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Helpline: 03444 775 774 (M-F 10.30-4.30pm)
Text: 07537 416 905

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Become an Anxiety UK Approved Therapist

Why become an Anxiety UK Approved Therapist?

We’re a small, self-sufficient charity that understands the distress, isolation and misery that anxiety can cause.  We strongly believe in people having choice, and, through our therapy scheme, we offer prompt access to therapy at affordable rates for those who would otherwise be unable get help outside of the NHS. We therefore recruit therapists who are looking to give something back to society, support the work of our charity, and do good. If this sounds like you, please apply here.

Please note we are currently only recruiting for therapists that can offer EMDR therapy.

If you’re a trainee (requiring a placement), securing a placement with Anxiety UK will give you experience of working with clients presenting with a wide range of anxiety disorder presentations. We have placement opportunities for students on counselling and CBT courses and also welcome applications from therapists who have undertaken Part 1 of an official, Anxiety UK recognised EMDR course. Please note, placements are available across the UK, however students if wishing to offer therapy in a face-to-face capacity, will need to have access to a therapy room, as Anxiety UK cannot provide this. The information on this page should answer the majority of student placement queries, if however you have a question that is not addressed, please email: [email protected]Before emailing, please ensure that you have read this page thoroughly.

If you’re a qualified therapist the Anxiety UK Approved Therapist scheme gives you the opportunity to gain further experience of working with clients presenting with a wide range of anxiety disorders as well as the opportunity to become an expert in a particular area – for instance, the provision of therapy for clients from specific BME communities, from the LGBTQ community or from other specialist groups.

If you’re in private practice, the Anxiety UK Approved Therapist scheme gives valuable experience of working with clients presenting with a wide range of anxiety disorders from agoraphobia, social anxiety disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder through to specific phobias, OCD and health anxiety.

 

If you are a current Anxiety UK Approved Therapist and have a query, including anything relating to our online training platform, please contact: [email protected] 

If you have a query regarding a placement that is not addressed elsewhere on this page, please contact: [email protected] 

Please note that although we recruit across the whole of the UK, we do not provide therapy rooms for you to see clients. You must source your own therapy rooms for delivery of face-to-face support.

Please note we currently only have vacancies for therapists that can offer EMDR.

Criteria for becoming an Anxiety UK Approved Therapist

To become one of our Anxiety UK Approved Therapists, you must meet the following criteria:

Cognitive behavioural therapists (CBT)

You must hold a qualification from a course that has been accredited or is being accredited by the British Association for Behavioural & Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP) and/or individual accreditation with the BABCP. If you have a CBT qualification (Diploma or above) from a non-BABCP accredited course, you must be working towards BABCP accreditation within 12 months of being accepted as an Anxiety UK Approved Therapist. Alternatively, you must be working towards NCS Accredited Professional Registrant accreditation (NCPS Prof Accred) within 12 months of becoming an Anxiety UK Approved Therapist.

Clinical hypnotherapists

You must hold a Diploma in Clinical Hypnotherapy and be registered with one of the following professional bodies: The Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council, The British Society of Clinical Hypnosis, the General Hypnotherapy Register, National Council for Hypnotherapy, UK Council for Psychotherapy or The Hypnotherapy Society.

Compassion focused therapists (CFT)

Applicants or Anxiety UK Approved Therapists who have completed: Anxiety UK’s CPD 3 day Introduction to CFT training course or An equivalent CPD 3 day introduction course equivalent to the AUK course delivered by a provider recognised by the Compassionate Mind Foundation or An Advanced Clinical Skills training course in CFT from a provider recognised by the Compassionate Mind Foundation or Hold either a PG Cert or PG Diploma in CFT from a provider recognised by the Compassionate Mind Foundation.

Counsellors

You must hold a Diploma in Counselling from a course that has been accredited or is being accredited by either the British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP), the British Psychological Society (BPS) or the National Counselling Society (NCS) and/or individual registration/accreditation with the BACP or NCS. If you hold a Counselling diploma from a non-BACP, NCS or BPS accredited course, you must be working towards BACP, NCS or BPS accreditation within 12 months of being accepted as an Anxiety UK Approved Therapist.

