South Bucks Hospice offers a placement service for students from the second year of their counselling and psychotherapy training course (Diploma, Degree or Master's levels) and for qualified counsellors who would like to volunteer with us, working towards accreditation. We recruit twenty counsellors/ psychotherapists to our team each year. The placement commitment is from September to June, the following year, following the academic calendar, with opportunities to extend the placement for as many academic years as you feel you can commit to.
A placement at South Bucks Hospice offers a great opportunity to link skills and theoretical learning to therapeutic practice and offers CPD, networking, supervision and support. South Bucks Hospice offers a supportive counselling service to those suffering from bereavement, loss and life limiting conditions and also to their carers. We provide an environment of learning and development within our field of expertise. We are able to offer placements for student counsellors looking for placements with adults (age 18+). We adhere to the BACP (British Association of Counselling & Psychotherapy) Ethical Guidelines and expect all counsellors to work within this framework. Although we welcome students from all counselling modalities, the Individual and Family Support Service works from an integrative perspective, respecting all modalities, especially person centred models. Our organisation has the reputation of supporting a large body of volunteers and is backed up by an efficient administrative team. We have an excellent standing for providing a high quality professional service. This ensures that we get a good rate of referrals from GP’s and other health service professionals. Placement volunteers make a financial contribution of £20 per month. The £20 will be payable for the entire duration of your time as a trainee and if you wish to stay on post 100 hours of client contact hours too, because you will still be receiving group supervision. If you stay on you will still be expected to see a minimum of three clients per week to make the service viable and to make a place in our supervision groups viable.
Free parking outside the hospice and free coffee/ hot drinks are also available for counselling volunteers. The monthly contribution for trainees and those working towards accreditation is payable by direct debit for the duration of the placement.
Student Counsellor Testimonial
South Bucks Hospice has been an invaluable part of my journey as a student counsellor.
“South Bucks Hospice has been an invaluable part of my journey as a student counsellor. From the moment I stepped through their doors, I felt embraced by a team that was not only supportive but also deeply committed to my growth and development. The structured supervision and the opportunity to work with a diverse range of clients have all contributed to my professional and personal growth.”
The team at South Bucks Hospice has provided me with a solid foundation, equipping me with necessary skills and confidence to transition to a professional role.
“ The team at South Bucks Hospice has provided me with a solid foundation, equipping me with the necessary skills and confidence to transition into a professional role. Their clear policies and procedures, coupled with a nurturing environment, have been instrumental in shaping my development and understanding as a counsellor."
"I am immensely grateful for my time at South Bucks Hospice so far, and I am confident that the experiences and lessons learned here will continue to guide me as I embark on my career as a qualified counsellor."
Next intake:
September 2025
Interviews: June and July 2025
Induction: September 2025
For more information, email counselling@sbhospice.org.uk