- Bronwyn Sherry
Who is the ACHSP?
Updated: Aug 19, 2021
Photo by Sarah Dorweiler, Evano Community
A very valid question for anyone contemplating counselling, is who is this person associated with? What qualifies them to work in this space?
The Association of Supportive Counsellors and Holistic Practitioners (ASCHP) (ID 984) is a SAQA (South African Qualifications Authority) recognised professional body with listed designations on the National Qualifications Framework (Act 67 of 2008). The ASCHP provides membership to counsellors who work in the non-statutory domain, i.e. counsellors who are not psychologists. Specialist Wellness Counsellor is a member with an applicable postgraduate qualification on NQF level 8 and at least 100 hours of practical experience. Specialist Wellness Counsellors serve to enhance the total wellbeing of their clients by making use of a systems approach to counselling – working towards achieving wholeness within the integrative unity of body, mind and spirit.
Importantly, I am bound by a specific scope of practice. The Specialist Wellness Counsellor is competent to lend comprehensive and specialised counselling support towards the improvement of quality of life by assisting clients in resolving conflicts, improving relationships, sorting out general problems, coping with life’s challenges and finding inner peace. I am required to refer clients to medical and psychological professionals if I identify needs that require specialised interventions such as mood, personality and anxiety disorders and health-related problems that require medical attention.
I am also expected to fulfil my CPD (Continuous Professional Development) point requirements yearly, which means I am constantly learning and improving my skills.
The ASCHP is a relatively unknown board, but registration with them allows the regulation and supervision of counsellors, allowing us to reach the people that so desperately need help. Clients can be confident that by seeing a licensed ASCHP counsellor, they are receiving quality care, regulated by the board. The ASCHP has stepped into a gap and provided the regulation of counsellors in order to protect those seeking help.
If you would like to read more, please visit the ASCHP website or reach out to me.