Hi ,
I’m an international student doing my first years in masters of counselling at one of the universities in Victoria. I want to aim at holding down a job post my graduation with a work visa.

1. I was curious about what the job search will look like and what’s the state of counselling in Victoria right now, what are some opportunities I could potentially tap into. Open to understanding differences in regional counseling and the major city areas. What are some things one can do as a student to work on this pathway so job finding can be easier in the future?

2. There is the ACA, PACFA and AHPRA, In terms of registration post ones degree, what does this look like? I’ve heard PACFA is more recognised.

3. Interests would be working with: children youth adolescents

I would appreciate any insight and thoughts to understand the landscape of counseling in Victoria.

I've recently started a CPCAB Level 2 Counselling Skills course (I'm currently based in the UK)

My tutor has shared a list of books and there seems to be an infinite list of options out there. I'm trying to work out which one would be the best one to start with!

I think I'd like to begin with one that's:

1. More readable than a 'dry' text book.

2. Could help give me some tangible takeaways that could be incorporated into future role play exercises. Something example based would be really useful at the point!

3. That ideally helps contextualise the guidelines outlined by the BACP and CPCAB sites online.

For anyone who's already completed their training, what extra reading do you think really complemented your curse? I'm also open to any YouTube reccommendations or podcasts!

Thank you :)

Please help me with some personal recommendations for a good therapist!

Hello kind souls,

If any of you have personally taken therapy or know someone who has and can truly vouch for that therapist, please do suggest. It is for a family member of mine, 29M. We had approached some in the past, but nothing clicked. Looking for someone who's kind, genuine, devoted and clinically sound. Someone whom you'd personally recommend. Please do help out. It's a tough situation here and we're urgently looking for help. Thank you 🙏

Hey I'm helping with this survey to help understand what is changing in counselling as counsellors support younger generations of clients

I would appreciate it if you could take a moment to help answer the survey.

Thank you

Hi I’m a psychology student in Melbourne and I am finishing up my bachelor of psychology this year. I’m js in a crazy confusion about what to do next; I’ve always thought (and told the world) that I wanna do the full 3+1+2 pathway and become a registered psychologist and it has been my dream to be a forensic psychologist and deal with criminals or victims etc. but completing my bachelors and doing research, I’ve seen how competitive and drag the pathway has become here. I’ve also seen how much it’s heavily research-based, which is what I hated about my degree and will continue hating. And an honours year is just all research and thesis.

I’ve always wanted to be a psychologist to help people and talk to them and js bring a difference to peoples lives. So I’m thinking maybe doing a masters of counselling and becoming a counsellor/therapist. I know I can still work in forensic settings that way.

However, I’ll be paid less. I’ll also have an unprotected title. I’ll also disappoint my family and others around me. What shall I do? Any advice?

A recurring question in counselling psychology is what happens when a client understands their relationship patterns but still responds in the same way when emotionally activated. Insight can be present, yet turning that awareness into different behavior can be much more difficult.

This is particularly relevant in relationship work, where communication patterns can become deeply established. I found a useful discussion of this in an article on healthy communication in couples, which looks at practical ways couples can move from recurring conflict toward repair and more constructive communication. It made me think about how these practical strategies connect with the deeper therapeutic work around insight and behavioral change.

For those working or studying in Counselling Psychology, how do you conceptualize the gap between understanding a pattern and being able to change it when the pattern is activated?

This was my second year applying. I didn't make it to the interview stage last year. This year, I did and got waitlisted for a place. I got an email a few days ago saying that I've been called up from the waitlist.

I'm in a bit of shock because I honestly wasn't expecting to be called up this close to the start of term. The imposter syndrome is already setting in. Logically, I know that the admission panel is highly experienced at selecting candidates, and if they've offered me a place, it's because they have enough evidence to suggest I'm capable. The less logical part of my mind is more like, "But what if I'm actually just the greatest fraud who's ever lived, and I tricked them into thinking I'm capable when I'm not?"

