Constitution
MERCURY- The United Kingdom Association for Anthroposophic Counselling and Psychotherapy
(UKAACP) Constitution
1. Name
1.1. The name of the group is Mercury - UKAACP (The United Kingdom Association for Anthroposophic Counselling and Psychotherapy)
2. Status
2.1. Mercury- UKAACP (The United Kingdom Association for Anthroposophic Counselling and Psychotherapy) is an unincorporated association.
3. Aims of Mercury - UKAACP
3.1. The association aims to support continuing education, research and development for an anthroposophic understanding of the inter-relationship between somatic, psychological, spiritual and developmental issues.
3.2 The association aims to support learning, research and exchange between its members and other counselling/ psychotherapy and healthcare practitioners and researchers.
3.3. The association aims to further theory and ethical practice of psychotherapy and counselling based on anthroposphic perspectives and research.
3.4. In order to fulfill these aims the association may:
3.4.1. Provide a collegial context for counsellors and psychotherapists to explore and share experiences and resources, in particular in relation to how anthroposophic perspectives might inform and enrich their practice
3.4.2. Promote continuous professional development independently and in collaboration with IFAPA (the International Federation of Anthroposophic Psychotherapy Associations). See Appendix: 1
3.4.3. Arrange and provide educational events for members and/or non-members
relating to anthroposophic counselling and psychotherapy
3.4.4. Maintain co-operation with IFAPA (the International Federation of Anthroposophic Psychotherapy Associations) as the UK national association member. See Appendix: 1
3.4.5. Promote research into counselling, psychotherapy and psychological therapies from anthroposophic perspectives, on behalf of its members and the general public.
3.4.5. Promote research into counselling, psychotherapy and psychological therapies from anthroposophic perspectives.
3.4.6. Collect subscriptions and donations to the Association
3.4.7. Make the names of its members available to the general public in a way which explicitly states their qualifications and level of membership.
3.4.8. Informs and supports members wishing to undertake the process of the Medical Section at the Goetheanum to become a recognized anthroposophic psychotherapist.
(see Appendices 1 & 2)
3.4.9 Wishes to support future developments for paths recognized by the School of Spiritual Science to become a Counsellor or Psychotherapist working out of Anthroposophy
4. Context
4.1. Mercury is a member of the International Federation of Anthroposophic Psychotherapy Associations (IFAPA) and is the UK representative of the International Coordination of Anthroposophic Medicine (IKAM) of the Medical Section of the School of Spiritual Science at the Goetheanum, Dornach, Switzerland. See Appendix: 2
4.2 Mercury aims to work closely with the Council for Anthroposophic Health and Social Care (CAHSC), the voluntary regulator for the anthroposophic health and social care professions in the UK and Ireland, in addition to UKCP, BACP, BPC and leading organizations upholding recognition of standards, accreditation, regulation of ethical practice and support for research and development for counselling and psychotherapy.
5. Membership
5.1 Mercury aims to be an inclusive organization which recognizes the many streams of counselling and psychotherapy in the UK. The structure of the membership reflects this inclusivity in that, with the exception of Associate members, all members have equal rights in regard to voting and contributing to the Association. For a full description of our membership categories please see Appendix 3.
5.2 Mercury is not an accrediting body but aims to work in conjunction with independent, nationally recognized accrediting and regulatory bodies. All members are accountable to their accrediting body’s professional Code of Ethics and procedures for protecting the general public and for recognizing and maintaining fitness to practice in accordance with professional guidelines.
5.3 Counsellors/psychotherapists with qualifications from trainings without recognized validation who undertake individual routes and acquire full registered, accredited membership, such as offered by BACP (MBACP Registered Accredited), can then apply to become a Full Member of Mercury.
5.4 Only Full Members have voting rights. Associate Members are welcome to attend meetings and their views will be noted and taken in consideration.
5.5. Only Full Members are entitled to list their Mercury UKAACP membership in their professional literature, using full and accurate acronyms in relation to membership in any public advertising statements or publication.
5.6 The membership fee is agreed at the AGM each year.
6. Meetings
6.1. There will be two types of general meetings: Annual General Meetings and Extraordinary Meetings
6.2. At the AGM all paid up members may speak but only paid up Full Members of Mercury may vote.
6.2. At the AGM all paid up members may contribute their views for consideration. Only paid up Full Members of Mercury may vote.
6.3. The Annual General Meeting will be held no later than fifteen months after the previous Annual General Meeting. The location will be determined by the Carrying Group and written notice sent to members six weeks prior to the date of the meeting.
6.4. The offices of Chair, Treasurer, Secretary, and National and International IFAPA representative will be elected at the AGM. Nominations for these posts will be received and notified to members prior to the AGM.
6.5. The Chair will preside over the AGM and any EGM.
6.6. The quorum for AGMs and EGMs will be 5.
6.7. All decisions except for any amendment to the constitution will be decided by a simple majority on a show of hands.
6.8. Amendments to the constitution need to have 75% of votes cast.
6.9. Extraordinary General Meetings may be called by the Carrying Group at any time or by written request signed by not less than 10% of the association members entitled to vote.
6.10. Only voting members can be elected onto the Carrying Group. Non-voting members can be co-opted to the Carrying Group as necessary.
7. Carrying Group
7.1. In order to fulfill the Association’s aims and objectives the responsibilities and concerns of the Association will be carried by a group of members called the Carrying Group which has decision-making power and conducts any regular business that is not submitted to the Annual General Meeting.
7.2. The Carrying Group will be formed of not less than 3 and not more than 7 members of the Association. The Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, National and International IFAPA representative(s) will automatically have a place in the Carrying Group.
