We welcome the discussion about public protection, professional accountability and the importance of appropriate regulation within counselling and psychotherapy (Letters, 5 November). However, we feel it is important to highlight a distinction that may be helpful to readers.

Art psychotherapists are already a statutorily regulated profession in the UK, regulated by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). The HCPC regulates 15 health and care professions, including arts therapists (art psychotherapists, art therapists, drama therapists, music therapists) and the titles art therapist and art psychotherapist are legally protected. Practitioners must meet HCPC registration requirements, standards of proficiency, conduct and ethics, and continuing professional development requirements.

This means that art therapists occupy a different regulatory position from counsellors and psychotherapists, whose professional registration is currently voluntary.

We do recognise the importance of extending statutory protection across professions where it is currently absent, but would appreciate recognition that we, along with drama therapists and music therapists, are a statutory regulated profession.

Chief executive officer, British Association of Art Therapists