Requirements for trainees

1.

Training enrolment

All trainees are required to be enrolled in a BACP, UKCP, NCPS, BABCP or BPC 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 BPC).

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 fortnightly 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.

Updated - 2 June 2026

We will resume processing new applications from winter 2026. This ensures that everyone currently in Hammock; our clients, initial assessors, counsellors and supervisors, are all well held and supported in their roles. 

In the meantime, you are very welcome to provide us with your name and email address and we will notify you when we recommence recruitment.

Please note, due to high volumes of enquiries, we cannot always respond to individual emails but we will try. 

Click here to be notified.

Thanks for your understanding. 

Ed & Tom

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 & 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 & time commitment

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.

We welcome supervisors to apply even if you can only offer one 90 minute supervision session per fortnight. There will typically be three counsellors in each supervision group accounting for around 9-12 clients per group.

4.

Supervision qualifications & experience.

All supervisors must: 

• hold a qualification in supervision.
•  have a minimum of 3 years’ clinical supervision experience, and to be in current supervised counselling practice.
• 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.
• be experienced and competent in online and phone therapy (OPT) and meet the relevant OPT supervision competences in alignment with your professional body.
• demonstrate their OPT supervision experience and competence with evidence of OPT supervision training (either through their original supervision qualification or subsequent CPD) and have provided online supervision for at least one year. 
• 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 counselling 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.