7.3. Only voting members of the Association will carry responsibility for decision-making and be entitled to vote.
7.4. Membership of the Carrying Group will be rotational with one third (or the nearest to one third) of the Group retiring at each AGM starting in 2015. Retiring members will be eligible for re-election.
7.5. The Carrying Group will have the power to co-opt members for casual vacancies for good and sufficient reasons.
7.6. A quorum of the Carrying Group shall be 25% of the total membership of the Carrying Group subject to minimum of 3.
7.7. With the exception of draft resolutions for alterations to the Constitution, which require 2/3 majority of those present and voting, all decisions will be decided by a majority vote.
7.8. The Carrying Group will keep written records of essential points, decisions and future actions agreed at Carrying Group meetings and circulate them among its members.
7.9. The Carrying Group will keep minutes of General Meetings.
7.10. The Carrying Group will meet regularly.
7.11. Members are encouraged to bring topics, issues or matters of concern to the Carrying Group.
8. Finance
8.1. The Association will hold a bank account in the name of UKAACP.
8.2. The Treasurer will be responsible to the Carrying Group for annual budget formulation and presentation of accounts on an annual basis to the AGM.
8.3. The Treasurer will keep accounts as necessary to show the true state of the Association’s financial affairs.
8.4. All monies received will be used in furtherance of the Association’s objectives.
8.5. Commencing in 2015 the Association’s financial year will run from 1st January.
9. Alteration to the Constitution
9.1. Any alteration to this Constitution must receive no less than three quarters of the votes cast at an Annual General Meeting by the paid association members. The quorum for the consideration of any proposed alteration to this Constitution will be 10% of the total potential voting membership subject to a minimum of 5. This number and percentage will be reviewed annually. A resolution in writing duly proposed and seconded proposing such alteration must be received by the Secretary not less than 21 clear days before the proposed date of the meeting. At least 14 clear days' notice in writing of such a meeting, together with a copy of the resolution or resolutions to be proposed, will be sent by the Secretary to each member of the Association.
10. Dissolving of the Association
10.1. The Association may be dissolved at an AGM or EGM in agreement with 75% of all voting members present. The assets must be used for purposes in accordance with the objectives of the Association.
Appendices
Appendix 1
Preamble from the International Federation of Anthroposophic Psychotherapy Associations (IFAPA) CONSTITUTION
1. Anthroposophic Psychotherapy is rooted in modern academic and professional knowledge of academically trained psychotherapists, as well as in spiritual science as developed by Rudolf Steiner concerning the human being in interrelated dimensions as a physical -, psychological -, spiritual -, and social individuality.
2. Anamnesis, diagnosis, treatment and healing methods reflect these dimensions in a differentiated way.
3. These objectives take into account acquired insights through both spiritual scientific as well as academic research, for which purpose the psychotherapeutic profession is embedded in a continuation of schooling path, both spiritual as academic
4. Moreover, they take into account
a. the physical, physiological, psychological and spiritual development of the child as belonging to both worlds of spirit and earth, in the context of its social embeddings
b. the development of man as an individual during the course of life,
c. the development of humanity as a whole,
d. the historical context of world events in the light of the time spirit.
5. As such Anthroposophic Psychotherapy is rooted professionally in the School for Spiritual Science of the Medical Section.
Membership involves the responsibility towards the nationally legalized, social context of the profession as psychotherapist, as well as the responsibility towards the Medical Section of the School for Spiritual Science. The anthroposophical knowledge of the human being in this sense is accompanying the national acknowledged standards of professionalism in psychotherapy and counselling.
Appendix 2
Diploma/certification is recognised by IFAPA and the Psychotherapy/ Medical Section Dornach meeting the criteria adopted in 2007 by IKAM (International Coordination Anthroposophical Medicine ) in Dornach, Switzerland, and confirmed by the international conference representing the Boards of the National Associations for Psychotherapists working on the basis of Anthroposophy (IFAPA) residing under the ZGB constitution and code (conformable to articles 60ff of the Swiss Civil Code ZGB) of the*International Federation of Anthroposophic Psychotherapy Associations*
This diploma/certification recognised by IFAPA and the Psychotherapy/ Medical Section Dornach is awarded after successful completion of their validated post graduate courses on anthroposophically based diagnostics, methodology, psychopathology and psychotherapy, based on anthroposophic understanding of the human being, including clinical case studies as well as the therapist’s schooling path.
Appendix 3
Mercury Membership Categories
Full Member
Associate Member
· Accredited, registered counsellors and psychotherapists
· Counselling psychologists and psychiatrists
· Counsellors and psychotherapists who have graduated from trainings accredited/validated by national validating bodies such as BACP, BPS, BPC, WPF, UKCP
· Honorary members
· Non-accredited counsellors and psychotherapists from trainings not validated /accredited by national validating bodies (such as BACP, BPS, BPC, WPF, UKCP) for counselling/psychotherapy training
· Students of counselling, psychotherapy and clinical psychology
Appendix 4
Privacy Policy
Any records and information held by Mercury us at the expressed consent of the individuals concerned. This includes all documentation, contact and membership information given for purposes of communication and also for validating AGM voting and Mercury membership as stipulated by the constitution.
Records and contact information are maintained either for the duration of membership or for as long as written permission is granted. This includes non-members who may give expressed permission to receive information from Mercury.
Records and contact information will be maintained in a confidential and secure manner by members of the Carrying Group or a member appointed by the Carrying Group.
Complaints Procedure
If you wish to make a complaint you can address your concern with member(s) of the Carrying Group in the first instance. A meeting can then be arranged which hopefully with resolve the concern you have. If this is not resolved to your satisfaction the name and address of a mediator for this work will be proposed.
(Appendix 4 amended at the AGM in 2019)