Student / Training Placements
We offer placements for people who want to gain experience in a community‑led organisation working at the intersections of health, wellbeing and social justice.
Types of placements we offer
Trainee counsellor placements
The majority of our placements are for trainee counsellors who are completing recognised counselling training programmes.
These placements are based within our counselling services and are designed to be structured and clinically appropriate. Trainee counsellors are treated as part of the team and receive:
- An induction to Spectra and our services
- Appropriate supervision arrangements
- Opportunities to develop skills through real‑world, community‑based practice
Availability depends on service capacity, supervision arrangements and organisational need.
Short student insight placements (very limited)
Very occasionally, we are able to offer short, week‑long insight placements for younger students.
These are not counselling placements. Instead, they are designed to:
- Offer a broad introduction to working in a charity like Spectra
- Help students understand community‑led work and social justice in practice
- Provide light‑touch, observational or project‑based experiences, rather than frontline service delivery
These opportunities are rare and offered on a case‑by‑case basis only, depending on staff capacity and safeguarding considerations.
What to expect from a placement at Spectra
Placements at Spectra are designed to be meaningful and supportive. You’ll be treated as part of the team, with opportunities to learn, reflect and develop your skills in a real‑world setting.
We welcome people from a wide range of backgrounds and particularly value lived experience and community knowledge.
Support and accessibility
We aim to make placements as accessible as possible and are happy to discuss adjustments or support needs before and during a placement, when opportunities are open.
Available placement opportunities
Psychosexual Trainee Counsellor
About the Role This trainee therapist role offers free psychosexual counselling to the community, offering welcoming and affirmative spaces for individuals who may have struggled to access support elsewhere. Trainees see an average of 4 clients a week for individual counselling, over 6-week periods, online & in-person. A placement at Spectra offers the unique opportunity…
Fixed term till 29 Oct, 2027
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Part time (1 day per week)
Closing:
2026-09-21 17:00
ALEX Project – Trainee Counsellor / Therapist
About the Role This trainee therapist role offers peer-led therapeutic support for sex workers. The postholder will support the ALEX Project (a peer-led service provided by Advocates with Lived EXperience) therapy service, creating welcoming and affirmative spaces for individuals who may not have found this elsewhere. The ALEX Project supports sex workers, often from marginalised…
Fixed term till 31 Dec, 2027
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Part time (1 day per week)
Closing:
2026-09-24 17:00