Clinical psychologists

You must hold a BPS-approved Doctorate in Clinical Psychology and be registered with the HCPC, with experience of delivering CBT-based therapy. Membership and /or individual accreditation with the BABCP is welcomed.

Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing therapists (EMDR)

Applicants must have completed or be in the process of undertaking EMDR Europe training and be able to provide documentation of training certificates and/or be accredited with EMDR Europe.

*Please note – the Anxiety UK Approved Therapist Scheme is not open to applications from Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners (PWPs).

We also require the following from all Anxiety UK Approved Therapists:
  • Copies of Diploma level qualifications as a minimum (or be studying towards one)
  • Proof of professional indemnity insurance annually
  • Proof of professional body membership annually
  • A commitment to a minimum of ten hours of continuing professional development (CPD) per year. This varies between bodies
  • A named clinical supervisor & be in receipt of regular clinical supervision at a frequency that meets the requirements of your professional body
  • A valid DBS certificate (enhanced version), which is less than three years old and renewed every three years. For a copy of our Disclosure and Recruitment of Ex-offenders policies, please contact [email protected].

Benefits of being an Anxiety UK Approved Therapist

A unique, dedicated Anxiety UK Approved Therapist logo for each modality that you can use on your literature and online marketing materials.

Yes

Referrals to members for traditional therapy services (see below). We also provide therapeutic support for a range of partner beneficiaries, enabling you to work with a wide variety of clients/anxiety conditions.

Yes

Access to our Anxiety UK approved therapist membership package at a reduced annual rate of £25 (usual rate £40), with all the benefits of membership - including the quarterly magazine Anxious Times and much more!

Yes

Access to a range of useful Anxiety UK resources, including risk assessment flow charts, safeguarding protocols, etc.

Yes

Access to reduced rates for CPD events and other training opportunities.

Yes

Quarterly e-news bulletins, packed with helpful information, case studies and best practice examples.

Yes

30% discount of recommended books via Jessica Kingsley publisher, Sheldon Press and W.W. Norton.

Yes

20% discount on PESI UK products.

Yes

A significant discount on membership of the anxiety and depression association of America (adaa.org)

Yes

How to become an AUK Approved Therapist?

  1. Once you’ve completed the online application form via the link above and submitted details of two professional referees (one reference must be from your clinical supervisor), we’ll contact you to arrange a telephone interview before proceeding to the next stage.
  2. Subject to a satisfactory interview outcome, we’ll ask your referees for references (this usually takes two to three weeks). During this time, you’ll be asked to undertake an online training induction, which will be emailed to you.
  3. Once we’ve received satisfactory references, and all pre-requisite training and relevant paperwork has been completed and submitted to us (and subject to a satisfactory DBS check), we’ll add you to our database of Anxiety UK Approved Therapists. You’ll then be ready to receive referrals.

How does the referrals process work?

Anxiety UK provides therapeutic support through the following routes:

Member referrals:

Members of Anxiety UK can apply for our discounted rated therapy services at a cost based on their household income. We’ll conduct the necessary checks and allocate them to an Anxiety UK Approved Therapist, based on their needs and preferred location.

The client will make three payments (the first, second and last sessions for counselling, CFT or CBT) or two payments (the first and last sessions for clinical hypnotherapy) to Anxiety UK. If you’re a qualified Anxiety UK Approved Therapist, all other session payments go to you directly at the allocated rate.

Tier prices are as follows:

Tier Income bracket Fee per session

1

Under £10,000, or student in full time education living independently

£20

2

£10,000-£25,000

£30

3

£25,000-£40,000

£40

4

£40,000-£50,000

£50

5

£50,000+

£60

Partnership referrals

We also provide support for a number of charity partners organisations.

How many referrals will I get?

Our therapy services work on an on-demand basis, so we can’t guarantee the number of referrals or forecast the demand in any given area. However, we operate a very flexible system if you reach capacity or are unable to take referrals for personal reasons.

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