Access and Participation Plan
Making psychotherapy education more accessible for everyone
At Metanoia Institute, we believe that excellent psychotherapy education should be accessible to talented people from all backgrounds.
Our Access and Participation Plan (2026–2030), approved by the Office for Students (OfS), sets out how we will widen access to the counselling and psychotherapy professions, improve student success, and ensure every student has the opportunity to thrive, regardless of their background or circumstances.
As one of the UK's leading specialist providers of counselling, psychotherapy and counselling psychology education, we recognise that the profession should better reflect the diversity of the communities it serves. Our plan represents a long-term institutional commitment to creating a more inclusive profession and strengthening the future psychological workforce.
Download our Access and Participation Plan on a Page.
Why this matters
Demand for mental health services continues to grow across the UK, yet many communities remain underrepresented within the therapeutic professions.
Our own analysis highlights several barriers that can affect access to higher education and student success, including socioeconomic disadvantage, disability, ethnicity, financial pressures and the emotional demands of professional training.
By addressing these challenges, we aim to improve equality of opportunity throughout the student journey, from application and enrolment through to graduation and professional practice.
Our strategic priorities
Inclusive Access
We are expanding access through outreach, partnerships and more inclusive admissions processes. This includes strengthening relationships with schools, colleges and community organisations, recognising prior learning and professional experience, promoting scholarships, and providing more accessible guidance throughout the application process.
Our aim is to encourage applications from people who have traditionally been underrepresented within counselling and psychotherapy while ensuring prospective students feel that higher education and therapeutic careers are genuinely accessible.
Inclusive Curriculum and Careers
Access is only the beginning. We are committed to ensuring students are supported throughout their studies and beyond.
Our work includes developing inclusive teaching and assessment practices, enhancing academic support, improving accessibility of learning resources, investing in staff development, and embedding employability throughout the student journey. We also provide careers support for up to five years after graduation, alongside alumni mentoring and career development opportunities.
Mental Health-Positive Support
Psychotherapy training can be both personally and emotionally demanding.
We are committed to creating psychologically safe learning environments where students feel able to seek support, disclose additional needs without stigma and remain engaged throughout their studies.
This includes proactive wellbeing communications, trauma-informed approaches, enhanced onboarding, peer support initiatives and clearer access to student support services.
Financial Support
We recognise that professional training involves costs beyond tuition fees, including clinical supervision, personal therapy and professional membership.
To help reduce financial barriers, we continue to invest in scholarships, an expanded Cost of Living Fund, more affordable supervision and therapy opportunities, and simpler financial support processes.
Our aim is to ensure financial circumstances are not a barrier to entering or completing professional training.
Looking ahead
By 2030 we aim to:
- Increase participation from students living in the most socioeconomically disadvantaged communities.
- Improve representation of students from non-white backgrounds.
- Increase participation by disabled students.
- Reduce attainment gaps between white and non-white students.
- Reduce completion gaps for disabled and male students.
- Minimise the impact of financial hardship on student success.
These objectives support Metanoia's wider strategic priorities while contributing to a more diverse, inclusive and culturally responsive counselling and psychotherapy workforce.
Read our Access and Participation Plan Summary or the full Access and Participation Plan.
Working in partnership
Partnership working is central to our approach.
We continue to work with schools, further education colleges, widening participation partnerships, community organisations, employers, NHS and healthcare partners, professional bodies, the voluntary sector, and our alumni community to improve awareness of therapeutic careers and create stronger pathways into the profession.
Access and Participation resources
You can learn more by downloading the following resources: