In 2000, the House of Lords (Science & Technology Committee) produced a report on the status of complementary therapies in the UK.
The Committee advised government that as long as each complementary therapy introduced Voluntary Self-Regulation (VSR), there would be no need for statutory regulation.
VSR Councils
In 2007, a consultation process funded by the government engaged membersip associations of 12 therapies to form a national public register of complementary therapists, regulated by the Complementary Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC).
At the same time, the BCMA, expressing concern for smaller, independent therapies that were excluded from taking part, proposed to its members that they establish a similarly robust VSR process for therapies with fewer practising therapists. The British Complementary Therapies Council (BCTC) was established and opened its national register in 2009.
Where Are We?
Since 2009, co-founders Sheila Hill (School for INNER SOUND) and Lyz Cooper (British Academy of Sound Therapy), together with Simon Heather and his colleagues (College of Sound Healing) have held ongoing discussions to agree a set of professional guidelines for sound therapy based on VSR principles.
Our aim – to establish a UK membership-based association for sound professionals – was finally realized in February 2011, incorporating as a non-profit organization.
One of our objectives, as the International Therapeutic Sound Association develops and membership increases, is to raise the professional profile of sound therapy worldwide by joining national registers. This will demonstrate to the public and prospective students alike, our commitment to abide by professional standards comparable to other complementary therapies.