Student and Trainee Placements

At Serendipity Psychology Services, we are passionate about supporting the next generation of psychological professionals. We offer high-quality placement opportunities for students and trainees who want to develop their clinical knowledge, confidence and professional skills in a supportive multidisciplinary environment. 

Our placements provide real-world insight into psychological services, reflective practice, ethical decision-making and the delivery of compassionate, evidence-based care. 

Whether you are an undergraduate psychology student, a Trainee Counselling Psychologist, or a counsellor or psychotherapist in training, we aim to offer an enriching experience that prepares you for the next stage of your professional journey.

Counselling Psychology Trainee Placements 

We offer placements for Trainee Counselling Psychologists undertaking accredited doctoral training programmes. 

Trainees work alongside our experienced multidisciplinary team, developing confidence across a broad range of client presentations, therapeutic approaches and service settings. 

Placement opportunities may include: 

• Delivering psychological therapy under clinical supervision. 
• Supporting psychological assessments. 
• Attending multidisciplinary discussions and clinical meetings. 
• Observing specialist clinicians. 
• Developing formulation and treatment planning skills. 
• Facilitating psychoeducational and therapeutic groups. 
• Contributing to service development projects. 
• Delivering training and workshops. 
• Learning referral management, triage and clinical decision-making. 

Counselling and Psychotherapy Trainee Placements

We also welcome trainees studying counselling and psychotherapy who are working towards professional accreditation. 

Our trainee counsellors and psychotherapists support our Lower Fee Therapy Service, helping clients access affordable, high-quality therapy under close supervision from experienced practitioners. 

This provides trainees with valuable experience across a diverse range of presentations, including anxiety, depression, trauma, PTSD, relationship difficulties, bereavement, low self-esteem, emotional regulation difficulties, stress, burnout, neurodivergence, and childhood and family difficulties. 

Trainees become part of a thriving multidisciplinary practice where learning extends beyond individual therapy sessions.

Psychology Industry Year Placements 

Each year, we typically recruit three Psychology Industry Year Placement students to join our Practice Management and Triage Team. 

These placements are designed for motivated undergraduate psychology students who are considering a career in psychology and want meaningful experience before applying for postgraduate training. 

Students become immersed in the client journey from referral through to treatment, gaining invaluable insight into how a modern psychological service operates. 

Students gain experience in: 

• Initial client enquiries and consultation calls. 
• Clinical triage and referral allocation. 
• Understanding a wide range of mental health presentations. 
• Risk awareness and safeguarding procedures. 
• Working within a multidisciplinary team. 
• Clinical administration and service coordination. 
• Professional communication with clients, families and referrers. 
• NHS and independent healthcare pathways. 
• Confidentiality, governance and ethical practice. 

Students also have regular opportunities to support the clinical team and observe assessment and intervention work, providing a varied and realistic insight into the role of psychological professionals. 

Students regularly tell us that this experience significantly strengthens their applications for postgraduate psychology training by providing genuine insight into clinical practice and the realities of working within psychological services. 

What You Can Expect 

Across all placements, students and trainees have opportunities to gain insight into clinical practice, service delivery and multidisciplinary working. 

• Shadowing experienced psychologists and therapists. 
• Supporting neurodevelopmental assessments. 
• Learning psychological formulation and case conceptualisation. 
• Participating in supervision and reflective practice. 
• Facilitating or co-facilitating therapeutic and psychoeducational groups. 
• Delivering training and psychoeducation. 
• Developing assessment and report-writing skills where appropriate. 
• Learning how to undertake initial consultation calls. 
• Developing confidence in clinical triage and referral decision-making. 
• Contributing to service development and quality improvement projects. 
• Working alongside psychologists, counsellors, psychotherapists, occupational therapists, mental health nurses and assistant psychologists. 

Our aim is to help students and trainees understand not only how therapy is delivered, but how an effective, ethical and compassionate psychological service operates as a whole. 

Support, Supervision and Development 

We aim to offer the right balance of autonomy, responsibility, supervision and support. Students are encouraged to build confidence by taking increasing responsibility within a safe, reflective and well-supported environment. 

Students and trainees benefit from individual and group supervision, reflective practice, peer learning, mentoring, training opportunities and access to our Continuing Professional Development programme. We want every placement student to feel part of the team from day one and to leave feeling more knowledgeable, confident and prepared for their next professional step. 

Selection and Future Opportunities 

We receive a high level of interest in our placement opportunities each year, so the application process is competitive. We look for individuals who demonstrate academic ability, compassion, professionalism, initiative and a genuine passion for working in mental health. 

We invest significantly in every placement through high-quality supervision, CPD, mentoring, training and meaningful clinical experience within a thriving multidisciplinary service. 

Our support often continues after a placement ends. We are proud to mentor many of our graduates as they pursue Assistant Psychologist posts, therapist roles, doctoral training and other postgraduate opportunities. 

Many former placement students have returned to work with us as Assistant Psychologists and, following qualification and professional registration, some have gone on to join us as Associate Practitioners.

How to Apply 

If you are interested in applying for a student or trainee placement with Serendipity Psychology Services, please contact our team to enquire about current opportunities and application deadlines. 

Please include the following information in your enquiry: 

• Your name and contact details. 
• The type of placement you are interested in. 
• Your current course, university or training provider. 
• Your CV 
• Your stage of training and any placement requirements. 
• A brief summary of your relevant experience and career goals. 
• Your availability and preferred placement start date. 

Shortlisted applicants may be invited to provide further information and attend an interview. We will also confirm any supervision, placement-hour or university requirements as part of the application process. 

To enquire about current vacancies or future placement opportunities, please contact Serendipity Psychology Services. We look forward to hearing from students and trainees who are passionate about psychology, committed to learning and keen to make a meaningful contribution to the people we support.