BAPCA was formed in 1989, sparked by the idea to create a movement for people who were interested in, or committed to the Person-Centred Approach. One person who helped from the beginning was Irene Fairhurst, now a life-time Honorary member of BAPCA.

Irene explained 'a few of us were talking one day about the need to create a national organisation, in the light of possible regulation of counselling and psychotherapy. We decided to call a meeting and invited around 200 people we knew in the country at that time who were interested in the Person-Centred Approach. Around 50 people attended. That was the start of BAPCA.  We were different from other organisations and wanted the way we organised BAPCA to be Person-Centred as well as our philosophy.'  

One aim in creating a national Person-Centred organisation was to ensure that policy makers would not overlook this approach. Irene clarified that 'we wanted to create a Person Centred forum and also create an organisation that could give input to regulators from a Person-Centred viewpoint.'  

BAPCA has been instrumental in developing the approach in the UK and elsewhere. The vibrancy of the organisation has turned it from a small stand-alone organisation, into one with international links and connections.

BAPCA is a member of the WAPCEPC (World Association for Person-Centred and Experiential Psychotherapy and Counseling), and NEAPCEPC (Network of the European Associations for Person-Centred and Experiential Psychotherapy and Counseling).

We have also negotiated beneficial arrangements for BAPCA members who wish to join Division 52, the Humanistic Section of APA (American Psychological Association).  BAPCA members can now benefit from a reduced membership fee for Division 52 in their first year of membership. 

Founder members remain actively involved. One of the founder members, Bernard Mooney is currently a member of the coordinating group. Another founder member, Tony Merry, played an active role in the advancement of BAPCA, being editor of the Person Centred Journal (now amalgamated into the Person-Centred Quarterly) until his death in 2004.

Although BAPCA has grown far beyond its modest beginnings, with experienced and life-long members joined by others who are new to the approach, the radical ideology and philosophy of respect and trust in its members has continued.