Personal therapy for trainee counsellors
A BACP and NCPS requirement during training — and much more than a box to tick. Reduced rates available, online UK-wide, face-to-face in select locations. Therapists who understand what it means to be on both sides of the room.
BACP & NCPS required during training
Reduced rates for trainees
5,000+
People supported
90+
Qualified therapists
5 ★
Website testimonials
Est 2014
NCPS Organisational Member
This page is part of our Counsellor Hub — visit for a full overview of how we support counsellors and trainees
Why personal therapy matters when you are training to be a counsellor
The BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) and the NCPS (National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society) both require trainee counsellors to be in personal therapy during their training. The number of hours required varies by programme level and training provider, but the principle is consistent across the profession: you cannot ethically ask clients to engage in the work of therapy if you are not prepared to do it yourself.
But personal therapy during training is more than a requirement to satisfy. It is where you encounter the experience of being a client first-hand — the vulnerability, the trust, the resistance, the transformation. It is where you meet your own material, which will inevitably show up in the room with your clients. Trainees who take their personal therapy seriously tend to become more present, more honest, and more effective practitioners.
At Hope Therapy, we work with trainee counsellors and post-qualification counsellors at all stages. We understand the particular pressures of being in training — the financial weight, the time demands, the emotional intensity of learning a new way of being with people. Our therapists have experienced this process themselves and approach your therapy with that understanding.
All sessions are confidential and conducted in line with your professional body’s ethical framework. We can provide confirmation of attendance for your training provider if required. There are limited circumstances in which confidentiality may need to change — for example, where there is a serious risk of harm — and your therapist will explain these clearly before your first session.
Our Approaches
How we work
Our therapists draw on a range of evidence-based approaches. Your therapy is tailored to you — not to a fixed model.
Person-Centred Therapy
Grounded in unconditional positive regard, empathy, and congruence. A space where you are met as you are, without agenda or judgement. Particularly valuable for trainees exploring their own identity as a therapist.
Integrative & Humanistic
Drawing on multiple therapeutic traditions to meet your individual needs. For trainees, this can also support deeper understanding of the models you are learning — experiencing approaches as a client gives them a different kind of meaning.
CBT
Structured, evidence-based work with thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. Useful for trainees dealing with specific anxieties — around performance, imposter syndrome, or the demands of training — and for building practical coping skills.
Psychodynamic
Exploring the influence of early experience, patterns of relating, and what lies beneath the surface. For trainees, this can be profoundly useful for understanding the relational dynamics that will arise in your clinical work.
EMDR
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing — for trainees carrying unprocessed experiences that may be activated by the clinical work. EMDR can help process trauma and reduce its impact in the therapeutic relationship.
Solution-Focused
Forward-looking and strengths-based. Useful for trainees navigating the practical and emotional demands of training who want to build on what is working and clarify what they need next in their development.
What our clients say
Real experiences
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
From the very first call I felt heard. They matched me to the right therapist and the process was straightforward from the start.
Hope Therapy client
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
As someone training in the field, I was anxious about finding a therapist who understood the particular position I was in. Hope Therapy understood that without me having to over-explain.
Counselling trainee, Hope Therapy client
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The support was efficient, responsive, and genuinely caring. I felt like I was in the right hands from the beginning.
Hope Therapy client
Experiences are unique to each individual. These are genuine testimonials from Hope Therapy clients.
Getting started
How the process works
From first contact to first session in three simple steps.
1
Free 15-minute consultation
Book a free 15-minute call with a member of our team. You tell us where you are in your training, what you are looking for in a therapist, and any specific requirements from your training provider. No obligation.
2
We match you to a therapist
Based on your approach, availability, and what you are looking to work on, we match you to a therapist from our team of 90+ qualified practitioners. You are not allocated at random — the match is considered.
3
Your first session
Your first session is an opportunity to meet your therapist, talk through what brings you to therapy, and decide whether the relationship feels right. There is no pressure to commit before you are ready.
