Counselling psychologist job profile | Prospects.ac.uk

As a counselling psychologist you'll use psychological theory and research in therapeutic work to help clients with a range of difficult life issues and/or ... OnthisprofileResponsibilitiesSalaryQualificationsSkillsWorkexperienceCareerprospectsRelatedjobsandcoursesOnthisprofileResponsibilitiesSalaryQualificationsSkillsWorkexperienceCareerprospectsRelatedjobsandcoursesViewallsocialcarevacanciesAddtofavouritesJobprofileCounsellingpsychologistOnthisprofileResponsibilitiesSalaryQualificationsSkillsWorkexperienceCareerprospectsRelatedjobsandcoursesViewallsocialcarevacanciesAddtofavouritesSeehowwellyoumatchthisjobprofileandover400others.TryCareerPlannerCounsellingpsychologistsworkwithclientstohelpthemimprovetheirmentalhealthandemotionalwellbeingAsacounsellingpsychologistyou'llusepsychologicaltheoryandresearchintherapeuticworktohelpclientswitharangeofdifficultlifeissuesand/ormentalhealthconditions.Clientscanincludechildren,adults,families,couplesandgroups.Lifeissuesthatpeoplestruggletodealwithmayinclude:bereavementdomesticviolencerelationshipdifficultiessexualabusetraumas.Mentalhealthconditionsinclude:anxietydepressioneatingdisorderspost-traumaticstressdisorder(PTSD)psychosis.You'llworkcollaborativelywiththeclientinaholisticandinsightfulwaytoenablethemtoconsiderchangeandtakecontroloftheirrecovery.Practisingasacounsellingpsychologistrequiresahighleveloftrainingandalsoself-awareness,whichisachievedthroughpersonaltherapy.Counsellingpsychologistsarebasedin:consultancyeducationandresearchhealthandcareserviceshospitalsprisonsandprobationservicesprivatepractice.ResponsibilitiesAsacounsellingpsychologist,you'llneedto:undertakeassessments,includingassessmentofmentalhealthneeds,riskassessmentandpsychometrictestingestablishacollaborativeworkingrelationshipwiththeclientbasedontrustandrespectformulateapsychologicalexplanationoftheclient'sissues,exploringtheirexperiencesandhowtheythink,howtheybehaveandrelatetoothers,andhowtheycarryouttheireverydaylivesplanandimplementspecialistpsychologicaltreatmentstohelpclientstounderstandtheirfeelings/behaviourempowerclientstoaddresstheirissues,takecontrolofthemandmakepositivechangestotheirbehaviourmonitorandevaluatetheoutcomeoftreatmentscollaboratewith-andprovideadviceto-colleagues,thebroadermultidisciplinaryteamandreferrersintheplanningoftreatmentandprovisionofservicestomeettheclient'sneedscommunicatecomplex,technicaland/orclinicallysensitiveinformationclearly,bothorallyandinwriting,toclients,theirfamiliesandcarerscontributetoresearch,serviceevaluationandaudit,eitherindividuallyoraspartofateamreceiveregularclinicalandprofessionalsupervisionfromamoreseniorpsychologistcarryoutcontinuingpersonalandprofessionaldevelopmenttokeepyourknowledgeandskillsuptodate.Withexperience,youmayalsoneedto:trainandmentortraineepsychologistsprovideclinicalandprofessionalsupervisionfortraineesandmorejuniorpsychologistsmanageateamincludingotherpsychologists,assistantpsychologistsandotherhealthstaffmanage,auditanddevelopcounsellingpsychologyservices.SalaryCounsellingpsychologistsstartingasatraineewithintheNHSwilltypicallybeonband6oftheAgendaforChange(AfC)PayRates,whichrangesfrom£32,306to£39,027.Oncequalified,salariestypicallyrangefrom£40,057to£45,839(band7).Salariesforseniorpsychologistrolescanrisetobetween£47,126and£53,219(band8a).Counsellingpsychologistswithsignificantexperienceandresponsibilityintherolesofprincipalorconsultantpsychologistcanreachsalariesof£65,664to£90,387(Bands8cto8d).Researchandlecturingpostsatuniversitiesoftenfollowacademicandrelatedstaffscales.Forsalarydetails,seetheUniversityandCollegeUnion(UCU).Counsellingpsychologistsworkinginprivatepractice,commerceorindustryshouldexpectpayatasimilarleveltothoseinthepublicsector.Figuresareintendedasaguideonly.WorkinghoursWorkinghoursareusuallyMondaytoFriday,8.30amto5pm,forjobsintheNHS.Manycounsellingpsychologistsareself-employed,orworkpartlyfortheNHSandpartlyforthemselves.Ifyou'reself-employedyoumayworkeveningsorweekendstosuitclientrequirements.Therearegoodopportunitiesforpart-timework,careerbreaksandjob-sharing.RelatedcasestudiesDrNadiaRSadiqCounsellingpsychologistWhattoexpectYou'llusuallyworkaspartofamultidisciplinaryteamthatincludesotherhealthserviceworkerssuchaspsychiatrists,occupationaltherapists,communitypsychiatricnurses,clinicalpsychologists,wellbeingpractitionersandsocialworkers.JobsareavailablethroughouttheUK.Morevariedopportunitiesmaybeavailableinlargercities.Somehealthauthoritiesprioritisepsychologicaltherapy,makingmorejobsavailable.Theworkcanbechallengingasitinvolvescontactwithmanydifferenttypesofpeoplewhoareoftendistressed,butcanalsoberewarding.Ifyouworkformorethanoneemployer,orareself-employed,youmayneedtotravellocallytomeetclients.QualificationsTopractiseasacounsellingpsychologistintheUKyoumustberegisteredwiththeHealth&CareProfessionsCouncil(HCPC),whichinvolvestrainingatpostgraduatelevel.Tobegintrainingyou'llnormallyneedGraduateBasisforCharteredMembership(GBC).ThisisachievedbycompletingapsychologydegreeorconversioncourseaccreditedbyTheBritishPsychologicalSociety(BPS).ForafulllistofGBCqualifyingcoursesseetheBPSAccreditedPsychologyCourses.You'llthenneedtocompleteeitheraBPS-accreditedDoctorateinCounsellingPsychologyortheBPSQualificationinCounsellingPsychology(QCoP),whichistheindependentroutetotrainingasacounsellingpsychologist.You'lltypicallyneedagoodfirstdegree,usuallya2:1orhigher,aswellasrelevantworkexperience,evidenceofresearchskillsandbasiccounselling/therapeutictrainingtogetaplaceonanaccreditedDoctoratecourse.A2:2maybeacceptedifyoualsohaveahigherqualificationsuchasaMastersinpsychologythatdemonstratesyourresearchability.Contactindividualcoursesprovidersforexactdetailsontheirentryrequirements.You'llalsoneedtoundergoanenhancedDisclosureandBarringService(DBS)check(ProtectingVulnerableGroups(PVG)SchemeinScotland).TogetaplaceontheQCoP,you'llneedtobeworkinginatraineerole,eitherpaidorvoluntary.Youmustalsoengageacoordinatingsupervisor,whomustbeontheBPSRegisterofAppliedPsychologyPracticeSupervisors,tosupportyouduringthetraining.OnsuccessfulcompletionofeithertheDoctorateinCounsellingPsychologyortheQCoP,you'reentitledtocharteredmembershipoftheBPSandfullmembershipoftheBPSDivisionofCounsellingPsychology.You'llalsobeeligibleforentryontotheHCPCregister,whichentitlesyoutousethetitleofcounsellingpsychologist.Postgraduatetrainingisusuallyself-financed.Aspartofthetrainingyou'llalsousuallypayforyourownpersonaltherapy.Incertaincases,you'llalsohavetopayforyourrequiredsupervision.Sometraineessecurepostsasassistantpsychologistsfirstandnegotiatepartortotalfundingtowardstheirtrainingfromtheiremployer.Youcouldalsoapproachpsychologydepartmentstoseeifthereareanyfundingopportunities(forexample,scholarshipsorbursaries)available.SkillsYou'llneedtoshow:interpersonalandpsychotherapeuticskillsexcellentcommunicationskillscounsellingskillsanopen-mindedandsensitiveapproachwhendealingwithclientstheabilitytoexploreemotionalissueswithclientsahealthycuriosityandresearch-mindedapproachtoworkanalyticalskillstheabilitytoworkaspartofateamthecapacitytolookathowandwhythingsareworking,ornot,withclientsindependenceandself-motivationself-awareness,self-knowledge,securityandself-beliefcapabilityofworkingunderpressuretimemanagementskillstobeabletomanageacaseloadITskillsunderstandingofculturalandreligiousdiversity.AdvertisementWorkexperienceCourseproviderstypicallyaskforaminimumofoneyear'srelevantworkexperienceinamentalhealthorcounsellingrole.Experienceasanassistantpsychologist,psychologicalwellbeingpractitioner,healthorsocialcaresupportworkerorcounsellorisuseful,asisworkasahealthcareassistantinawardorcommunitysetting.Youcouldalsofindworkinamentalhealthcharityorvictimsupportunitorinarolesuchasbereavementorrelationshipcounselling.Anyexperienceyougetshouldbemorethanbefriendingandshouldbeface-to-face.Contactcourseproviderstocheckonwhattypeofexperience,andhowmuch,theyarelookingfor.Onceyoustarttraining,it'simportanttonetworkandbuildupcontactswithothercounsellingpsychologiststhroughattendingconferences,forexample.Findoutmoreaboutthedifferentkindsof