Counselling Psychologist
Counselling Psychologists help individuals, couples, families and groups to explore their experiences and resolve psychological issues. They treat a wide range of mental health problems – from depression, anxiety and trauma to personality difficulties and life transitions. Working from a psychosocial perspective, they pay close attention to the whole person (including social, cultural and developmental factors) and use psychological theory to understand and reduce distress. The therapeutic relationship is central: counselling psychologists emphasise empathy, collaboration and the patient’s own capacity for change.
What the Role Involves
Counselling Psychologists conduct assessment interviews and then deliver tailored psychological therapies. Typical activities include:
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Psychotherapeutic Treatment: Work with clients on an individual, couple, family or group basis. Methods might include cognitive-behavioural techniques, systemic family therapy, or psychodynamic counselling – chosen to suit each case. For example, they may help someone process grief, overcome trauma or improve relationships.
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Holistic Formulation: They pay attention to a client’s life context (e.g. cultural background, social circumstances). They formulate cases collaboratively, integrating psychological assessments (sometimes using psychometric tests) and the client’s story to guide therapy.
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Team Collaboration: Often based in mental health services, counselling psychologists work in multidisciplinary teams (including psychiatrists, nurses, social workers) and may collaborate with GPs and community agencies. They might co-lead therapy clinics or provide consultation to colleagues.
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Education and Advocacy: Some counselling psychologists teach communication skills to other staff or advocate for patient-focused service development. They may also deliver workshops on coping strategies or resilience.
Career Progression Opportunities
After qualification, counselling psychologists can advance to senior clinical roles, such as Lead Psychologist or Consultant Psychologist, taking on service design and supervision responsibilities. They often develop specialisms (e.g. working specifically with trauma or perinatal mental health) and may move into managerial, research or teaching careers in later stages. GMMH also supports trained counselling psychologists in pursuing additional accreditation (e.g. in EMDR, family therapy or CBT) to broaden their practice.
Why Work at GMMH
GMMH offers a rich environment for counselling psychologists to thrive. You’ll work in settings ranging from community mental health teams to hospitals, in culturally diverse communities. The Trust provides strong clinical supervision and peer learning. Importantly, GMMH invests in your growth – with opportunities to present research, attend conferences or take leadership courses. With comprehensive benefits (NHS pension, generous leave) and an emphasis on work-life balance, GMMH makes it rewarding to build a long-term counselling psychology career here.
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