Our Affiliates

Counselling Works Now consists of a broad range of counsellors known as "affiliates". The affiliates range from trainees through to the MBACP Senior Accredited Counsellor level. In this way we think we can meet the needs of almost all clients and usually at a cost which almost anyone can afford. We check that the counsellors are working professionally and ethically. As well as general counselling experience (which is suitable for most clients), we can offer specialist areas of help (e.g., sexual orientation, adoption, drugs and alcohol abuse, minority issues, job stresses, relationship), and also offer sessions in home languages (e.g., Urdu, Hindi and Marathi).

What training and experience do Counselling Works Now affiliates have?

We have five categories of affiliates:

1. Trainees. They will have completed a Certificate in Counselling and are now on a professional training course working toward their Diploma in Counselling qualification. As a part of this they are required to see real clients to build up their counselling experience. They receive "clinical supervised", which means that their work is closely monitored by a very experienced counsellor. The counsellors are not paid, the fee simply pays for the cost of the room rent.

Expect to pay about £10 a session.

We will ALWAYS tell you when you are seeing a trainee. Some counselling organisations use trainees without telling clients! It is worth checking this important point.

2. First year Diploma. A minimum of a Diploma in Counselling, which means they have at least 150 hours training and are therefore qualified. They will have completed this training within the last year. They are now building up their experience.

Expect to pay about £20 a session.

3. Second year + Diploma. As category 2 above, but two or more years after qualifying.

Expect to pay about £30 a session.

4. Accredited Counsellors/Psychologists. To be Accredited a counsellor must have completed at least 450 hours training plus a minimum of 450 hours experience with clients. The Accreditation is awarded by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. The counsellor is required to demonstrate a clear understanding of counselling theory and back that up with case study material.

Expect to pay about £40 a session.

5. BACP Senior Accredited Counsellors/Psychologists. To reach this standard the counsellor must have been accredited for at least 6 years (so probably has at least 10 years experience) and have completed at least 1,000 hours with clients.

Expect to pay about £50 a session.

Our most experienced counsellors far exceed this level of training and experience.