Sessional Play Therapist

Purpose: To support children and young people, aged 4 and above, who have experienced any form of sexual violence

Hours required: Up to eight CARA clients per week.

Rates: Rates are £37\.50 per session, counselling rooms provided free\-of\-charge.

Qualifications: Diploma in counselling or equivalent, certificate in counselling children, play therapy qualification or equivalent

Time/Locations: Daytime, Mondays and/or Fridays. Face\-to\-face sessions in Colchester (potential in the future to offer sessions in other CARA centres across Mid and North Essex).

To Apply: Please complete the application form, which can be downloaded from our website

Application deadline: 10am, Friday 19th June 2026

Interviews: Week commencing 29th June 2026

Start date: As soon as possible, subject to receipt of satisfactory references and enhanced DBS check.

Mandatory specialist sexual violence training dates: To be confirmed.

This post is restricted to women applicants under the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, Part 1\.

What we expect from our sessional counsellors:

· Support up to eight CARA clients each week

· Maintain and update accurate database records of clients

· Diploma in Counselling or equivalent, with a minimum of 400 counselling hours.

· Certificate in CounsellingChildren, Play Therapy qualification or equivalent

· Experience of working therapeutically with children with psychological and behavioural problems.

· An understanding of how trauma affects children both physically and emotionally.

· An ability to work creatively to enable children to process their conscious and unconscious emotions.

· An ability to work collaboratively with parents, while protecting children’s confidentiality.

· To liaise with other agencies including social care, Children and Adolescent Mental Health service (CAMHS) and schools, and attend meetings and provide reports, where required.

· Attendance of one CARA Meeting per month and attendance of monthly point of contact meetings.

· Attendance of clinical supervision, provided by a CARA\-approved supervisor.

· Attend annual safeguarding training and other relevant training

· An open and non\-judgemental attitude.

· Demonstrable understanding of safeguarding, both in relation to children and to vulnerable adults;

· Sessional Counsellors/Play Therapists will be working with clients on behalf of CARA and not on a private basis. As such, they will be bound by CARA’s processes, policies and procedures.

· Commitment to the feminist ethos of CARA

· Willingness to commit the necessary time to supporting vulnerable clients

· Membership of BACP, UKCP or equivalent professional body

· Abide by BACP’s Ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling and Psychotherapy

· Owing to the nature of the role, we are only able to take on female candidates

What the Sessional Counsellor/Play Therapist can expect from us:

· Training and support

· Ongoing training opportunities

We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds and those with additional language skills, including BSL.

Job Type: Freelance

Pay: £37\.50 per hour

Experience:

• counselling: 3 years (required)

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