High Intensity (CBT) Therapist or HIT Psychotherapeutic Counsellor

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust; Castle Point, Rochford, Southend-on-Sea; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS Trust is seeking a qualified High Intensity Therapist or Psychotherapeutic Counsellor to support patients with anxiety and depression. The role involves working with a diverse team, delivering NICE approved therapies, and fulfilling a vital service in the community. Applicants should possess relevant NHS qualifications and demonstrate experience in mental health services. This position offers flexible working opportunities and benefits including training and NHS discounts.

Benefits

Season Ticket Loans

NHS discounts for staff

Excellent training opportunities

Flexible working options

Qualifications

• Therapists must use CBT or other therapeutic models as their main approach.
• Experience working in mental health services is essential.

Responsibilities

• Assess clients for suitability for psychological therapies.
• Formulate and evaluate therapy programmes for clients.
• Maintain accurate clinical records as per service protocols.

Skills

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Interpersonal Therapy

Communication

Risk Assessment

Education

Postgraduate training in clinical/counselling psychology

Accreditation with HCPC, UKCP, BACP, or BABCP

Job description

High Intensity (CBT) Therapist or HIT Psychotherapeutic Counsellor

The closing date is 02 October 2025

An opportunity exists for enthusiastic, qualified NHS Talking Therapies (NHS TT) compliant cognitive behavioural therapists or qualified psychotherapeutic counsellors with an NHS TT compliant qualification (PCE-CFD, DIT, IPT, Couples Therapy for Depression) and who share our passion for great patient care and making a difference, to apply for roles within our busy NHS TT service based in SE Essex. The post holders will work alongside a large team that includes Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners, Cognitive Behavioural Therapists, and primary care counsellors/therapists who provide a range of NICE approved therapeutic interventions for depression and anxiety disorders. This is a demanding but well supported position.

Main duties of the job

The successful applicants will be accredited with a relevant professional body, have completed an approved NHS TT compliant training, be skilled and experienced in dealing with assessment and treatment provision of Step 3 interventions for clients presenting with depression and anxiety disorders, highly motivated with the ability to organise and prioritise their own workload. Applicants working towards full accreditation can be considered and, if successful, there would be a requirement to complete accreditation within 12 months.

Successful applicants will work with people with different cultural backgrounds and ages, using interpreters when necessary and should be committed to equal opportunities.

About us

Therapy For You is an NHS TT primary care therapy service based in SE and NE Essex working from our own premises, GP surgeries and community settings. We deliver a range of services including self-help psycho educational courses, therapy groups, online/digital therapeutic services and individual therapies including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy (DIT), Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) and Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR). The service works with adults presenting with mild, moderate and severe anxiety and depression.

We are committed to providing an out of hours service to the community and this involves working some evenings or Saturdays, typically 6-9pm or 9am-1pm respectively.

Job responsibilities

Therapists will predominantly use Cognitive and/or Behavioural Therapy in line with the available evidence base as their main, or one of their main therapeutic models and have demonstrable experience of working in mental health services.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

CLINICAL

• Accept referrals via agreed protocols within the service
• Assess clients for suitability for psychological therapies. Make decisions on suitability of new referrals, adhering to the departments referral protocols, and refer unsuitable clients on to the relevant service or back to the referral agent as necessary.
• Formulate, implement and evaluate therapy programmes for clients.
• Adhere to an agreed activity contract relating to the number of client contacts offered, and clinical sessions carried out per week in order to minimise waiting times and ensure treatment delivery remains accessible and convenient.
• Complete all requirements relating to data collection within the service and keep accurate records of all clinical activity in line with service protocols.
• Attend clinical/managerial supervision on a regular basis as agreed with Manager.

Further details are available in the Job Description and Person Specification.

EPUT are looking for motivated staff who shares our Trust values of We Care, We Learn, We Empower. In return, EPUT can offer you a range of benefits and development including;

• Season Ticket Loans
• NHS discounts for staff
• Excellent Training facilities and opportunities
• Buying and Selling annual leave scheme
• The opportunity to work bank shifts and expand knowledge and experience in other areas
• Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work
• Day One Flexible Employer, the Trust supports and actively encourages flexible working for all employees. We offer many options and you are encouraged to ask the recruiting manager what is possible for this role. If appointed, you will have the opportunity for a flexible working request from the first day of your employment

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Minimum postgraduate training in clinical/counselling psychology or an IAPT compliant psychological therapy model affording accreditation with a recognised professional body.
• Registration/Accreditation (or accreditable) with the HCPC, UKCP, BACP or BABCP

Experience

• Therapists will predominantly use Cognitive and/or Behavioural Therapy, DIT, IPT, PCE-CFD or couples counselling in line with the available evidence base as their main, or one of their main therapeutic models
• Demonstrable experience of working in mental health services

Knowledge and Skills

• Highly developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS
• Demonstrates an understanding of anxiety and depression and related emotional problems and how it may present in clients.
• Has received training (either formal of through experience) and carried out risk assessments within scope of practice

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust