British Association for Counseling and Psychotherapy
You could do a degree or postgraduate course in counselling or psychotherapy. You should look for a course that includes practical skills training and supervised placements. You can search for courses through the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.
You are likely to need a recognised counselling qualification. There are different types and levels of course available including at diploma, degree and postgraduate level. Some are available on a part-time basis, others full-time. Many can lead to registration on a voluntary basis, with a number of organisations.
Your core practitioner training should be at the minimum level of a diploma in counselling or psychotherapy, but could be a bachelor’s degree , master’s degree or doctorate .
To qualify as a counsellor or psychotherapist takes at least seven years, with additional time required for accreditation by a governing body. The usual route is a three-year university degree followed by a masters degree, followed by a doctorate degree.
Sometimes it’s difficult to pursue dreams that require rigorous education or training. Luckily, online programs are available to those who aren’t able to attend or find it challenging to learn through a traditional classroom setting. For those who wish to become a counselor , online education can be a viable option.
No , you can ‘t be a proper counsellor or therapist without a proper degree and a post grad. you could take a few crappy course and advertise yourself as a therapist , without having acquired the necessary skills and put the work in, people do . You shouldn’t though. Training to be a counsellor is an expensive thing to do .
A career as a counsellor can be extremely flexible. With the average weekly hours worked by a counsellor being just over 34 hours a week, Counselling is a great option for those looking for flexibility in their career as they can schedule their clients around their existing commitments or desired work / life balance.
A counsellor is usually someone who treats patients over a relatively brief period of time to address behavioural patterns whereas a therapist , or psychotherapist will treat patients long term to resolve more deep-seated issues.
This course could lead to work as a helper or a trainee counsellor , in areas such as mental health, the homeless, substance misuse, education, health, and social care. Further training can lead to becoming a fully-qualified counsellor .
5 years full-time formal education in psychology – for example: A three-year Bachelor’s degree majoring in Psychology or the equivalent thereof. An Honours degree in psychology, plus.
To become a counsellor , you can study courses at a diploma level, bachelor degree, graduate diploma or masters degree in counselling . Counsellors can work in private practice, especially in the area of relationship counselling , in drug and alcohol services, or with gambling help services.
In recent years, counselling has become more highly recognised by the NHS as an effective way to help people with mental health problems. Various programs to improve access and recruit more counsellors mean that it is a good time to consider a career in counselling .
Paid counselling work is in great demand , as the number of qualified counsellors continues to steadily increase. Counselling is now readily available in the workplace, education, youth work, General Practice and specialist fields like addiction, bereavement, AIDS and eating disorder clinics and centres.
What skills does a counsellor need? Communication skills . You need excellent verbal communication skills to effectively talk to a range of different people. Interpersonal skills . Understanding of ethics. Patience . Compassion. Emotional stability. Knowledge of laws and regulations. Open-mindedness.
A Master’s in Counselling could be in the books if you’re keen on helping others understand and cope with difficult issues to improve their lives. It’s a rewarding profession, with the added benefit of job security. A study has found that demand for mental health services has spiked.