Our EDI mentoring programme aims to support counselling and psychotherapy students and trainees from diverse, marginalised, and underrepresented communities (including people with disabilities, neurodivergence, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, asexual, + which represents all other sexual orientations and gender identities [LGBTQIA+] and people from less privileged social economic backgrounds.

The mentoring aims to provide:

  • knowledge and expertise in delivering equitable therapies to clients from diverse, marginalised, and underrepresented backgrounds
  • explore your own personal identities when providing therapy as someone from a diverse, marginalised, or underrepresented community
  • understand anti-oppressive practice in counselling

The programme is designed as part of our strategy to improve EDI in the counselling professions and is part of our work to support, promote, and encourage a diverse and inclusive profession.

We’re looking for mentees who are ÌÇÐĹÙÍø student members from diverse, marginalised or underrepresented backgrounds. Due to unprecedented demand last year, we’ve now increased the number of available spaces to 75 pairs of mentors and mentees for up to six mentoring sessions over the period of six to nine months. The programme will start in September 2026 and will end in June 2027.

Benefits for mentees

By taking part in the mentoring programme, you'll:

  • receive support throughout your training journey that considers intersectional needs and helps you work through any barriers to successfully achieve your potential
  • gain opportunities to discuss any EDI topics you wish to explore further for yourself or in your training
  • explore personal identities in the therapeutic environment

How it works

We'll match you with a mentor based on:

  • common goals, interests and lived experience
  • your desired development criteria
  • mentor's skills and expertise

Mentoring sessions

  • you'll be required to commit up to six mentoring sessions with your mentor
  • the session will last approximately 1 to 1.5 hours
  • mentoring sessions should take place every four to six weeks
  • you should attend an initial briefing to allow you to have the most effective mentoring relationship
  • you'll be asked to give feedback twice during the programme using an online survey
  • you're encouraged to attend two follow-up support webinars for an open discussion and reflection on your mentoring experience.

If we’re able to match you with a mentor, you'll need to attend a one hour mentee briefing session on one of the following dates:

  • Tuesday 22 September 2026 at 3pm
  • Wednesday 23 September 2026 at 10am
  • Tuesday 29 Sept 2026 at 3pm

Eligibility

³Û´Ç³Ü’l±ôÌýneed to be currently taking a counselling or psychotherapy ÌÇÐĹÙÍø accredited training course and be a representative of a diverse and/or a marginalised or underrepresented community.