Student Placements
We offer highly regarded placements and honorary roles to both trainee and qualified therapists within a supportive and professionally held environment.
Our placements are designed to support the development of thoughtful, reflective practitioners while contributing to accessible counselling and psychotherapy provision within the community.
Student Counselling Placements
Student placements are a vital part of a therapist's training. We accept applications from students on BACP, UKCP, BPC or BPS accredited courses, including integrative and psychodynamic trainings.
Our placements provide an opportunity to develop clinical experience within an ethical, well-supported and reflective setting.
Please note: Placement applications at SBC are highly sought after and unfortunately we do not have any current vacancies. Opportunities do arise from time to time, so we encourage you to check back. You could also send us your CV which we would add to our waiting list.
What you can expect from a placement at SBC
As a placement student, you will:
• Gain clinical experience with clients in a community setting
• Work within a supportive and ethical framework
• Develop your therapeutic thinking and reflective practice
• Be part of a welcoming and experienced therapeutic team
Supervision and professional development
We are committed to supporting your development as a practitioner.
Placements include:
• Free weekly group supervision in small groups
• Ongoing clinical and administrative support
• CPD opportunities throughout the year
• Opportunities to develop assessment skills
• Comfortable, private therapy rooms
• A supportive professional community
Our aim is to provide a setting where learning, reflection and professional growth are held with care.
Placements for qualified counsellors
We also offer honorary placements to qualified therapists who wish to remain connected to clinical practice within a supportive professional environment.
This may be of interest to practitioners who wish to:
• Remain part of a professional community
• Accrue hours toward accreditation
• Continue reflective and relational practice
We offer a contribution toward supervision costs.
Student and Trainee Providers Testimonials
Real words from past placement students about their training and experience at South Bucks Counselling.
“I thoroughly enjoyed my time as a trainee with SBC. As a low-cost fee-paying service based in the centre of High Wycombe, there is the opportunity to work with a highly diverse range of clients. This has been extremely valuable in terms of the breadth of my learning and is something not all placements can offer. Another huge benefit of a training placement with SBC is the paid for supervision groups. Run by an experienced supervisor, these groups are both a vital support network and a safe place to learn from each other's experiences. The more open and honest we are in the group, the richer and more in depth the learning has become. I would recommend a training placement at SBC to anyone.”
Oxford University, placement student
“I thoroughly enjoyed my time as a trainee with SBC. As a low-cost fee-paying service based in the centre of High Wycombe, there is the opportunity to work with a highly diverse range of clients. This has been extremely valuable in terms of the breadth of my learning and is something not all placements can offer. Another huge benefit of a training placement with SBC is the paid for supervision groups. Run by an experienced supervisor, these groups are both a vital support network and a safe place to learn from each other's experiences. The more open and honest we are in the group, the richer and more in depth the learning has become. I would recommend a training placement at SBC to anyone.”
Oxford University, placement student
“When starting my search for a placement, SBC came highly recommended from peers at my training institution. Instantly, I felt supported and nurtured; the provision of weekly group-supervision ensured a collaborative learning space, where insight from fellow trainees and experienced supervisors proved critical in honing my clinical practice. As a trainee, SBC has continually encouraged growth and autonomy, while providing the key foundations to develop my role as a counsellor. The frequent CPD opportunities and community-centred events has enhanced a real sense of belonging; this has been invaluable in bolstering my skills and confidence while in the initial stages of my clinical practitioner journey.”
Birkbeck placement student
“I am very grateful to have had my placement at South Bucks Counselling. As a trainee, I have been well supported by my clinical leads, supervisors and colleagues. SBC has provided an environment for my confidence and skills as a counsellor to grow at a steady pace. I have had the opportunity to work with a wide range of clinical presentations and have benefited greatly from the experience. The team at SBC understand the anxieties that come with being a trainee and have given me the guidance and containment I needed on my path. I highly recommend SBC as a placement choice.”
Birkbeck placement student
“I found working at SBC through my training years an extremely valuable and enriching experience both through working with patients and the professional relationships that I formed with supervisors and colleagues which I am sure will last long.
I arrived at SBC with no prior clinical experience and I felt supported all throughout in a way that has been carefully tailored to my growth over the years. I particularly value the experience I gained in doing assessments, which is not a constant feature during trainings and yet I believe a very important stepping stone to reach before starting a career, being that in private practice or the NHS.”
The Society of Analytical Psychology placement student
“SBC was a great place to do my placement for The Counselling Foundation. I was fortunate to experience a varied caseload, excellent supervision and supportive colleagues. I was also able to work on the intake team which was a valuable learning experience. After my training finished, I chose to stay on at SBC to further my development as a counsellor, which was a great opportunity. Overall, being at SBC made a huge and very positive difference to my training experience.”
The Counselling Foundation placement student
“At the Counselling Foundation we are very proud of our external partnerships with other organisations and their ability to support our students in placements with them. The relationship we have with South Bucks Counselling is no exception. It is testament to SBC that students who go there on placement continue with them when their training is finished.
The students talk of exemplary supervision which is of high quality as evidenced in their ability to talk and reflect on their client work in the seminars. What is also highlighted for the Foundation is that the students are trained and supported in carrying out assessments. The students have a confidence about them in this regard and so they should. We are delighted with our partnership and wish to continue working with SBC long into the future.”
The Counselling Foundation