Why It’s So Difficult to Give or Receive Mental Health in Leeds?

In the UK, both aspiring counsellors and those seeking mental health support face an uphill

battle. The current system is riddled with contradictions, structural barriers and red tape that

prevent well trained professionals from working, and vulnerable people from accessing

timely support.

For those training to become mental health professionals, the journey is long and expensive.

The average counsellor must study for at least four years, often five, to gain basic

qualifications. Yet, despite completing rigorous academic programmes, many are still unable

to practise independently due to employer demands for experience. It is a no win situation.

To become more attractive to employers, counsellors are advised to complete a BACP accredited two year diploma, which costs around £12,000 and is not funded by the government.

Meanwhile, therapists are also required to undertake 250 hours of supervised client work

before they are considered ready to practise solo. The irony is stark, someone can call

themselves a CBT therapist much more quickly, even after just a weekend workshop, while

those with five years of study remain locked out of employment. This is not just a training

issue, it’s a systemic failure.

Government policy also contributes to inconsistency and lack of oversight. Counselling and

psychotherapy in the UK are not statutorily regulated, meaning there is no legal standard or

protected title for “counsellor” or “therapist.” Anyone can practise with minimal training,

while those with formal qualifications face barriers to employment. As The Guardian

reports, “titles such as ‘psychotherapist’ and ‘counsellor’ are not protected, enabling

unqualified individuals to practise”.

Source: The Guardian.

MPs and experts are now calling for statutory regulation to ensure that only those with proper

training and accreditation can treat vulnerable individuals

Source: The Guardian.

A Leeds counsellor recently provided a stark illustration of this broken cycle:

“After enduring a 4 year degree in counselling, I am now struggling to find work due to all

employers valuing experience over qualifications. However, to emphasise the

struggle of aspiring counsellors, it is so frustrating having so much

knowledge and existing mental health experience that without a further 2-year

masters degree or paid accreditation, we are unable to counsel clients, which

is the reason a lot of people take the ‘counselling psychology’ university

route. In turn, people that just want to speak to someone are left without support.”

The system fails those seeking therapy too. If you are already paying for therapy, even

privately, you are often ineligible for free NHS counselling. This can mean waiting three to

six months for support, unless you can continue to pay privately. A 2024 report from Mind

confirms a mental health system under severe pressure, with a lack of funding and resources

contributing to high barriers to access

Source: Mind.

Meanwhile, national energy regulator Ofgem reports that over 46 percent of households are

experiencing energy debt and financial strain, factors that exacerbate stress, anxiety and

depression.

Source: Financial Times.

Summary of Key Issues

Lengthy, expensive training (4 to 5 years plus optional £12k diploma).

Entry blocked for qualified but inexperienced counsellors.

High supervised hours requirement (250 hours).

Career delay and reduced workforce capacity.

Lack of statutory regulation Unqualified practitioners can practise, while qualified professionals struggle.

NHS eligibility restrictions People paying privately ineligible for free services, creating long waits.

Systemic underfunding Services stretched, demand outstrips capacity, and red tape limits flexibility.

Calls for Reform



Statutory regulation: MPs, professional bodies, and mental health experts are

advocating for legally protected titles, government oversight and education standards

to ensure public safety and professional integrity.

Source: The Guardian.

Funding and training support: Professionals need more accessible routes into

supervised practice, financial support for courses, and employer incentives to hire

newly qualified practitioners.

NHS access reforms: Removing the restriction on those paying privately would

allow immediate access to subsidised therapy, helping to reduce wait times and reach

more people in crisis.

Simplify employment barriers: Employers should be encouraged, or mandated, to

consider qualifications alongside experience, with incentives or quotas for newly

qualified therapists.

Conclusion

The UK’s mental health system is caught in a web of contradictions. It requires lengthy and

expensive training to qualify counsellors, yet offers no guarantee of employment due to experience demands and a lack of statutory regulation. Even when therapists do find work,

their clients often face waiting lists and bureaucratic hurdles to accessing care. The result is a

cycle of underemployment, unmet need and systemic inefficiency.

It’s time for coordinated action, from government, regulatory bodies, employers and

professional organisations, to reform training routes, regulate titles, and open access both for

practitioners and patients. Only then can we ensure that qualified professionals are able to

help those who desperately need them.

Get the experience you need as a counsellor, and get paid for helping people who need it via the VÕS HELP prescribed social care product within the app.