Clinical audit: Setting professional standards for counselling services

This paper describes the rationale behind the need to audit counselling services from both a purchasers' and a providers' perspective. It describes what audit is, why it is necessary, how to choose an audit topic, and how to implement audit methods. The process of Professional Standard Setting is documented and the differences and similarities between research and audit are explained. It is contended that all counsellors, whether working privately or for the National Health Service, should implement Quality Assurance and Audit Methods to ensure that clients receive the highest standards of counselling.