Demystifying Counselling Placements

What is counselling placement?  

So, what actually is a counselling placement for students studying counselling? The simplest way of explaining placement is to say it is a hands-on, experiential practice where student counsellors see clients. These appointments are called counselling sessions and are structured and arranged in advance at a specific place, frequency, time, and duration. They are usually weekly at the same time and day during the week and normally last 50 or 60 minutes.  

Professional boundaries play a significant role in counselling placements. Students see clients within counselling settings, often charity organisations, low-cost counselling services, GP surgeries, schools, etc. Students find their placements independently. That said, here at Iron Mill College, we hold a database of around 160 placement providers and regularly advertise placement opportunities on our Student Portal to support them in their searches. Our students are also welcome to arrange one-on-one meetings with a placement coordinator to ask for specific placement suggestions, go through the application process or prepare for the interview, which is often a part of securing a placement. In fact, the placement application process is like a job application process! Counselling placement is a voluntary, unpaid work commitment toward the agency and clients.  

Counselling Placement as ethical practice 

The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) is a professional body for counsellors and psychotherapists practising in the United Kingdom. Student counsellors will become members of the BACP as soon as they start their course and will adhere to its ethical framework. 

Every counselling placement requires regular clinical supervision. This is a crucial aspect of ethical practice in the counselling profession. As per the BACP, student counsellors must see their supervisor every two weeks to ensure ethical practice. Counselling placement must be under regular supervision, which must be arranged fortnightly for a minimum of 1.5 hours per month.  

All parties involved, including the college, the placement provider, and the supervisor/s, are committed to supporting students. Students will also follow the college’s and placement provider’s policies and procedures, guiding them in safe and ethical practice. Student counsellors will get ongoing support from tutors, experienced colleagues working alongside them, and supervisors overseeing their work at least twice a month. It's important to note that all parties, including students, are bound by the BACP ethical framework, which guides expected ethics and good practice standards.   

What happens in the counselling session? 

Student counsellors provide empathetic listening and emotional support during counselling sessions, based on their training. Part of their training is to get to know the psychological theories and learn how to use them when supporting clients.  The emotional support student counsellors offer is often called “safe space”.  

Preparing for a counselling placement  

It is crucial to emphasise the importance of the period before counselling placement. The learning before students can be assessed and signed off as “competent to practice” includes personal therapy, reflective journalling, group practice, psychological theories and role-play exercises with colleagues. Tutors follow the written guidance of “competence to practice”, ensuring that all students pass all the criteria before being signed off to see clients.  

Why do you need a placement as part of your course, and how much experience do you need to gain to qualify?  

The BACP requires students to undertake 100 -150 client hours to gain the necessary experience in order to obtain counselling profession qualifications, depending on the course they choose. Counselling sessions with their clients during placement are essential to get the necessary experience and qualifications. During this time, students learn the best way to offer emotional support, bringing different theories into practice when appropriate, and working ethically by providing acceptance, empathy and being genuine. Students can work within the area they are particularly interested in, such as bereavement, young people, or practice within general counselling settings, gaining a variety of experience.  

Why is it essential to be able to offer weekly counselling sessions?   

The counselling student’s commitment is to offer regular client support during pre-agreed counselling sessions. Placement providers require that each student commit to regular weekly sessions. This can be compared to voluntary work and employment, where a certain number of hours of breaks and holidays need to be arranged in agreement with the placement provider and clients.  

The benefits of the regular weekly sessions are as significant for the clients as for the student's continuing professional development and ongoing learning experience. Offering weekly sessions allows consistency and a place to build a trusting therapeutic relationship. These sessions establish a consistent rhythm and a safe space, enabling clients to open up more freely. Consistent sessions help maintain progress and provide a solid support system.  

BACP emphasises how missed sessions and longer breaks can impact the therapeutic process. Client responses to breaks vary and are often influenced by earlier life experiences and attachments. It is important to consider the many relevant practical and ethical points when planning a break, during it and afterwards (BACP Ethical Framework for Counselling Professions, 2018).  

Can student counsellors see more than 3-4 clients per week?  

Students are expected to adhere to the recommendation of 3-4 placement hours per week. They may see a maximum of 4 clients per week at the beginning of their placement hours. This is widely considered an optimal number for students in training. It allows for a good depth of focus on their client's work and appropriate time for ongoing reflective practice and application of learning, while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Most students continue at 3-4 clients per week throughout their placement. However, as they progress through their placement hours and become more skilled and confident in their practice, they may apply to gradually increase the number of contracted counselling hours they undertake per week.  

Is it worth it? 

Counselling training and counselling placement is an integrative part of the training and are often described, by many, as life-changing experiences. On the one hand, obtaining a new qualification in a much-needed mental health profession opens the door to a different career path, such as private counselling practice, work within NHS settings, or other helping professions focusing on bettering the lives of others. On the other hand, counselling training is an insightful self-development journey to becoming a reflective practitioner. These teachings help to understand subconscious mechanisms and how past experiences impacted present-day challenges by naming and taming them. Last, but not least, helping others and empowering them to communicate their needs and personal boundaries to feel safe and content. And not forgetting the personal satisfaction of contributing to increased mutual understanding between people and a happier society!  

Renata Paczkowska
Placement Coordinator

Written September 2024

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