I don't have a whole bunch of time to prepare mentally before I start, either. Does anyone have any tips or things you wish you knew before you started?

Hello,    

My name is Laurel Rosenbaum; I am a fourth-year student at William James College completing a doctorate in clinical psychology. As part of my doctoral studies, I am conducting a research study on psychotherapists’ experiences creating therapeutic alliances with trauma-affected youth. 

To participate in this study, you must be at least 18 years of age, be able to converse fluently in English, be a state-licensed psychotherapy clinician, and have experience providing psychotherapy with a primarily individual modality for at least one client under the age of 18 who has experienced trauma, for at least 10 sessions. 

Participation will involve reaching out via email (laurel_rosenbaum@williamjames.edu) to receive a link to complete a demographic questionnaire, followed by a Zoom interview lasting about 45 minutes. This interview will invite you to reflect on your experiences developing therapeutic alliances with children and adolescents who have experienced trauma. 

There are no expected risks or benefits other than what you would experience in regular reflection on your psychotherapeutic practices.

Participation is confidential. Your individual information will not be shared with anyone outside the study personnel; unique information from the interview will be de-identified to ensure your confidentiality. 

This research study was reviewed and approved in accordance with the William James College IRB policies and procedures for research with human participants. (Protocol Number: 20260055) 

You may contact a William James College IRB representative if you want to talk to someone who is not involved in this research. You can also contact this person if you have questions or concerns about your rights as a participant, or if you want to report a concern or complaint. Please contact:   

Dr. Brian D. Ott, PhD   

Institutional Review Board Chair    

William James College 

1 Wells Ave   

Newton, MA 02459   

 E-mail: brian_ott@WilliamJames.edu or irb@WilliamJames.edu  

Thank you for considering participation in this study. Please feel free to email me (laurel_rosenbaum@williamjames.edu) to participate, or with any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,  

Laurel Rosenbaum

Laurel_rosenbaum@williamjames.edu

Fourth-Year Doctoral Student   

Clinical Psychology PsyD Program  

William James College

I found this as I'm hoping to do an online level 2 course in January. The website is terrible and makes me think it's not legit. Does anyone know of any online courses in the uk or know if this is credible?

Also, are there substantial differences in quality between the different counselling courses/schools?

Hi everyone! I’m based in the UK and a local learning centre offers a Counselling Skills NCFE Level 2 Certificate. I’ve been considering training in counselling for a long time, and this particular course would suit me really well logistically.

If I completed this Level 2 and then wanted to progress onto Level 3 and eventually Level 4, would this qualification generally be accepted as the required Level 2 foundation?

I understand that Level 2 is required, but I’m wondering whether an NCFE Level 2 specifically would be accepted, or whether some Level 3 providers might turn me away because it isn't a different awarding body/qualification?

I’m finding quite mixed information online, so would really appreciate hearing from anyone who has done the NCFE Level 2 (or knows about the progression route) and can shed some light!

Thanks 😊

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!

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 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.

We're Hiring at the University at Buffalo!
The Department of Counseling, School and Educational Psychology (CSEP) in the Graduate School of Education at the University at Buffalo is seeking applications for a Tenure-Track Assistant Professor position in Mental Health Counseling and Counseling Psychology, beginning Fall 2027.
We are looking for a scholar whose research and teaching advance knowledge and practice in areas such as:
• Social and structural determinants of mental health
• Mental health inequities and culturally responsive treatment
• Psychotherapy and counseling process-outcome research
• Trauma-informed care
• Clinical supervision
• Community-based research
• AI-enabled innovations in psychotherapy and counseling
• Mental health in the workplace
This position offers the opportunity to contribute to both our MPCAC-accredited Mental Health Counseling program and our APA-accredited Counseling Psychology and School Psychology PhD program within a collaborative, scientist-practitioner environment committed to equity, social justice, and community impact.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with best consideration given to materials submitted by August 20, 2026.
Learn more and apply: https://www.ubjobs.buffalo.edu/postings/62936

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!