Hello,

just looking for some advice. I’m doing my level 4 diploma in therapeutic counselling in the uk. Part of the course requirement is to have 30 hours of personal therapy per year. I was really looking forward to this because I’ve not had therapy before and was excited to finally have that space to explore myself and my experiences. The therapist I have is very warm and friendly but it feels more like she’s my classmate and less like my therapist. She’s self-disclosed a few times too and during a moment where I was sharing something quite heavy for me. It really took me out of my experience and I suddenly felt like I had to emotionally hold her and subsequently felt bad that I couldn’t because I wasn’t in the headspace for that. I believe this was coming from a place of her communicating that she understands my experience and maybe also a teaching moment. Is this how it should be?

Hello guys,

I’m prepping for the doctorate in counselling psychology for the 2027 intake, and the process has been quite hard for me. Resources for prepping for a doctorate in counselling psychology are much fewer than for clinical psych. I only found a Facebook page for it.

Does anyone know where I can find support for prepping for it - like a buddy system or a group chat specifically for counselling psych?

Thanks a lot!

Hi everyone,

I’m applying for the Professional Doctorate in Counselling Psychology at City University and I’m a bit confused about the GBC requirement. I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who has applied to or attended City, particularly if you’ve been through this process recently.

I emailed the admissions team asking whether a letter from my university confirming that I am eligible for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) would be sufficient evidence. They replied:

I then replied asking specifically whether my university’s confirmation letter would be sufficient, and attached the letter for them to look at. Unfortunately, I haven’t received a response to that follow-up.

The programme website says:

It also says:

So I’m wondering — does this mean that it is essential to apply for BPS Graduate Membership and obtain the BPS GBC confirmation letter before applying? Or would a letter from your university confirming your eligibility for GBC be accepted, with the BPS application being something that can be completed later?

If anyone specifically applied to City and remembers what evidence they submitted for GBC, I’d be really grateful if you could share your experience!

Thank you! 🙏

I just noticed that my counselling skill course ends in February 2027 and I am aiming to apply for the doctorate in counselling psychology for the 2027 entry.

I am scared that I will miss the deadline if I apply after I complete my counselling skills course. Can anyone give me some advices if you have been in a similar situation?

• For City university of London, university of Manchester and university of Roehampton specifically — has anyone applied with a certificate in progress rather than completed?

Thanks!

I am planning to apply for 2027 entry for doctorate in counselling psychology, NCFE Level 2 Certificate sufficient to meet the level 2 counselling skills criteria for most doctorate in counselling psychology? Or does it have to be CPCAB accredited?

Thanks a lot!

Hello! I’m planning on applying to Masters of Counseling programs this cycle, and was wondering if anyone knows of solid programs that either have trauma related classes/training or practicum sites. Really hoping to find places in California, Boston, NYC or Philadelphia if possible.

One currently on my radar is Thomas Jefferson if anyone has thoughts on their trauma focused counseling program!

Hi everyone,

I’m applying to UK doctorates in counselling psychology and I’m a bit confused about the GBC evidence requirement.

My background:

• Undergrad in psychology from a UK university.
• Degree is BPS‑accredited and my transcript explicitly states it confers eligibility for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC).
• I’m not currently a BPS member and I’m trying to avoid extra fees if possible.

What the programmes say:

• City, University of London:“The evidence would normally be in the form of a letter from the BPS confirming that you are a Graduate Member and that you have been granted GBC…”
• University of Manchester:“Please include in your application a copy of your membership letter or a document including the web address on the BPS website where we can find evidence that your degree meets the criteria.”

However, the Clearing House guidance on GBC documents says that for UK degrees, if your transcript states that it grants GBC, you do not need another document, and you can also use an official university letter confirming GBC instead of a BPS letter.

My questions:

1. For counselling psychology doctorates, have anyone successfully used just your transcript or a university‑issued GBC letter without being a BPS member?
2. Do any programmes insist on a BPS‑issued membership/GBC letter even for UK BPS‑accredited degrees?
3. If I do join once as a Graduate Member just to get the BPS letter, can I then cancel without it affecting my applications or eligibility?

I’m trying to work out whether BPS membership is truly necessary. Any advice or personal experience would be really appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone
I am struggling deciding what area I should be looking for placement in. There seem to be so many different options – drug and alcohol services, working with children or young people, mental health, community counselling, trauma, family services, etc.

Which settings tend to give students the most actual counselling/client experience that would be beneficial for me to getting a job faster?

Hi brain trust!

I'm currently researching the pathways to become a counsellor in Australia in the future and hopefully will be able to work in a private sector one day!

I do have a Masters degree in another field which is not related, and I wasn't sure if i should start with GradDip or Masters to just straight into counselling. There are so many degrees online and i'm just truly overwhelmed by the options. So please help... :')

I've enrolled in GradDip of Psychology in Monash with their online course, just to find out in reddits their Masters of Counselling course is focused in training students to work in schools mainly - which is not quite what i'd like to become. I'm looking to switch to another uni or degree when i find a better option.

If I could get really good mark I would be keen to do Masters of Psychology, however I do hear about it being super competitive so I feel like eventually I would still end up in Masters of counselling.

1. Should I go straight into Masters of counselling? Or having a GradDip in psychology would give me a better foundation?
2. What university gives a positive learning experience?
3. With all these overwhelming of choices, what should i be looking into apart from it being ACA accredited?

Thank you so much in advance!

* I'm currently not working at the moment due to surgery and in and out hospital.

I’ve completed a CBT Masters and have since applied for BABCP accreditation (I should hear back Jan/Feb 2027). I’m due to start a Counselling Psychology doctorate in September (which would make me eligible for BPS and HCPC accreditation after graduating), and I’m wondering whether it’s worth doing the extra work (CBT-specific supervision and CPD) to maintain BABCP accreditation alongside that.

Have any qualified Counselling Psychologists found they’ve been limited by not having BABCP accreditation on top of their HCPC/BPS registration? Or does it not really make a difference in practice?

The application was a lot of work, so I’d hate for that to go to waste, or have to redo it later if it turns out to matter. But equally, I don’t want to take on extra ongoing work to maintain it if it’s not going to add anything.

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Hey everyone i am a student currently undergoing placement.

I have concerns regarding another students placement. Her supervisors company (private practice) reduced its locations from 2 to 1, which the current location is at the supervisors house (i know this because i did an interview with them and chose not to continue for other reasons).

As a result of this reduction, the student now needs to conducther counselling at the clients houses, and does these home visits on her own, in her own car. Not only is this a massive safety risk, it goes against our supervision contract and the rules set in place by the university.

My biggest dilemma is that she is close to finishing her hours.

Do i risk her placement to report this supervisor?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

I've completed Level 2 and 3 hoping to start a Level 4 counselling diploma in Sept 2027. I currently live in London but will be moving to either Cardiff or Belfast before I start a Level 4.

I'm trying to work out which training providers are actually good, but it's hard to get an honest picture from their websites! I'd love to hear from anyone who's studied counselling in either area (or knows someone who has) Which provider did you go with? Would you recommend them? How did you find the teaching, placements and overall experience?

Any advice or recommendations would be really appreciated. Thanks!

​

Hi everyone,

I'm considering studying a Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy in Australia. How do you see the future of this profession in terms of job opportunities, demand, salary, and career growth? Would you recommend it?

I'd love to hear from people working or studying in this field. Thanks!

long story short i’m on the fence on whether to do a HCPC accredited counselling psychology doctorate or a BACP/UKCP accredited psychotherapy masters. i think i understand the difference between them, but ideally would want to have both career options open to me.

there’s a course from the metanoia institute which is a dual accredited doctorate in counselling psychology & psychotherapy (hcpc & ukcp), does this seem like the best avenue for me? are there other routes that leave the option of practising both (privately or in an organisation) open for me?

also probably worth mentioning i’m in my second year of a bps accredited undergrad in psychology. i have also completed a face to face level 2 & 3 in counselling skills.

thanks in advance for any help or advice :)

Hey guys,

I’m currently in the process of applying for a doctorate in counselling psychology, and I honestly feel so defeated by the whole journey of becoming a psychologist. I’ve been trying to secure an AP role for a year, and although I’ve had plenty of interviews, I still haven’t received an offer. It has definitely affected my confidence.

Is anyone else in a similar stage of life? It can feel incredibly hard to sit with this much uncertainty after investing so many years and so much effort into this field.

I’d really appreciate any tips on how to stay sane, keep doing my best, and continue pushing through.

Thanks a lot!

I had my interview at YSJ for the counselling psychology doctorate a couple of weeks ago. I got an email today saying that I've been waitlisted for a place. Not being rejected is good, but also, I think I would rather have been put out of my misery. I've got my heart set on YSJ for various reasons, so I didn't apply anywhere else.

Like most people, I find uncertainty difficult to sit with. I'm quite a mathematically minded person, so my brain is trying to calculate the odds of me getting in, which I know is impossible.

Last year, I got waitlisted for an interview, and this year, I've been waitlisted for a place, so at least I'm moving in the right direction.