Chief Executive Officer | Terapia

Peridot Partners; Greater London; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading psychotherapy training charity in Finchley is seeking a Chief Executive Officer to provide strategic leadership and guide growth. The ideal candidate will have strong skills in child and adolescent psychotherapy and a record of inclusive leadership. This role offers the opportunity to shape the future of therapy education and positively impact mental health within the community.

Qualifications

• Experience in operational leadership within psychotherapy training or the charity sector.
• Track record of inclusive leadership and compassionate team building.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership across all areas of Terapia’s work.
• Oversee academic, clinical, financial, and organizational excellence.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Child and adolescent psychotherapy

Inclusive leadership

Building high-performing teams

Navigating complexity

Education

Qualified and accredited psychotherapist (UKCP or equivalent)

Job description

Help shape the future of child and adolescent psychotherapy as the new CEO of one of the UK’s leading training charities.

• Location: Finchley, North London – office based

Terapia is seeking an exceptional Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to guide one of the UK’s most respected psychotherapy training and clinical organisations into its next phase of growth and impact.

Based in Finchley, North London, this is a rare opportunity to lead an organisation that combines academic excellence, clinical expertise and a deep commitment to children’s mental health.

As the current Founder and CEO prepares to step down in 2026, we are looking for a values‑driven leader who can build on a strong foundation and shape the future of Terapia with vision, compassion and integrity.

Who we are

Terapia is a leading charity and clinical training organisation dedicated to improving the mental health and emotional wellbeing of children, young people, parents and families.

We offer UKCP‑accredited MA training in Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy and Counselling, validated by Middlesex University, alongside specialist therapy services delivered in schools and community settings.

Guided by our values of compassion, integrity, inclusion and excellence, we combine high‑quality education with meaningful social impact; ensuring those who need help most have access to skilled, empathic support.

About the role

The new Chief Executive Officer will provide strategic and operational leadership across all areas of Terapia’s work, overseeing academic, clinical, financial and organisational excellence during a period of transition and opportunity.

Key priorities include:

• Delivering and embedding Terapia’s strategic plan in collaboration with the Board of Trustees.
• Leading organisational development and financial sustainability.
• Championing academic and clinical quality in training and service delivery.
• Strengthening diversity, equity and inclusion across students, staff and leadership.
• Acting as Terapia’s ambassador across professional, academic and policy networks.
• Consolidate Terapia’s reputation for academic and clinical excellence.
• Expand and systematise our school and community‑based services.
• Build partnerships that increase our reach and long‑term sustainability.
• Lead with authenticity, compassion and vision — ensuring Terapia continues to set the benchmark for excellence in psychotherapy training and practice.

This is an opportunity to shape the future of psychotherapy education and ensure Terapia continues to be a beacon of best practice and compassion in mental health.

Who we are looking for

We’re seeking a qualified and accredited psychotherapist (UKCP or equivalent) with senior leadership experience in psychotherapy training, higher education, or the charity sector. You will also be someone who combines professional credibility with warmth, wisdom and emotional intelligence.

The ideal candidate will bring:

• Strategic, financial and operational leadership experience.
• Strong understanding of child, adolescent and family psychotherapy.
• A proven record of inclusive leadership.
• Experience in building high‑performing, compassionate teams.
• The ability to navigate complexity and lead through change with confidence and care.

We seek a grounded, authentic leader who inspires trust and brings both structure and humanity to every aspect of their work.

This is a defining moment to lead a purpose‑driven organisation whose work transforms lives, empowering the next generation of psychotherapists and the children and families they support.

For further information about the role or to arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultants at Peridot Partners.

Terapia is committed to ensuring as many people as possible are able to access our training, therapeutic services and website.

We actively adopt policies, practices and processes that support accessibility, including:

• Making sure the language and text used are as simple as possible to understand;
• Ensuring the content and presentation of training materials and resources are clear;
• Providing a choice between digital or hard copies of materials and resources, wherever possible, while also taking into account environmental impact;
• Signposting learners and service users to advice, software or settings that allow for alterations such as magnification, translation or ‘read aloud’ functions, where this may be required and requested (for example, AbilityNet );
• Encouraging and valuing diversity, adhering to our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy at all times;
• Meeting the physical access needs of learners and service users with specific health or education needs, wherever possible;
• Taking trainee and service users views and experiences into account when reviewing policy, practices, this accessibility statement, also when adapting and improving materials, resources and our website.

Timetable

Closing date: 9 a.m. Monday 5th January 2026

We are in the process of confirming interview dates. Once confirmed, we will update the site and contact those who have applied.

Peridot and Terapia are committed to promoting equality and diversity. To help us raise awareness and support a culture that is diverse and recognises and develops the potential of all, we will send you an equality monitoring survey at the point of receiving your application and at the time of placement. This ensures that our processes remain inclusive and equitable throughout, and provides us with important data to help us showcase our impact.

The information will be treated confidentially and anonymously and will help us to support our commitment to fair recruitment practice. All information provided will be held in the strictest confidence and will not be shared with anyone, in line with the Data Protection Act 2018 launched on 25 May 2018.

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