Becoming a Counsellor
Am I suited to a career in counselling?
Many people assume that they are, because they enjoy helping friends with personal problems, or because people often confide in them, or because they like talking to others about feelings. But the most effective counsellors may not be the best talkers. Rather, they tend to be excellent listeners, people who are willing and able to put their own opinions and needs aside in order to learn more about what another person is thinking.
How can I become a counsellor?
To practice as a counsellor, you can complete a program of study in that field. Without credible knowledge and an understanding of the industry, it is difficult to build a career anywhere. If you want to be a counsellor, you should aim to obtain a credible qualification, membership of a professional body and professional indemnity insurance.
In many countries, there are few or no government requirements for length or level of study. This may change. Meanwhile, most counselling bodies and prospective employers do not tend to recognise counselling qualifications less than around 1000 hours of study (commonly a Diploma), so that is what you should aim at.
Example: Diploma in Counselling and Psychology, conducted by ACS Distance Education. These studies are recognised by the International Accreditation & Recognition Council and the Complimentary Medicine Association (UK). click here for details
You might, however, begin your studies with a lower level course, such as a Certificate in Counselling, and later upgrade to a diploma. For a range of "first step" options, click here.
Students who enrol in counselling courses include people who offer counselling in other areas of work (such as community workers, social workers, health practitioners, care workers or clergy), practising counsellors who want to upgrade their qualification and knowledge; psychologists whose study lacked or was low in counselling training; and others who want to begin, or change to, a career in counselling.
If you already possess a qualification in psychology, education, health care, natural therapies, social work or community work, solid training in counselling can extend your career possibilities, and increase your ability to be of service to others.
Some universities may grant graduates of counselling courses credit towards a degree in counselling, psychology, or social work. The decision of whether or not to grant credit can only be made by each university, but it is certainly worth investigating this pathway into a relevant degree if this interest you.
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What opportunities exist for counsellors?
Some employers will only take on counsellors with counselling degrees. However, many opportunities exist for skilled and caring counsellors, and this seems to be a field in which the demand for good practitioners is growing, especially in rural areas, and in countries beset by ongoing strife and distress. Counsellors can find work in community and social support organizations, in schools, in natural therapies practices, in sports training and fitness or health facilities, in business organisations … in fact, in a wide range of areas.
Or if you are more enterprising, you can set up your own counselling practice, offering either support in one specific area, such as nutritional or financial counselling, or broader general counselling services.
If you have set your star on a counselling career, be willing to work your way up, perhaps to test and prove yourself by helping friends, and acquaintances, and colleagues, taking small counselling-related tasks, and developing a client base. A good counsellor will often grow a business from word-of-mouth referrals from satisfied clients.
And learn to network….really network ….Don’t just to think of how contacts might benefit you, but how you might benefit each other. Many students of the ACS Distance Education counselling diploma have found that the contacts they made while studying their course and interviewing professional counsellors resulted in counselling jobs. If you are sincere, committed, willing to learn, and have a genuinely caring, warm attitude towards others, able to listen to others without imposing your ideas or opinions, opportunities for employment may find you.
WHERE TO START?
A wise decision is to commence with a course that lays a foundation, but is also achievable. Do not take on more than you are capable of finishing.
Some people will start a career with nothing more than a short courses such as
Counselling Skills I while others start off by enrolling straight into a certificate or diploma. Obviously a certificate will have advantages over a 100 hour short course like Counselling Skills I; and a diploma or degree are even better. Diplomas and degrees require a commitment to years of study though, and unless you have the time and money; and are not working, they may simply not be a realistic starting point.A good compromise may be the
ACS Certificate in Counselling or an
ACS Certificate in Psychology.
If you complete these qualifications, you will have achieved a point where you may be able to find relevant employment and start on a career path. The 600 hours of study involved in these certificates together with industry experience which you begin to develop, can then be used to obtain advanced standing in a higher qualification such as the Diploma in Counselling and Psychology.