Associate Therapist - High Intensity CBT / EMDR / MBT (Accredited)

The Cellar Trust; Saltaire; Hybrid; GBP 41,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

The Cellar Trust in Bradford District is recruiting an Associate Therapist to provide short-term, evidence-based psychological therapies (6–12 sessions) using High Intensity CBT, EMDR, or MBT.

You will deliver 1:1 therapy to adults with complex needs, including trauma and health-related distress, with evening hours and a mix of face-to-face at Shipley/Keighley and remote sessions.

Regular supervision and involvement in service development are included.

Qualifications

• Postgraduate training in High Intensity CBT with BABCP accreditation (or accreditation pending).
• EMDR Europe/UK accredited practitioner (or accreditation pending).
• UKCP-registered psychotherapist with MBT training; adheres to MBT framework and supervision.
• Current registration with an appropriate professional body.
• Knowledge of evidence-based practice within HIGH INTENSITY CBT, EMDR, or MBT.
• Ongoing CPD relevant to those modalities.
• Good safeguarding, risk management, confidentiality, ethics, and boundaries.
• Experience delivering High Intensity CBT, EMDR, or MBT with adults with complex needs.
• Experience in short-term, structured therapy models.
• Experience in NHS/third sector settings.

Responsibilities

• Deliver a safe, ethical, and high-quality psychological therapy service in line with policies.
• Provide structured interventions using High Intensity CBT, EMDR, or MBT, within fidelity.
• Work within triage-informed, time-limited therapy frameworks.
• Identify and respond to safeguarding concerns per policy.
• Maintain therapeutic boundaries and manage clinical risk.
• Communicate with colleagues, referrers, and external professionals.
• Attend monthly clinical supervision and additional supervision as needed.
• Contribute to service development, audits, and quality improvement.
• Complete outcome measures and collect client feedback.

Skills

High Intensity CBT

EMDR

MBT

Safeguarding knowledge

Ethical practice

Education

BABCP accreditation

EMDR accreditation

MBT Practitioner training

UKCP registration

Job description

LOCATION:

Sessions across Bradford District and Craven. Evening sessions may be delivered face to face at Shipley or Keighley, remotely, or through a mixture of both. Daytime sessions may also be available.

SALARY:

£35 per sessional hour

HOURS:

Variable including regular evening hours (to be agreed)

ACCOUNTABLE TO:

Service Manager / Clinical Lead

Purpose of the Job:

The Associate Therapist will deliver short-term, evidence-based psychological therapies (typically 6-12 sessions) within Trust Therapies, specifically using High Intensity CBT, EMDR, or MBT approaches. The role focuses on working with clients presenting with complex and specialist psychological needs, within defined clinical pathways and governance structures.

Therapists will provide 1:1 therapy to clients presenting with:

• Complex trauma and emotional dysregulation
• Long-term physical health conditions and associated psychological distress
• Complex bereavement and grief
• Relational difficulties where appropriate to High Intensity CBT, EMDR, or MBT models

Regular evening hours are a key requirement of this role, with the pattern of availability to be agreed. Evening sessions may be delivered face to face at Shipley or Keighley, remotely, or through a mixture of both. Associates who also have daytime availability may be offered daytime work where this meets service need.

Main Duties:

• Deliver a safe, ethical, and high-quality psychological therapy service in line with Trust Therapies policies and procedures.
• Provide structured, evidence-based interventions using High Intensity CBT, EMDR, or MBT, adapting the approach to client need while remaining within model fidelity.
• Work within a triage-informed, time-limited therapy framework aligned with service pathways.
• Identify, assess, and respond appropriately to risk and safeguarding concerns, in accordance with The Cellar Trust safeguarding policies.
• Maintain clear therapeutic boundaries and manage clinical risk appropriately.
• Work in an inclusive, non-judgemental manner, taking account of cultural, social, and contextual factors.
• Communicate effectively with internal colleagues, referrers, and external health and social care professionals, contributing to integrated care pathways.
• Attend monthly clinical supervision and any additional specialist supervision required for High Intensity CBT, EMDR, or MBT practice.
• Contribute to service development, audit, and quality improvement activity.
• Accurately complete outcome measures (e.g. DIALOG, REQOL, GAD-7, PHQ-9) and collect client feedback as required.
• Maintain timely, accurate, and confidential electronic case records in line with Trust Therapies requirements.

Provide regular evening availability, with sessions delivered face to face at Shipley or Keighley, remotely, or through a mixture of both, as agreed. Where the associate also has daytime availability, undertake daytime sessions when mutually agreed and in line with service need.

Values and Behaviours:

• The post-holder will:
• Actively promote a culture of respect, inclusion, and anti-discriminatory practice.
• Demonstrate belief in people's capacity for change and recovery.
• Show commitment, professionalism, and integrity in all aspects of practice.
• Work collaboratively and contribute positively to team functioning.
• Demonstrate reflective practice and openness to learning and development.

Person Specification

Listed below are the knowledge, experience skills and values you'll need to do this job, we will assess these through your application or through tests or interviews after shortlisting.

Knowledge / Qualification

High Intensity CBT:

Postgraduate training in High Intensity CBT with BABCP accreditation (or accreditation pending within agreed timescales)

Essential

EMDR:

EMDR Europe/UK accredited practitioner (or accreditation pending)

Essential

MBT:

UKCP-registered (or eligible) psychotherapist with completed or in-progress Anna Freud-recognised MBT Practitioner training, working within the MBT adherence framework and receiving appropriate MBT supervision

Essential

Current registration with an appropriate professional body

Essential

Demonstrable knowledge of evidence-based practice within High Intensity CBT, EMDR, or MBT

Essential

Ongoing CPD directly relevant to High Intensity CBT, EMDR, or MBT practice

Essential

Sound understanding of safeguarding (children and adults) and risk management

Essential

Clear understanding of confidentiality, ethics, and professional boundaries

Essential

BACP membership or accreditation may be held alongside the above but is not sufficient on its own for High Intensity CBT or MBT practice.

Essential

Experience

Essential / Desirable

Experience delivering High Intensity CBT, EMDR, or MBT with adults presenting with moderate to complex mental health difficulties

Essential

Experience of working within a short-term, structured therapy model

Essential

Experience of working with trauma, emotional dysregulation, or long-term health-related distress

Essential

Experience working within NHS, third sector, or commissioned services

Desirable

Skills

Essential / Desirable

Ability to deliver therapy within agreed treatment protocols while responding flexibly to client need

Essential

Strong assessment, formulation, and risk management skills

Essential

Effective communication with clients, colleagues, and external professionals

Essential

Ability to manage caseloads, documentation, and outcome data effectively

Essential

Competence using electronic record systems and digital platforms

Essential

Ability and commitment to provide regular evening therapy sessions, delivered face to face at Shipley or Keighley, remotely, or through a mixture of both. Additional daytime availability is welcomed but does not replace the evening requirement.

Essential

Values

Essential / Desirable

Commitment to professionalism, reliability, and ethical practice

Essential

Strong alignment with equality, diversity, and inclusion principles

Essential

Belief in recovery-oriented and evidence-based practice

Essential

Commitment to reflective practice and continuous improvement

Essential

This post is specifically for therapists accredited in High Intensity CBT, EMDR, or MBT. Applications from counsellors or practitioners outside these modalities will not be considered for this role.

Recruitment will remain open on a rolling basis until all posts are filled. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to assessment as required throughout the recruitment process.