Blues Project: Trainee Information

What is the Blues Project?

The Blues Project is the Bowlby Centre’s low-cost service for people earning £30,000 pa or less. It offers twice-weekly attachment-based psychotherapy for 18 months at £20 per session. Trainees will normally see two Blues clients each. Blues work will not make you rich. But it offers a wealth of practical experience for therapists and you will be providing a first-class service for people who would otherwise be excluded, due to their low income.

Who runs the Blues Project?

The service is run for the Bowlby Centre by the Blues Project Coordinator (BPC) who is usually a Bowlby Centre member with experience of Blues work. Their role includes assessing potential Blues clients, handling external enquiries, and looking after any internal queries from trainees, supervisors or staff about assessment and matching of clients.

Please note that we will try and find you a Blues client as quickly as we can, but it can take up to three months or more to match you up with someone who can travel to you and is seen as a good match for your skills and experience. Thank you in advance for your patience!

What is the procedure for allocation of Blues Clients to trainees?

1. Clients download an application form, which the BPC checks for financial and clinical eligibility. Although we try to assess as many people as possible, occasionally it is evident from the application form that a client would not be able to make use of the service.
2. Eligible clients will then have an interview with the BPC or their appointee. After the interview an assessment file is created. This document aims to give enough of an overview of the client’s attachment history and significant life events, for a trainee to decide whether to proceed to a first meeting. If anyone involved in the assessment process needs more information from the BPC, they should get in touch straightaway so that it can be provided if possible.
3. The BPC will then decide whether they think the client is best suited to an ABPP trainee or an APL trainee.
4. ABPP procedure:
   (i) The BPC sends the assessment to your tutor. They will make an initial decision about the student best suited (and most conveniently located) to work with this client.
   (ii) The relevant supervisor will then be sent a copy of the assessment for you both to consider. If you both feel this client would be a good match, you will contact the BPC to say so. Do not worry about taking to me to make this important decision, or about saying no if the client is not right for you.
   (iii) If you want to work with the client, the BPC will then check that the client still wants to proceed. If so, you will be sent the client’s contact details. You are responsible for all details such as arrangement of sessions and collection of payment.
5. APL procedure:
   (i) Students are sent the assessment file direct. You may wish to consult your supervisor before accepting or rejecting the client, but there is no obligation to do so.
   (ii) If you want to work with the client, the BPC will then check that the client still wants to proceed. If so, you will be sent the client’s contact details. You are responsible for all details such as arrangement of sessions and collection of payment.

What happens if I do not feel I could work with my allocated Blues client?

If you already know that there are certain clinical presentations that might be difficult for you to work with, it’s a good idea to let the BPC, your tutor and supervisor know in advance so that they can bear this in mind at the matching stage.

If you begin to feel like stopping work, or that you aren’t making progress, this should be discussed in supervision as soon as possible.

If you relocate or for any other reason are unable to continue seeing your Blues client for the full 18 months, you will of course need to discuss this in supervision too. Please do not promise your client that the Bowlby Centre will be able to find them a replacement therapist—we may not be able to find anyone. Blues therapists cannot make arrangements to transfer a client between themselves. The request for a replacement for the remaining months must go via the BPC.

We will then try to find you a replacement Blues client if needed.

What happens if the Blues client wants to stop working with me?

If a client decides to leave before the 18 months are over, please ask the BPC to find you someone else.

What if my client’s income increases? And do I charge for missed sessions?

Once you are working with your Blues client, all arrangements about holidays, cancellation fees and other frame-related issues are up to you. Clients are told at the assessment stage that they will need to inform you if their income rises to over £30,000 pa. You can then negotiate a higher session payment if you wish.

What if the client wants more than 18 months of therapy and I am happy to continue?

You can agree with your Blues client to extend the period of therapy beyond the initial 18 months as agreed. However the Client will no longer be a Blues client covered by the Blues Project Terms and Conditions. It will be your responsibility to contract with the client for this extended period and set fees etc.

I still have questions that haven’t been covered

No problem—please get in touch with the BPC. The email address to use is referrals@thebowlbycentre.org.uk