Presentation by Juliet Couche, Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust at Careers in... Psychology 2015

1. A career in counsellingA career in counselling
psychologypsychology
Juliet CoucheJuliet Couche
Consultant counsellingConsultant counselling
psychologistpsychologist

2. My career path …My career path …
 An undergraduate psychology degreeAn undergraduate psychology degree
 Public relations for charities andPublic relations for charities and
government departments for PR agencygovernment departments for PR agency
 Freelance PRFreelance PR
 Volunteering for the SamaritansVolunteering for the Samaritans
 Postgraduate certificate in counsellingPostgraduate certificate in counselling
psychologypsychology

3. My career path…My career path…
 Continued PR freelancing to fund trainingContinued PR freelancing to fund training
 Following PG Cert accepted onto MSc inFollowing PG Cert accepted onto MSc in
counselling psychologycounselling psychology
 Two year MSc, one year Post MScTwo year MSc, one year Post MSc
Diploma to meet chartered status withDiploma to meet chartered status with
BPSBPS
 Three year training took 6 years!Three year training took 6 years!

4. Counselling psychology trainingCounselling psychology training
 No funded training programmeNo funded training programme
 Increased focus on the therapeuticIncreased focus on the therapeutic
relationship and modalitiesrelationship and modalities
 No child or older people specificNo child or older people specific
placements requiredplacements required
 Less emphasis on neuropsychologyLess emphasis on neuropsychology
 Individual therapy during trainingIndividual therapy during training
 Placements are selected by the individualPlacements are selected by the individual

5. Training optionsTraining options
 BPS independent route, cheaper but challengingBPS independent route, cheaper but challenging
 Accredited courses, more expensive but flexibleAccredited courses, more expensive but flexible
 MSc and Post MSc diploma now DPsych widelyMSc and Post MSc diploma now DPsych widely
available in line with clinical trainingavailable in line with clinical training
 Historically an older intakeHistorically an older intake
 Second careerSecond career
 This is changing……This is changing……

6. Clinical vs counselling psychologyClinical vs counselling psychology
 Definitions of clinical and counselling psychologyDefinitions of clinical and counselling psychology
are merging more and moreare merging more and more
 Counselling psychology focuses more onCounselling psychology focuses more on
process issues in therapyprocess issues in therapy
 Counselling psychology training has moreCounselling psychology training has more
emphasis on the therapeutic relationshipemphasis on the therapeutic relationship
 Majority of jobs now directed at counselling andMajority of jobs now directed at counselling and
clinical psychologistsclinical psychologists
 Bringing together psychology in a leaner NHSBringing together psychology in a leaner NHS

7. Flexibility in trainingFlexibility in training
 Choosing NHS placements in years 2 & 3Choosing NHS placements in years 2 & 3
enabled NHS job opportunitiesenabled NHS job opportunities
 Possible to qualify as a charteredPossible to qualify as a chartered
counselling psychologist without havingcounselling psychologist without having
worked in the NHSworked in the NHS
 Needed flexibility to fit around work notNeeded flexibility to fit around work not
possible with clinical trainingpossible with clinical training

8. My placementsMy placements
 Women’s counselling serviceWomen’s counselling service
 Special school staff counselling serviceSpecial school staff counselling service
 Youth bereavement serviceYouth bereavement service
 Parent counselling service through LEAParent counselling service through LEA
 NHS secondary mental health services -NHS secondary mental health services -
PTS and CMHT/ATSPTS and CMHT/ATS

9. Employment historyEmployment history
 Placements with Sussex Partnership NHS TrustPlacements with Sussex Partnership NHS Trust
led to employment as team psychologist inled to employment as team psychologist in
CMHTCMHT
 Worked in a range of CMHTs on bank and partWorked in a range of CMHTs on bank and part
time permanent contracts as team psychologisttime permanent contracts as team psychologist
 Now… clinical lead for Health in Mind, IAPTNow… clinical lead for Health in Mind, IAPT
service providing NICE therapies for forservice providing NICE therapies for for
depression and anxiety disordersdepression and anxiety disorders
 Specialist interest in complex trauma andSpecialist interest in complex trauma and
working with anger and violenceworking with anger and violence

10. Aspects of the roleAspects of the role
 Assessment, including assessment of mental health needs, risk assessmentAssessment, including assessment of mental health needs, risk assessment
and psychometric testing.and psychometric testing.
 Formulation (i.e. a psychological explanation of the genesis andFormulation (i.e. a psychological explanation of the genesis and
maintenance of the psychological problem)maintenance of the psychological problem)
 Planning and implementation of therapyPlanning and implementation of therapy
 Report writing and record keepingReport writing and record keeping
 Evaluation of the outcome of therapyEvaluation of the outcome of therapy
 Supervision and training of other psychologistsSupervision and training of other psychologists
 Multidisciplinary team work and team facilitationMultidisciplinary team work and team facilitation
 Service and organisational developmentService and organisational development
 Audit and evaluationAudit and evaluation
 Research and developmentResearch and development
 Management of servicesManagement of services

11. What is relevant experience andWhat is relevant experience and
how do I get it?how do I get it?
 It is often an entry requirement of theIt is often an entry requirement of the
counselling psychology courses to havecounselling psychology courses to have
completed a basic counselling skillscompleted a basic counselling skills
coursecourse
 IAPT as a route to post grad trainingIAPT as a route to post grad training
 Check with course providersCheck with course providers

12. How do I become a counsellingHow do I become a counselling
psychologist?psychologist?
 To become a BPS chartered counselling psychologist, you will needTo become a BPS chartered counselling psychologist, you will need
the following qualifications:the following qualifications:
 Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC, previously knownGraduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC, previously known
as GBR). This is achieved by completing a Society accreditedas GBR). This is achieved by completing a Society accredited
degree or conversion coursedegree or conversion course
 Society accredited Doctorate in Counselling Psychology or theSociety accredited Doctorate in Counselling Psychology or the
Society’s Qualification in Counselling PsychologySociety’s Qualification in Counselling Psychology
 In order to use the title Counselling Psychologist, you will need to beIn order to use the title Counselling Psychologist, you will need to be
registered with the Health Professional Council (HPC). This willregistered with the Health Professional Council (HPC). This will
involve completing a Doctorate in Counselling Psychology (orinvolve completing a Doctorate in Counselling Psychology (or
equivalent) that has been approved by the HPC. Please contact theequivalent) that has been approved by the HPC. Please contact the
HPC directly for more information on the entry requirements for theirHPC directly for more information on the entry requirements for their
register.register.

13. Where they workWhere they work
 Counselling psychologists work almost anywhere thereCounselling psychologists work almost anywhere there
are people. industry, commerce, the prison service andare people. industry, commerce, the prison service and
in all layers of education from primary school toin all layers of education from primary school to
university. About half of all counselling psychologists areuniversity. About half of all counselling psychologists are
employed to do clinical work in health and social careemployed to do clinical work in health and social care
settings. Other career paths can be found in teachingsettings. Other career paths can be found in teaching
and research for academic bodies. Counsellingand research for academic bodies. Counselling
psychologists can also practise privately aspsychologists can also practise privately as
organisational consultants.organisational consultants.