Welcome to Hunter Gatherer Mental Health, your specialist partner for counsellor recruitment across the UK.
We place counsellors into NHS trusts, community mental health services, employee assistance programmes (EAPs), schools and universities, charitable organisations and private providers on both a locum and permanent basis. Whether you’re a service looking to expand counselling capacity or a counsellor looking for your next opportunity, we offer well-matched placements and a responsive service.
What is Counselling?
Counselling is a talking therapy that provides individuals with a safe, confidential space to explore emotional difficulties, psychological distress, and personal challenges. Counsellors use a range of therapeutic approaches – including person-centred therapy, psychodynamic counselling, integrative models, and solution-focused techniques – to support clients in understanding their experiences and developing their own resources for change.
Counsellors work across a broad range of settings in the UK – from NHS talking therapies services and CMHT step-down support to GP-embedded counsellors, school and college counselling services, charity and third-sector providers, and employee assistance programmes. The setting significantly shapes the model of practice, the client group, and the level of accreditation expected.
Why Services Choose Hunter Gatherer for Counsellor Recruitment:
- Professional accreditation checked Counselling in the UK is not statutorily regulated, which means accreditation standards vary by setting and employer. We confirm BACP, UKCP, COSCA or other relevant accreditation status, alongside clinical experience and suitability for the specific role, before anyone is put forward.
- Matched to the right setting NHS counsellors, EAP counsellors, school counsellors, bereavement counsellors – the role and the required experience differ significantly. We match on background and specialism, not just availability.
- Locum and permanent placements Urgent cover or a longer-term hire – we support both.
Need support attracting top Counsellor talent?
Counselling Settings We Recruit For:
- NHS Talking Therapies / Primary Care Counselling – counsellors working within NHS-commissioned talking therapies services alongside CBT therapists and PWPs
- Community Mental Health Teams (CMHTs) – counselling input within integrated community mental health services
- GP-Embedded Counselling Services – primary care counsellors working from GP surgeries and PCNs
- Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs) – short-term telephone and face-to-face counselling, typically 6–8 sessions, for employees referred through workplace EAP contracts
- Schools and Educational Settings – school counsellors working with children and young people, often funded through local authorities or NHS CYPMHS
- Universities and Higher Education – student counselling services
- Bereavement and Palliative Care Services – specialist counselling in hospice, cancer care and bereavement settings
- Addiction and Substance Misuse Services – counselling within drug and alcohol treatment programmes
- Charitable and Third Sector Providers – counselling through mental health charities, domestic abuse services, homelessness organisations and similar
- Private Counselling Practices and Clinics – sessional and employed counsellors in private settings
Counselling Approaches We Cover:
We place counsellors from a range of therapeutic backgrounds and training models:
- Person-centred and humanistic counselling
- Psychodynamic and psychoanalytic counselling
- Integrative and pluralistic approaches
- Solution-focused counselling
- Trauma-focused and trauma-informed practice
- Bereavement and loss counselling
- Relationship and couples counselling
- Addiction counselling
- Cognitive Behavioural Counselling (distinct from high-intensity CBT – see our CBT Therapists page)
Qualifications We Look For:
Counselling in the UK is not regulated by statute – there is no single mandatory register equivalent to the NMC or HCPC. In practice, employers use accreditation with a recognised professional body as the benchmark for quality and ethical practice. Most NHS, EAP and organised sector employers require:
- A recognised counselling qualification at Level 4 minimum (CPCAB, NCFE, or equivalent); most NHS and EAP roles expect Level 5 or above, or a degree-level qualification
- Accreditation with BACP, UKCP, COSCA (Scotland) or an equivalent recognised body – most NHS and higher-acuity settings specify BACP accreditation or working towards it
- Appropriate supervised hours and post-qualification clinical experience relevant to the setting
- Valid DBS (enhanced for roles with children, young people or vulnerable adults)
- Regular clinical supervision (most employers and professional bodies require this to be ongoing)
For NHS-employed counsellors, roles typically sit at Band 5 or Band 6 depending on qualification level and experience. Band 7 and above generally reflects counselling psychologists or senior practitioner/lead roles rather than counsellors per se.
Locum Counselling Opportunities:
Locum counselling work spans a wide range of settings and session models – from EAP telephone counselling with flexible hours to sessional NHS primary care counselling or short-term cover in school and charity settings. Whether you want to supplement a private practice or take on a substantial locum block, we’ll find roles that match your approach, accreditation and availability.
We have active counsellor requirements across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Lets start the search for your next role in Counselling
Counsellor Pay Rates (2025/26):
Pay for counsellors varies significantly by setting and employer type. In the NHS, counsellors working in primary care or talking therapies services typically sit at Band 5, earning £22–£28 per hour as a locum, or Band 6 for more experienced or specialist practitioners at £28–£36 per hour.
EAP counselling is typically paid per session or on a sessional day rate rather than an NHS hourly rate — rates vary considerably by provider and contract model. School and charitable sector counselling roles vary widely and often fall outside NHS AfC structures.
For permanent salaried roles within NHS services, Band 5 runs from £31,049 to £37,796 (2025/26) and Band 6 from £38,682 to £46,580.
Our consultants can advise on going rates for your specific setting, qualification level and accreditation status.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- Do counsellors need to be BACP accredited to work through Hunter Gatherer? It depends on the role. Most NHS and EAP positions require BACP accreditation or working towards it. School and charity sector roles vary. We’ll always be clear about what each specific employer requires and will not put you forward for roles your accreditation level doesn’t meet.
- Is counselling regulated in the UK? Counselling is not currently regulated by statute in the UK – meaning there is no legal requirement to hold a licence to practise. However, professional accreditation with BACP, UKCP, or a similar body is expected by most organised employers and is considered the professional standard. The sector has been subject to ongoing discussion about statutory regulation.
- What’s the difference between a counsellor and a CBT therapist on this site? CBT therapists typically hold a postgraduate diploma in CBT and BABCP accreditation, and work primarily in NHS Talking Therapies delivering structured CBT protocols. Counsellors typically work from a broader range of therapeutic models (person-centred, psychodynamic, integrative) and in a wider range of settings. Both are placed by Hunter Gatherer – see our CBT Therapists page for high-intensity therapy roles.
- Do you place EAP counsellors? Yes – EAP counselling is a distinct and active part of our counsellor network. If you have experience of short-term telephone or face-to-face EAP counselling, let us know when you register.
- What areas do you cover? We place counsellors across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – including London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow, Edinburgh and beyond.
Your future starts here!
Discover our latest opportunities or register with us today to unlock your potential!
Testimonials:
Latest Roles
No jobs found.