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Counsellors in the National Health Service: A mixed‐method study of efficacy and satisfaction from the counsellor perspective
Author(s) -
Ryan Gemma,
Duncan Charlie,
Moller Naomi P.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
counselling and psychotherapy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.38
H-Index - 32
eISSN - 1746-1405
pISSN - 1473-3145
DOI - 10.1002/capr.12221
Subject(s) - workforce , thematic analysis , mental health , nursing , government (linguistics) , psychology , perspective (graphical) , job satisfaction , work (physics) , service (business) , medicine , political science , qualitative research , business , social psychology , psychiatry , sociology , marketing , engineering , social science , linguistics , philosophy , mechanical engineering , artificial intelligence , computer science , law
Background It is difficult to know how many counsellors work in the UK 's National Health Service ( NHS ). At a time when the British Government is pledging an expansion of the mental health workforce, it is important to understand both the opportunities and barriers for counsellors to work in the NHS . Aim To understand counsellors’ job roles, pay, perceptions of services, workplace stress and reasons for leaving the NHS . Method An online survey was advertised to members of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy ( BACP ); just under 2,000 counsellors responded. The sample was majority female, white and had completed training. Mixed methods were utilised to analyse the data which incorporated use of thematic analysis. Findings The data suggest that, as a workforce, counsellors are prone to being “squeezed” out of the NHS workforce; that they are comparatively “underpaid,” are “pressurised” by high level of work demand and are consequently experiencing concerning levels of workplace stress; and that they perceive themselves to be, in multiple ways, “undervalued.” Despite this, members reported high adequacy of therapist qualifications and supervision quality within NHS services. Conclusions Counsellors have expressed a desire to undertake more work in the NHS and are a potentially cost‐effective mental health workforce in comparison with other types of professionals. However, this study has evidenced significant structural, cultural and pay and promotion‐related barriers that are pushing counsellors out of the NHS . Of particular concern is what appears to be a broad undervaluing of counsellors as a professional group.