workexperienceandinternships thatareavailable.EmployersManycounsellingpsychologistsprovideclinicalservicesinhealthandsocialcaresettings.Employersinclude:NHSgeneralhospitals(inareassuchasacuteadmissions,psychiatriccareandrehabilitation)andpsychiatrichospitalsprivatehospitalshealthcentresGPsurgeriesImprovingAccesstoPsychologicalTherapy(IAPT)servicesspecialistchildandfamilyservices,suchasChildandYoungPeople'sMentalHealthServices(CYPMHS)andcommunitymentalhealthteams.Opportunitiesarealsoavailableintheprisonservice,voluntarysector,educationalsettings,suchasschools,collegesanduniversities,research,forensicsettingsandindustry.Alternativelyyoucanworkindependently,eitheraloneorinagrouppractice,orasanorganisationalconsultantinthepublicorprivatesector,whereyoumaybeinvolvedintraining,developmentorconflictresolution.Therearealsosomeopportunitiesforexperiencedcounsellingpsychologiststoworkabroad,withorganisationssuchasMédecinsSansFrontièresandtheWorldHealthOrganization.Lookforjobvacanciesat:Healthjobs.co.ukJobsinPsychologyJobs.ac.uk(forjobsinacademia)NHSJobsandNHSScotlandJobsThenationalandlocalpress,aswellashospitalwebsites,alsoadvertisevacancies.ProfessionaldevelopmentOncequalified,continuingprofessionaldevelopment(CPD)willbeanintegralpartofyourcareerandisanessentialrequirementofretainingyourHCPCregistrationandcharteredmembershipoftheBPS.Mostcounsellingpsychologistshaveasupervisorormentorwhocanprovideadviceandguidancefordealingwithchallengingsituations,clientsorgroups.Furtherstudyandspecialistdevelopmentareusuallyencouragedandyourongoingdevelopmentshouldincludeamixtureofdirectedandself-directedactivities.Thesecaninclude:post-qualificationcourses,whichhelptodevelopyourknowledgeofdifferenttheoreticalapproachesprofessionalsupervisionlecturing,teachingorgivingpresentationsattendingworkshopsorconferencestopicalresearch,writingarticlesorpapersmentoring,supervisingorassessingtraineesdevelopmentofexpertisewithaparticularclientgroup.You'llneedtokeepanup-to-dateandaccuraterecordofyourprofessionaldevelopmentactivities,showingthatyourCPDcontributestothequalityofyourpracticeandservicedeliveryandisbeneficialtoyourclients.Withbetweentwoandeightyears'experience,youcanqualifytojointheRegisterofPsychologistsSpecialisinginPsychotherapy.It'salsopossibletotraintobecomeaclinicalsupervisorandjointheRegisterofAppliedPsychologyPracticeSupervisors(RAPPS).MoreinformationcanbefoundattheBPSProfessionalDevelopmentCentre.CareerprospectsClearlydefinedcareerpathsareavailablewithcertainemployersincludingthe:CivilServiceHerMajesty'sPrison&ProbationService(HMPPS)localauthoritiesNHS.Withtherightcombinationofskillsandexperience,youcanmovethroughthegrades,takingonmoremanagementresponsibilityforbothstaffandcounsellingpsychologyservices.Therearealsoopportunitiestomoveintospecialistareassuchaspost-traumaticstressdisorderortoworkwithspecificclientgroupssuchaschildrenortheelderly.Withexperienceyoucanbecomeself-employed,orcombineself-employmentwithpart-timeworkforanemployersuchastheNHS.Asyourcareerprogressesyoumaybecomeinvolvedinconsultancyortheteaching,supervisionandtrainingofothercounsellingpsychologists.AseniorcounsellingpsychologistmayhaveaportfolioofworkthatincludesworkingfortheNHS,whilealsopractisingprivatelyandteachingatauniversity.Therearealsoopportunitiestomoveintoresearch.Seehowwellyoumatchthisjobprofileandover400others.TryCareerPlannerAlternativecareersSocialworkerClinicalpsychologistMentalhealthnursePsychologicalwellbeingpractitionerChildpsychotherapistOccupationalpsychologistHowwouldyouratethispage?Onascalewhere1isdislikeand5islikeSomethingwentwrong.Pleasetryagain.Dislike1unhappy-very2unhappy3neutral4happyLike5happy-veryTelluswhy...DonotfillthisinSendsuccessfeedbackThankyouforratingthepageRelatedjobsandcoursesUniprofileCodeInstituteViewprofileUniprofileUlsterUniversityViewprofilegraduatejobGraduateTherapeuticPractitionerTherapeuticActivitiesGroup£27,001-£29,500SouthEastWales,SouthWestWalesViewjobgraduatejobSummerSchoolCounsellorsBucksmoreEducationCompetitivesalaryEastSussex,OxfordViewjob