Student Placements & Supervised Practice
Helping You Help Others
Specialist Training for Counsellors, Trainees & Student Placement Providers
At A Safe Space to be Me, we offer professional, ethically grounded placements for counselling students across Northern Ireland. Our supervised practice programme combines meaningful client work, expert mentorship, and specialist training opportunities, preparing trainee counsellors for confident, compassionate practice in real-world settings.
“The learning experience was totally that, an experience, taught in a realistic way instead of just text books, understanding things in context.” – Sharianne
Student Placements & Supervised Practice
At A Safe Space to be Me, we believe every trainee counsellor deserves a placement that nurtures both their professional growth and personal wellbeing. As one of Northern Ireland’s most innovative, forward-thinking counselling agencies, we provide a structured, supportive, and ethically grounded environment for students completing their supervised practice.
Our placements are ideal for counselling students seeking high-quality clinical experience as part of their formal qualification, including those studying at diploma or degree level. We proudly partner with colleges and universities across Northern Ireland, offering rich, real-world learning opportunities that align with course requirements and exceed sector standards.
Some of the Colleges and Universities We Work With
What Makes Our Placements Different
We don’t just offer client hours, we offer a transformative training experience. Our students are part of a future-proofed organisation that values innovation, inclusion, and professional excellence.
As a placement student, you will have access to:
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Comprehensive induction and agency mentorship, ensuring you feel supported from day one.
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Suitable client work (Tier 1–2) carefully matched to your level of training, with ongoing review and triage by your mentor.
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All clients are made aware from the offset, that they may potentially be working with a trainee, who as part of their training may, with informed consent, audio record session for coursework purposes. They are informed in the contract how these are managed in line with GDPR requirements. This lessens the stress and anxiety on students having to approach this subject in the room.
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Specialised training not typically offered elsewhere, including:
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Conducting systemic assessments and working within integrative frameworks (not initial assessments of clients)
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Understanding and working safely with trauma in counselling practice.
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Neurodiversity-affirming approaches and inclusive therapeutic communication.
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Opportunities to work train & work in highly specialised areas under close supervision.
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Access to our internal training catalogue and a wealth of professional resources not available to the public, designed to deepen your knowledge and build confidence in clinical work.
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A safe, confidential space equipped with everything you need including phone, computer, and secure systems for recording notes.
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Free group supervision, ongoing mentorship, and reflective learning opportunities.
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A wellbeing-first culture, where your development and emotional safety are valued as highly as the quality of service you provide.
“Just completed Level 3 training ‘working therapeutically with children and young people’ It was so informative and delivered in such an enjoyable way.” – Grainne
The Role of Agency Mentors
Give your team the tools they need to thrive with our Corporate ADHD & Mental Health Training
Every placement student is assigned an Agency Mentor, an experienced professional who:
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Introduces you to the agency, policies, and systems, including confidentiality, data protection, and health & safety.
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Ensures clients are triaged and allocated appropriately, safeguarding your learning and ethical boundaries.
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Provides ongoing feedback, guidance, and a semesterly assessment to track your progress.
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Acts as a point of contact for your college placement coordinator, supporting transparency and collaboration.
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Works closely with you to ensure coursework, supervision, and reflective logs are completed in line with your academic and ethical requirements.
Our mentors are committed to helping you build your professional identity, navigate challenges, and develop the confidence to work independently, always within safe and supervised boundaries.
A Collaborative, Ethical Learning Environment
All client work is supervised externally (through a registered college-approved supervisor), additionally, we provide free internal group supervision for reflective practice. We actively maintain open communication with training providers and respond promptly to any issues regarding competence, boundaries, or wellbeing.
Our aim is always to support growth through guidance, ensuring placements remain a safe and productive space for learning.
Join a Placement That Invests in You
Choosing A Safe Space to be Me means joining a placement that’s ethically robust, professionally guided, and personally enriching. We invest in our students just as deeply as we invest in our clients because great counsellors start with great support.
If you’re a counselling student in Northern Ireland seeking a placement that values inclusion, innovation, and real learning, we’d love to hear from you.