CounsellingPlacements.co.uk is a free, independent directory of 585 UK counselling and psychotherapy placement providers for trainee counsellors and student psychotherapists. Search by region, city, modality, and client group to find the right placement for your training course.
Directory updated weekly: we review listings regularly, but always confirm current availability and requirements directly with each provider.
Providers include NHS Talking Therapies services, major charities (Mind, Cruse, Relate, NSPCC, Hestia), university counselling clinics, LGBTQ+ organisations, specialist domestic abuse services, and community mental health centres across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
A counselling placement is supervised practical experience in which a trainee may work with clients as part of an approved training route. The required setting, client work and supervision are determined by the course and relevant standards.
Search the CounsellingPlacements.co.uk directory by region, city, modality, and client group to find placement providers near you. Once you have a shortlist, contact each organisation directly — most require a completed application form, a placement agreement from your training course, and a copy of your DBS certificate.
There is no single answer for every BACP-related training or accreditation route. Requirements can change and depend on the course and pathway. Confirm the current rules with your training provider and BACP before accepting a placement.
Most counselling placements in the UK are unpaid and free to the trainee — you give your time in exchange for supervised client contact hours. However, you will need to fund your own DBS check (around £18–£44), professional indemnity insurance (around £50–£100 per year), and ongoing supervision costs.
Allow 1–3 months to find and start a placement. In competitive areas like London, it can take longer. Start your search at least 3 months before you need to begin accumulating hours. Apply to several organisations simultaneously and follow up proactively — many placements are filled before they are formally advertised.