This research explores the lived experiences of working-class women undertaking the Counselling Psychology Doctorate in the UK, using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to illuminate how participants make sense of their journeys through a predominantly middle-class professional landscape. While counselling psychology aims to foster inclusivity and reflexivity, the nuanced impact of social class on trainees' identities and experiences remains underexplored.


Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with a small, purposively selected sample of self-identified working-class women currently enrolled in or recently graduated from UK counselling psychology doctorates. The analysis yielded three superordinate themes: "Living Between Worlds", which captures the tension between participants' class identities and the cultural expectations of the profession; "Carrying the Cost", highlighting the emotional, financial, and relational toll of training; and "Speaking Truth to Power", reflecting participants' critical consciousness and their efforts to resist and reshape dominant narratives within training contexts.


The findings reveal how social class is not only a structural but also an embodied and psychological experience, influencing participants' sense of belonging, professional identity, and mental health. This study offers insights into the complex interplay between identity, power, and meaning-making within doctoral training and calls for a more class-conscious and inclusive approach in counselling psychology education. By giving voice to a seldom-heard group within the profession, this research contributes to the ongoing dialogue around equity, representation, and the lived realities of diverse trainee counselling psychologists.