Trauma Counsellor

Trauma Counsellor

Location: Canterbury

Salary: £27,000 per annum

Vacancy Type: Permanent, Full time

About The Role

Are you a qualified counsellor or psychotherapist with a passion for supporting people affected by trauma and substance misuse?

We're looking for a compassionate and experienced Trauma Informed Therapist to join our integrated healthcare team, providing specialist therapeutic support to adults aged 18 and over who are experiencing drug and alcohol-related challenges.

This is an opportunity to work within a multidisciplinary service, helping individuals overcome the impact of complex trauma while supporting their recovery journey through evidence-based therapeutic interventions.

About the Role

As a Trauma Informed Therapist, you will provide high-quality, person-centred counselling and psychotherapy to individuals with complex needs. Working within an integrated healthcare framework, you will deliver psychosocial interventions to adults experiencing drug and/or alcohol dependency.

Using recognised therapeutic approaches such as EMDR, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and other trauma-informed models, you will support service users to process trauma, build resilience, and achieve positive recovery outcomes.

Key responsibilities include:

Delivering one-to-one trauma-informed therapy to adults affected by substance misuse.

Managing a varied caseload of clients with complex and multiple needs.

Delivering an expected 5 client contact hours per day.

Completing accurate clinical records and maintaining professional documentation.

Working collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams and external agencies to ensure holistic, joined-up care.

Undertaking risk assessments and working within safeguarding and clinical governance frameworks.

Supporting continuity of care across services.

Travelling across the East Kent region, where required, to ensure service users continue to receive timely therapeutic support.

About You

We're looking for someone who is passionate about helping people recover from trauma and substance misuse and who shares our commitment to delivering compassionate, evidence-based care.

You will have:

A Level 4 Diploma in Counselling/Psychotherapy (or equivalent recognised qualification).

Current registration with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) or an equivalent professional body.

Experience delivering trauma-focused counselling and therapeutic interventions.

Experience working with individuals affected by substance misuse.

A strong understanding of trauma-informed practice and its application in therapeutic settings.

Knowledge of clinical governance, professional boundaries and risk management.

Experience supporting people with diverse backgrounds, experiences and presenting issues.

An understanding of safeguarding responsibilities and best practice.

Knowledge of holistic care, continuity of care and community-based support services.

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Strong IT and case recording skills.

The ability to work independently, prioritise your workload and manage a flexible appointment schedule.

A full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle, with the flexibility to travel across East Kent when required.

About Us

We are The Forward Trust, the social enterprise with charitable status that empowers people to break the often interlinked cycles of crime and addiction to move forward with their lives. For more than 25 years we have been working with people to build positive and productive lives, whatever their past. We believe that anyone is capable of lasting change. Our services have supported thousands of people to make positive changes and build productive lives with a job, family, friends and a sense of community.

We are committed to our cause and the work we carry out as a charity. Equally the wellbeing and the employees who work for us are also important. Joining us an employee, we will offer you the following benefits - 

Flexible working

Training and development opportunities

BHSF Cashback Scheme (optional)

Season Ticket Loan Scheme 

Cycle to work scheme

Crisis Loan Scheme

Electric Car Scheme

3 x Wellbeing Days (pro rata'd for part time employees)

Access to Blue Light Card

25 days (rising to 30 with length of service) Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays 

Contributory Pension Scheme – Employer matched contributions of up to 6% in the first two years’ service and up to 9% thereafter 

Death in Service Payment (2x annual salary) 

Critical Illness Insurance (subject to qualifying criteria)

Please note that we may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

To Apply

If you feel you are a suitable candidate and would like to work for Forward Trust, please click apply to be redirected to our website to complete your application.