Affordable Counselling Network:
Voluntary Clinical Placement
2025 Applications
Thank you for your interest in joining us on placement.
We are not actively recruiting at this time, however if you have 50+ hours of prior counselling experience, and knowledge of working with complex trauma, please email us to make an enquiry with a summary of your experience to date and details of your availability.
We welcome counsellors from a range of training backgrounds and modalities, including integrative counsellors with a Transactional Analysis or Psychodynamic background, those with experience in DBT and IFS, PHD students, and other direct experience in working with trauma.
In addition to our placement programme, we also welcome qualified counsellors who are willing to offer their time to help support our service.
Due to the nature of low-cost counselling, many of our clients have a history of trauma and complex presentations which are not suitable for trainees without prior clinical experience.
What We Ask
Previous clinical experience with clients, ideally 50+ hours. Relevant work experience would be considered in a relevant setting such as occupational therapy, social work, peer support etc.
You have had at least 30 hours of personal therapy with a qualified therapist before you apply, and you commit to being in personal therapy while on clinical placement with us.
You have availability to see 3 clients per week (minimum).
We guarantee clients 6 months (26 weeks) of uninterrupted sessions with the same counsellor and expect all counsellors to honour this commitment to each new client they work with.
We ask that you commit to your placement with us for at least one year.
You are comfortable with technology and learning new systems, and you have access to Smart phone.
A stable internet connection with reliable speed is essential to host online counselling sessions via video conferencing.
You hold a current Professional Membership with a relevant Counselling Body (e.g. NCPS, BACP, UKCP).
You are an Accredited Member of your Professional Membership Organisation, OR you can provide a letter of Fitness to Practice from your training institution.
For insurance purposes, you must be based in the UK for the duration of your placement.
Avoid long breaks for clients (a maximum of 4 holiday instances may be taken each year, no longer than 2 weeks at a time, notified to clients and Admin at least 4 weeks in advance).
As our counselling sessions are open-ended, we require a minimum of 12 weeks notice in advance of finishing your placement to avoid a sudden endings for clients.
You hold a current and clear DBS Check (Disclosure and Barring Service).
Guidance for how to apply for this online is available: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/basic-dbs-checks-guidance
What We Offer
The Opportunity to make a difference.
Traditionally therapy is expensive and can be difficult to access. We hope to make counselling more accessible for those who would otherwise be unable to afford it.
As a Social Enterprise Company, we also reinvest our profits back into local communities.
Autonomy and Flexibility.
You choose the hours you work. All work is online and provided you can offer a confidential space without the risk of interruption or loud background noises, client work can be conducted from your home.
Varied Client Presentations.
We are honoured to have a diverse range of clients making use of our service. We take time to match you with clients that suit your level of experience and clinical interests.
A Community.
We appreciate that being a counsellor can sometimes be lonely. We invite our trainees to support and engage with each other during our training and social events and through our Whatsapp group.
Support.
We have a Designated Safeguarding Lead, along with trained counsellors and administrative staff available during working hours to support our therapists and clients.
Fortnightly Supervision.
We have a range of supervisors who offer fortnightly group supervision for our trainees at a reduced fee, which should be more affordable than standard one-to-one or group supervision fees.
By completing an application form below, you agree to the above terms and commitments to practice ethically and safely while on placement with the Affordable Counselling Network CIC.
If you are not able to meet these criteria, please do not apply to the Affordable Counselling Network at this time.
All data collected on the application form will be processed according to the General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018. Your personal information will be used solely for the purposes of this application and will be stored securely on our database.
