Practicum Students & Student Placements
Bridging the gap between education and lived experience.
At A Positive Start CIC, we believe meaningful therapeutic practice grows through relationship, reflection, compassion, accountability and lived understanding.
We are a trauma-informed, person-centred Community Interest Company committed to providing safe, non-judgemental support.
These principles shape both our community services and the professional learning environment we offer student counsellors.
Our placements aim to support the development of thoughtful, ethical and confident practitioners while contributing to the wider provision of counselling for adults.
We value authenticity over perfection, reflection over performance, and compassion alongside professional responsibility.
Learning Through Real-World Practice
A Positive Start CIC currently offers online practicum placements, subject to availability, suitability and organisational capacity.
Face-to-face opportunities may be considered in the future where facilities, supervision arrangements and service capacity allow.
Students are supported to gain meaningful counselling experience within a structured and professionally accountable environment.
Student counsellors are not paid for placement client hours, as these form part of their professional training requirements.
Unlike some international placement models, A Positive Start CIC does not charge students a placement fee to gain client hours.
Our published counselling fees apply to client appointments. Contributions support the professional systems, safeguarding, administration, supervision-related coordination and organisational infrastructure required to maintain our services.
Individual Placement Interview
Every prospective student participates in an individual placement interview.
This provides an opportunity to explore readiness, expectations, availability, suitability and support needs.
Supported Onboarding
Accepted students receive individual guidance in our systems, procedures and placement responsibilities.
Training continues as needed until students can use the required systems competently and confidently.
Reflective Learning
We encourage curiosity, discussion and ongoing reflection alongside formal academic learning.
Students are supported to develop their own therapeutic identity and professional judgement.
Ethical Responsibility
Students work within their training stage, competence, professional standards and agreed placement responsibilities.
Client wellbeing, confidentiality and appropriate safeguarding remain central throughout.
A Structured & Supportive Environment
We aim to create a placement culture that is welcoming, relational and professionally developmental.
Students accepted onto placement receive access to appropriate support and resources, including:
- One-to-one onboarding support.
- Individual #MyClientHub training and practical guidance.
- Secure online counselling systems and procedures.
- Google Classroom placement resources and materials.
- Shared operational calendars and scheduling guidance.
- Peer connection through our student WhatsApp community.
- Ongoing placement guidance and organisational support.
- Opportunities for workshops, reflection and psychoeducation.
Students must arrange and maintain the external clinical supervision, appropriate insurance and PVG or DBS checks required for their placement and training programme.
Placement agreements and any additional requirements must be completed before client allocation begins.
Availability & Timelines
Placement applications are reviewed carefully to ensure that the support offered to students and clients remains sustainable.
The process from application to placement commencement may take up to 12 weeks, depending on intake periods, organisational capacity and completion of onboarding.
Students are encouraged to plan their training hours proactively and consider more than one suitable placement setting where their course permits.
An offer of placement does not guarantee an immediate allocation of clients or a fixed number of counselling hours.
Client Safety & Allocation
A Positive Start CIC is not a crisis intervention service.
Referrals are assessed before allocation to help establish whether a student's current competency and placement arrangements are appropriate.
Students may work with up to five clients per week, depending on readiness, placement stage, availability and organisational capacity.
Students are encouraged to raise concerns about competence, confidence, therapeutic fit or safety promptly. Clinical concerns will be considered seriously.
Where clinically appropriate referrals are repeatedly declined without a clear rationale, future allocations may be reviewed to maintain fairness, continuity and effective service delivery.
Open communication about availability and changing circumstances is essential.
Lived Experience Alongside Education
Our practice culture draws upon professional education, reflective learning and lived experience insight.
Students may be introduced to aspects of the wider APS learning environment, including:
- Deb-On-Air lived experience conversations.
- The TRUST™ framework.
- STAND: Parents as Protectors, developed in partnership with Safeguarding Fundamentals.
- Reconnect & Regulate psychoeducation.
- Trauma-informed nervous system awareness.
- My Body Is My Body, River Room Songbook and related safeguarding education initiatives.
Students are not expected to adopt every framework or become replicas of other practitioners.
We encourage respectful discussion, critical thinking and independent professional development.
Each student remains responsible for developing their own theoretical orientation, professional identity and ethical understanding.
More Than Collecting Client Hours
Placement students are welcomed into a wider community focused on emotional wellbeing, safeguarding, prevention, education and connection.
Depending on interest and availability, opportunities may include:
- Reflective blog writing.
- Psychoeducational contributions.
- Workshop participation.
- Community wellbeing initiatives.
- Awareness and safeguarding projects.
- Peer learning and engagement.
- Organisational events and activities.
Students are also warmly invited to participate in suitable APS community events, where circumstances allow.
While participation in wider activities is encouraged rather than compulsory, students are expected to represent the organisation respectfully and maintain appropriate professional boundaries.
Developing Confidence with #MyClientHub
Throughout placement, students work within #MyClientHub, our client management environment supporting the practical responsibilities of counselling delivery.
Students receive guidance in relevant functions, including:
- Scheduling and managing appointments.
- Sending confirmations and reminders.
- Conducting secure online sessions.
- Maintaining confidential clinical records.
- Following agreed procedures for client communication.
- Understanding payment processes where appropriate.
Where recording or transcription is required for training, students must follow the relevant consent, confidentiality, safeguarding, data protection and organisational approval procedures before proceeding.
Preparing for Independent Practice
Students may also be introduced to #MyClientPlatform, our broader practice management system.
The platform is designed to bring together appointments, online sessions, client records, communication and administrative processes.
Familiarity with professional systems can help students prepare for the practical demands of counselling work beyond qualification.
Graduating placement students may be eligible for reduced subscription arrangements should they later choose to use the platform. Any available offer would be confirmed separately.
Universities, Colleges & Training Providers
We recognise the important role that universities, colleges and training providers play in preparing students for ethical therapeutic practice.
Placement arrangements are considered alongside relevant course requirements, professional expectations and the support APS can reasonably provide.
Where a placement is agreed, students are required to complete the necessary documentation and ensure that supervision, insurance and other relevant requirements are in place.
Training providers wishing to discuss potential placement arrangements are welcome to contact us.
Considering a Placement with APS?
We welcome students who value compassion, accountability, curiosity and the opportunity to learn through meaningful therapeutic relationships.
Placement opportunities are subject to availability, suitability and completion of the required processes.
If you have questions about our practicum approach, you are welcome to get in touch.
Enquire About PlacementsEnquiries do not guarantee an offer of placement.
Placement Partnerships with Universities, Colleges & Training Providers
