It is often very competitive to obtain a place on a postgraduate course in Counselling Psychology. Whether or not you will be accepted onto one of these courses depends on what relevant work experience you have undertaken. Voluntary work usually needs to be obtained before paid work, and is just as valuable as it shows that you have developed basic skills for this area which can later be enhanced. This will definitely give you an edge over competitors!
Sometimes it’s challenging to find work experience in a social or health care setting. If this is the case, shadowing someone to find out more about their job would be useful or even arranging a meeting with them to discuss what their career entails. The BPS allows you to search for psychologists in your area.
Below are a few opportunities that would be relevance to the Counselling field (including some in the local area):
The University of Southampton runs a programme for a Voluntary Research Assistant (VRA). This is unpaid and usually runs over the summer or a few hours a week during term time. It is a great opportunity to increase your chances of achieving a place on a postgraduate course. In addition, the researchers could write a letter of reference for you.
NoLimits welcomes volunteers offer free and confidential information, support, advice and counselling to people around the Southampton area with a variety of problems.
Residential volunteering at Beaulieu, New Forest – transport is provided from Southampton.
Voluntary work for UK charities for people with brain injuries at Headway Southampton. There are currently two opportunities available: one is supporting the individuals with activities and the other is working as a volunteer mentor.
Friends without Borders: befriend immigration detainees with many of them not having any contact with the outside world.
Assistant Psychologist role – easier to obtain after graduation and relevant voluntary work experience has been undertaken. These roles can be found in the Psychologist Appointments which is part of ‘The Psychologist’ (the BPS monthly magazine), in newspapers or in specialist publications.
A Criminal Records Bureau Check will be needed if you are dealing with confidential or sensitive information.