together the various countries and practitioners to form a European community of counselling practitioners, organisations and associations.

With determination, we have decided to come together to dialogue and collaborate, recognising and celebrating the diversity in our approaches to the counselling profession in Europe. We understand that in diversity lies our richness, and we are committed to managing it constructively so that the whole becomes more than the sum of its parts.

Our aim is to promote cooperation, exchange of knowledge and experience, and professional development in the European context and beyond. We recognise that our common bonds know no national boundaries, which is why we seek to strengthen our collaboration on a pan-European level.

Counselling represents a new paradigm for understanding and managing effectively, healthily and ethically, conflicts both between individuals and in the diverse societies in which we live.

 

As an centre of many association, we are committed to providing networking opportunities, continuing education, events, publications and representation on issues relevant to the profession at a European level.

 

In addition, we aim to provide a platform for addressing common concerns, influencing policy and regulation, and promoting standards of training quality and professional ethics.

 

We are dedicated to create the multiple languages that facilitate our unions, and we are continually developing open ways to strengthen our alliances with national associations, individual professionals and organisations, building together a strong representation on issues relevant to the profession at European and pan-European level.

As long-standing members of the EAC, we maintain a rich tradition in European counselling. We preserve what unites and strengthens us, while adapting our statutes to better respond to today’s needs, under a democratic, inclusive and operational vision.

In conclusion, I wish to underline that we are defenders of the rights of counselling and counsellors in any professional context. Endorsed by both the UN and the World Health Organisation, we recognise the importance and effectiveness of our therapeutic methodology and, beyond these considerations, we are committed to working for the standardisation and regulation of the status of Counsellors.

Thank you once again for your attention and your commitment to this cause. Together, we can make counselling an even more powerful force for the well-being of our societies.

We look forward seeing you in this new home.
Thank you.