Orleans, V. & Scoyoc, S. (2009). A Short Introduction to Counselling Psychology. London: SAGE. Kapitel 1-6

Trained must service in different settings and operate safe and professional in different modalities, contexts and time-frames. Trained must make choices about guidance, there is different opportunities and boundaries in every choice.

National mental health service: a great part of counselling psychologists work in the NHS in UK. Some as part of a primary care team, inside or outside the hospital. Some works in specialised secondary care, community-oriented primary care, tertiary highly specialised care, the child and adolescence mental health service (CAMHS), the highest level is a consultant counselling psychologists. To work here means cooperation with clinical psychologists, psychiatrists ect. from a medical model of diagnoses.

Secure environments and forensic settings: it is important to keep a philosophical stance despite “law and order”. It can be difficult to treat the client as a whole as you might feel an urge to reduce him to his crime. Many criminals have a psychologically disturbed background and a heighten risk for suicide. If someone commits suicide, the job also consist of working with the people on watch. There is a different jargon and view on confidentiality. Counselling psychologists can bring several different approaches to one therapy session and help the client preparing for the outside world.

The legal setting: counselling psychologists must report to the court about hearings and must consult the judge in relation to the danger for the individual and the danger he can cause others. Counselling psychologists is seen as a scientist-practitioner and reflexive therapist which uses psychometrics to assess the individual. Both in family court, civil court and criminal court.

Organisational settings: for example a full time job in a human resourcse department as a consultant, which makes training days, has contact with teams about development, sees clients or run a EAP (internal employer assistance programme). Counselling psychologists is hired by the organisation and has special confidentiality in a three-way contact between the client, therapist and the organisation. The therapist must take into account the financial effect contra humanistic concerns dilemma.

Independent practice: a lot of counselling psychologists have a private practice while having other employments. It is possible for a counselling psychologist to have several employments on the same time and a lot starts private practice after having been part time for a period of time.

Academic setting: in research work and other management activities, working as a lector on a university fits perfectly to it. Working in academic settings also fits well with private practice work, specially now when a doctoral level is demanded for practicing.

International integration: there is a big difference between the training that is provided in different countries, however many do a part of their training abroad. Therefore it is important to create a coherent value system for counselling psychology in different countries.

Employment problems in counselling psychology: counselling psychologists have fought to get the same salary as clinical psychologists. Now the salary is rated after working tasks and competencies. A lot of trained students work voluntary or on fees basis before getting fully qualified as counselling psychologist.