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:

  • 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 mentors who are ÌÇÐĹÙÍø members who have shared understanding, expertise or lived experience of being from a diverse, marginalised, or underrepresented background. We’ve 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 mentors

By taking part in the mentoring programme, you're likely to:

  • develop leadership abilities and skills
  • contribute towards a more diverse and inclusive profession
  • work collaboratively to break down barriers to inclusion
  • listen and learn from people from diverse backgrounds with differing viewpoints
  • be offered further development opportunities
  • receive support from peers (other mentors)

How it works

We'll match you with a mentee based on:

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

Mentoring sessions

  • you'll be required to commit to six mentoring sessions with your mentee
  • the session will last approximately 1 to 1.5 hours
  • you'll be paid £60 for each of the session - up to six sessions maximum
  • the 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 provide 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 mentee, you'll need to attend a one hour mentor briefing session on one of the following dates:

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

Eligibility

To become a mentor, you must be a current ÌÇÐĹÙÍø member, have completed a counselling or psychotherapy practitioner qualification and have at least two years' experience as a counsellor or psychotherapist.

You'll need:

      • experience of training
      • knowledge or experience of working with people from diverse backgrounds
      • knowledge and awareness of the protected characteristics and how intersectionality can present across and within them

It’d also be helpful, but not essential, if you have:

      • previous experience of mentoring (training will be provided)
      • knowledge of student support systems within educational settings
      • knowledge of the different types of training establishments e.g. ÌÇÐĹÙÍø accredited courses and non-accredited courses

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