n this assignment I will look at how I would prepare for and set up a counselling practice. I will look at what are the essential requirements for a successful private practice and what will contribute to the quality of the service that will be provided.

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In this assignment I will look at how I would prepare for and set up a counselling practice. I will look at what are the essential requirements for a successful private practice and what will contribute to the quality of the service that will be provided.

My vision for practice is having the necessary systems in place so that I am available to practise counselling and be able to generate an adequate income for myself. I will accept a broad spectrum of client issues from stress and anxiety to depression and bereavement. I aim to provide a reduced rate service off peak with a standard charge during peak times. These charges will be based on the local norm. I have a three year plan in order to work toward BACP accreditation. My plan would include continuing to work as a support worker, offering my services as a counsellor on a voluntary basis to charitable organisations and dedicating time to see private clients. Working this way would allow me to build my private practice gradually while being able to support myself financially.

As a support worker I am able to choose my hours of work. Although reducing my hours will reduce my pay I would still be able to generate an income high enough to allow me to dedicate as much time to counselling as I need. My split shifts on weekdays would allow me to work as a volunteer or see private clients between 10:30 and 13:30 each weekday. I would also be available for client work from 17:00 every weekday. This would be to accommodate working people who would want to access my services at the end of their working day and it is here that I would expect to be my peak times. It may require me to work until 20:00 or 21:00 during weekdays and this may require me to change my own social routine. In the short term while I build my practice it may be seen as very long work days for me but as this is a gradual approach I would reduce my support work hours as my private clients built up. I would then only need to replace clients when they no longer required my services on a regular basis.

In the long term working weekends is something that I would try to avoid but I understand that it may be necessary to do this in the first couple of years of starting a private practise. That said there may always be times at the weekend when it may be necessary to see a client that is in need but is unable to attend during the week or finds themselves in crisis and unable to cope. Judgements such as these would need to be made on a client to client basis at the time and would be in keeping with the BACP ethical framework.

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Providing my services as a volunteer to certain charitable organisations will allow me to form a network of professional contacts. I will also gain experience and develop my skills working with certain client groups. This will give me the confidence to expand my services into more specialised areas of client work. There may also be the possibility of paid work through this process should a paid counselling position become available within an organisation. Should this situation arise it will be necessary to consider how taking a paid position within an organisation will affect my ability to practise privately. With ...

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