To access our service you must be:

• 18+ years old
• Living in the UK
• Able to access the internet in a confidential space
• Able to commit to weekly online sessions, ideally at the same time each week. We understand, however, that this is not always a possibility, for example if you have shift work. We can discuss how this can be accommodated during the initial assessment.
• Willing to give consent for Hammock to hold confidential data including your GP, your contact details and home address, and the name and contact details of an emergency contact.

Limitations at Hammock

As our service is offered by counsellors in training, Hammock is not able to accept clients who have:

• Experienced severe trauma
• A diagnosed personality disorder
• Current psychosis
• Active suicidality or who have attempted suicide in the last three years
• Active addictions and/or a severe eating disorders

Should this mean that Hammock isn’t suitable for your needs, you may wish to contact a therapist via the BACP or the Counselling Directory.

It is also important to note that Hammock is not a crisis service. If you require more immediate support, please see our urgent help page.

In order to proceed with booking your initial assessment, please confirm that you have read and understood the above requirements and limitations. If you are uncertain, please contact Hammock and we will be happy to help where we can.

Requirements for trainees

1.

Training enrollment

All trainees are required to be enrolled in a BACP, UKCP, NCPS, BABCP or vcBPS accredited training.

2.

Professional membership

All trainees are required to hold valid membership with their relevant professional body during their time with Hammock Counselling (e.g. BACP, UKCP, NCPS, BABCP or BPS).

3.

Insurance

All trainees are required to hold valid insurance during their time with Hammock Counselling.

4.

Personal therapy requirement

At Hammock, we believe in the importance of therapists experiencing for themselves, the significance and power of the therapeutic work you are providing for others. Therefore, and before being able to start your client work with Hammock, all trainees are required to have completed a minimum of six months’ personal therapy in one continuous piece of work, or 50 sessions over a number of therapists.

Ideally, some of this experience is with a psychodynamic therapist. We believe this helps develop the highest levels of self awareness and a deeper appreciation for the importance of the therapeutic relationship; something which is at the core of effective therapeutic work, and the centre of Hammock’s culture. See here for further details.

If, however, you have not yet completed these hours and you are in the process of completing them, we still encourage you to submit your application.

5.

Your approach and philosophy

First and foremost, Hammock looks for integrative trainees who are in the process of figuring out their own unique integrative approach and philosophy. We are, however, an organisation that deeply values the depth and rigour that psychodynamic practice can bring to our work with clients. Therefore, we look for trainees who already have a passion or growing curiosity for psychodynamic work, and who want to develop this aspect of their practice. See here for further details.

6.

Time commitment & supervision attendance

Becoming a counsellor with Hammock is a commitment of time and effort – as you increase your case load, counselling, record-keeping and supervision may take up to the equivalent of one day a week, although this might not all be on one day.

Quality supervision is at the centre of Hammock’s aim to support the counselling and psychotherapy profession. Therefore, attendance of weekly supervision is a requirement. However, we understand that people go on holiday and unexpected things happen.

We ask that trainees commit to at least 6 months with Hammock. This commitment allows supervision groups to work together at a deeper level, which in turn enables you to engage more deeply with your clients. This can foster more impactful therapeutic work for both you and your clients, and a more meaningful placement experience. 

7.

IT proficiency

Trainees need to be able to effectively conduct their sessions online with suitable equipment and internet connection. Trainees are required to be able to use, or be willing to learn to use, Google suite and basic functions on ICT management software.

In order to proceed with applying for a placement with Hammock Counselling, please confirm that you have read and understood the above requirements for trainees. If you have any further questions, please contact Hammock and we will be happy to help where we can.

Requirements for supervisors

1.

Professional registration

All supervisors must have a full membership (i.e. not a student, affiliated or other category) of a professional body that is directly related to counselling or psychotherapy and is accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (e.g. BPC, UKCP, BACP)

2.

Client training and practice

Supervisors must have a training background in psychodynamic practice, and be able and willing to work integratively with their own clients. This is to match the general approach and philosophy of Hammock trainees. As your supervisees will be working online with their clients, you will also be expected to have suitable qualification and experience in working with your own clients online.

Alternatively, evidence of attending and contributing to psychodynamic or psychoanalytic CPD (accredited by BPC, SAP, or BPF) will be considered.

3.

Employment status

Supervisors are paid on a self-employed basis, and are responsible for arranging their employment status. Supervisors will be paid £70 per 90 minute session. Supervisors will invoice Hammock on a fortnightly basis referencing their UTR number. Hammock will not make any tax deductions on supervisors’ behalf.

4.

Supervision qualification and experience

• All supervisors must have provided professional supervision relating to counselling or psychotherapy of at least 100 hours in total, after qualifying as a counsellor or psychotherapist. These hours will ideally include experience of working with trainees on placement.
• All supervisors must be experienced and competent in online and phone therapy (OPT) and meet the relevant OPT supervision competences in alignment with your professional body.
• All supervisors must have professional indemnity insurance and be engaged with their own supervision to the level required by their professional body

5.

IT proficiency

Supervisors need to be able to effectively conduct their sessions online with suitable equipment and internet connection. Supervisors are required to be able to use, or be willing to learn to use, Google suite and basic functions on ICT management software.

In order to proceed with applying for a supervision role with Hammock Counselling, please confirm that you have read and understood the above requirements for supervisors. If you have any further questions, please contact Hammock and we will be happy to help where we can.

Psychodynamic councelling with Hammock

Whilst we recognise the value of each practitioner’s unique integrative approach and philosophy, Hammock also values the opportunity for trainees to work alongside supervisors with rigorous backgrounds in psychodynamic counselling and psychotherapy.

This information is intended to provide prospective trainees with a statement of what Hammock considers as the fundamentals of psychodynamic counselling. It is also intended as a statement for clients, referrers, trainers, potential counsellors and staff.

The following are considered by Hammock Counselling to be the cornerstones of psychodynamic counselling:

1.

The relationship between counsellor and client is central to the counselling work. The relationship is based on respect, concern, empathy, genuineness and acknowledgement of the client’s feelings.

2.

Feelings and thoughts, which the counsellor experiences in the sessions with the client, can be useful for further understanding and exploration.

3.

Issues arising out of the relationship between counsellor and client may be used to illuminate the client’s patterns of relating.

4.

The client’s family history and previous life experiences are important to help understand current difficulties.

5.

Psychodynamic counselling is based on a belief in the existence of the unconscious, and that unconscious as well as conscious attitudes influence behaviour and relationships.