Student counselling

Successful applicants are offered a placement that can last for up to, but not more than, two years; subject to regular review. You will follow a structured programme that supports you in developing a range of counselling and employment skills and experience. You will typically see three clients per week.

Our placements emphasise a learning experience that reflects a wide range of activities and duties found in real work environments, including:

The Student Counselling and Wellbeing service centres around ‘The Cardiff Model’, providing brief, solution-focused therapy for students presenting with a diverse range of issues such as relationships, depression, anxiety, loss, abuse and self-harm.

First year

You will be assisted in developing your core counselling skills, in line with the modality of your course; working with clients for up to ten sessions face-to-face at the Centre for Student Life, on Park Place or Heath Park Campus.

Second year

As the work experience placement progresses, you will be trained and given the opportunity to work within the Cardiff Model; working with clients for up to four sessions, and conducting one and half hour therapeutic consultation appointments. We currently plan to have second year associates working remotely, to provide working online experience, and also to accommodate the new intake of first year associates.

Associate work experience placements will normally be in the diploma year, or the second year of undergraduate, counselling training.

We only accept applications from students studying on courses accredited by The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), The British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP) or equivalent.

If you are uncertain if your course is accredited please check with your training organisation or check at the BACP or BABCP websites.

If you are a current Cardiff University student or member of staff, you can apply but in line with the BACP Ethical Framework, there would need to be careful considerations regarding potential boundary issues which may prevent you from being able to join us. Students completing the Cardiff University Postgraduate Certificate in Cognitive Behavioural Therapies are eligible to apply.

Successful candidates must be available to attend both days of a two-day induction programme on 5 and 7 November 2024 (to be confirmed).

Places are offered conditionally, pending a successful DBS check and the receipt of references. We request that applicants are already set up on the DBS update service as this prevents what can be very long delays in getting you up and running with clients.

Values and behaviours

We are looking for individuals who are:

• open to learning; self-reflective learners, willing to receive feedback and grow from experiences
• adaptable
• able to demonstrate empathy
• enthusiastic and professional with an ability to collaborate with the team
• willing to challenge themselves and be challenged to develop both personally and professionally

Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds. We therefore welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of sex, ethnicity, disability, gender, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age.

Cardiff University is committed to adhering to the Equality Act (2010), the Wales Act (2017), the Wales anti-racism action plan and the Data Protection Act (2018). The University has developed a Strategic Equality plan. We also have a dignity at work and study policy to promote an environment and culture where differences are welcomed.

You will be working with students who have come here from Cardiff and across the world and are seeking support from services that understand the cultural, practical and emotional challenges of studying and living abroad and strive to understand their worldview and the unique challenges and demands of studying abroad. With 7,530 international students from more than 138 countries, international students represent almost 20% of the student population.

We know that men are still less likely than women to seek counselling and the counselling and wellbeing teams are actively engaged in addressing this imbalance. We are also increasingly supporting students with experiences of trauma and pre-diagnosed mental health conditions, accessing study at university level and, seeking support to meet their goal of achieving a degree. We would welcome applications from those with experience of these issues.

Complete our application form

Applications close at midnight on Monday 12 August.