Most clients hear back from us the same working day, and typically begin sessions within a week of the free consultation — depending on your preferences and therapist availability.
Finding Your Therapist
The right match matters — particularly when you are training
When you are a trainee counsellor in personal therapy, you are not just working on your own material — you are also, whether consciously or not, forming impressions of what the therapeutic relationship looks and feels like from the inside. The therapist you work with during training shapes your understanding of the work in ways that stay with you.
We take matching seriously. You tell us what you are looking for, what approach resonates, what your training provider needs, and we find the best available fit in our team. If the first match does not feel right, we will rematch without pressure or delay.
- Matching based on your approach, availability, and training requirements
- 90+ qualified therapists covering a wide range of modalities
- Online UK-wide; face-to-face in select locations
- Confirmation of attendance provided for training providers on request
- Rematching available if the therapeutic relationship is not the right fit
Transparent Pricing
Session fees
Reduced rates are available for trainees. Get in touch to discuss your circumstances.
Individual Counselling
From £65
per 50-minute session
- Online via Zoom or telephone
- Face-to-face where available
Reduced Trainee Rate
Ask Us
per 50-minute session
- Reduced rates for counselling trainees
- Please contact us to discuss your circumstances and we will do our best to find a rate that works for you.
CBT
From £85
per 50-minute session
- With a qualified CBT practitioner
- Online or face-to-face
Fees are per session. Reduced rates are available for trainees — contact us to discuss. We can provide a letter confirming attendance for your training provider on request.
London clients: Location-adjusted rates may apply. Please ask during your free consultation and we will confirm the exact fee before you commit to anything.
Common Questions
Frequently asked questions
Is personal therapy a requirement during counsellor training?
Yes. The BACP and the NCPS both require trainee counsellors to be in personal therapy during their training. The exact number of hours required varies by training provider and programme level, but the principle is universal: you cannot ethically ask clients to do the work of therapy if you are not prepared to do it yourself.
Is a reduced rate available for counselling trainees?
Yes. We offer reduced-rate sessions for counselling trainees in training. Please get in touch to discuss the current reduced rate — we aim to make personal therapy as accessible as possible for trainees who are already carrying the financial pressure of a counselling qualification.
Can I use these sessions to count toward my required personal therapy hours?
Yes. Sessions with our qualified therapists count toward your required personal therapy hours for your training programme. We can provide confirmation of attendance if your training provider requires it.
Does my therapist need to know I am a trainee counsellor?
We recommend you tell your therapist you are in training. This is not because it changes the therapeutic work — your experience as a client remains primary — but because knowing the context allows your therapist to be appropriately aware of the dual role dynamic. Most experienced therapists have worked with trainees before and understand this dynamic well.
Can post-qualification counsellors also access therapy here?
Yes. We work with qualified counsellors at all stages — during training, immediately post-qualification, and throughout a practising career. Many experienced practitioners return to therapy at significant points in their professional lives, or maintain ongoing therapy as part of their own self-care. You do not need to be in training to access therapy through us.
Is the therapy online or face-to-face?
We offer both online sessions (nationwide, via Zoom or telephone) and face-to-face sessions in select locations across England. Online is available to any trainee in the UK. Please check with your training provider whether online sessions count toward your required personal therapy hours.
Related Support
Other support for counsellors and trainees
Ready to start your personal therapy?
A free 15-minute consultation is the easiest way to find the right therapist and discuss your training requirements. No commitment, no pressure.
Get in Touch
Have a question before booking?
Send us a message and a member of our team will get back to you. All enquiries are treated in the strictest confidence.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
“Hope Therapy understood the particular position I was in as a trainee counsellor. I felt heard from the very first call.”
Counselling trainee, Hope Therapy client
NCPS Organisational Member
Est 2014
90+ Qualified Therapists
National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society
British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy
British Association for Behavioural & Cognitive Psychotherapies
Individual registrations vary per therapist. Last reviewed: May 2026.