Building the therapy workforce: NHS-funded training programme welcomes second cohort 

UKCP continues to support widening access to fully funded postgraduate training that prepares psychotherapeutic counsellors to work within NHS Talking Therapies services.  

This initiative removes financial barriers to training and helps to diversify the workforce, supporting equitable access to high-intensity psychotherapeutic counselling training programmes across England. 

This NHS-funded training programme launched in September 2022 as a pilot. It was designed to offer salaried trainee posts within NHS Talking Therapies services alongside postgraduate training, leading to recognised professional qualifications aligned with NHS service needs and the Scope of Practice and Education (SCoPEd) framework, Column B standards.  

The training is accredited by five of the six organisations within the Partnership of Counselling and Psychotherapy Bodies (PCPB), with UKCP acting as the lead accrediting body. 

The five accrediting PCPB partners in the programme are: 

The shared aim of the partnership is to ensure that each training pathway meets robust professional standards and the competencies required for effective clinical practice. Trainees gain substantial clinical experience within NHS Talking Therapies services, supported by academic study and clinical supervision. 

The 2025 cohort 

The second NHS-funded trainee cohort commenced its training in September 2025. This cohort consists of 59 trainees, training across three distinct high-intensity psychotherapeutic counselling modalities within NHS Talking Therapies: 

This is a three-year training pathway that combines salaried clinical roles within NHS services with academic and practical training delivered by their respective providers. On successful completion, trainees will be well placed to continue their careers within NHS services. 

What this means for the profession 

Workforce growth: the 2025 cohort builds on the success of the pilot, increasing the number of fully trained psychotherapeutic counsellors entering NHS Talking Therapies services. 

Increasing choice: this NHS-funded trainee programme broadens the range of therapies available to patients, supporting the NHS commitment to offering diverse, NICE-recommended psychological interventions. 

Ongoing updates and opportunities: UKCP will continue to share updates on future NHS-funded cohorts, training outcomes and new partnerships as the programme evolves. 

Find out more about the NHS pathways programme.