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How to become a Counsellor

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Counsellor jobs

5,777

Counsellor courses

Career progression and salary expectations for a Counsellor

Trainee Counsellor

| Up to £25,000

Counsellor

| Up to £32,000

Senior/Specialist Counsellor

| Up to £40,000

The role of a Counsellor

What does a Counsellor do?

Are you a great listener? Are you happiest when helping solve peoples problems? Then why not become a Counsellor...

Counsellers provide a confidential and empathetic ear to clients, allowing them to discuss and reflect on their feelings. Appointments could broach any subject, from the loss of a loved one to relationship difficulties.

Importantly though, a Counsellors role is not to advise, but instead to encourage their clients to come to their own decisions and perhaps understand their problems from a different perspective.

Every case will vary, but a typical Counsellor will be responsible for:

Building a relationship with each new client
Agreeing upon a programme of discussion topics for each session based on their individual needs
Steering conversation and asking appropriate questions during appointments so clients share their feelings
Building up records for existing clients for future reference
Referring clients to other professionals such as doctors or psychiatrists if necessary

Is a career as a Counsellor right for me?

To be successful as a Counsellor, you will need to be thoughtful, discreet and possess a genuine love for helping with people overcome their problems.

Also, as the information you hear will generally be of a senstive nature, the ability to build trust will be essential.

A good Counsellor will be:

Good at making people feel relaxed
Extremely patient
Comfortable dealing with all kinds of problems and people from all walks of life
Able to challenge clients' statements but also appear non-confrontational
Non-judgemental

What's it like to be a Counsellor?

"I love being a Counsellor because I'm helping people every day to become the person they really want to be. I am able to show clients that they should be treated with respect and how they have the resources and resilience to overcome even the most enormous emotional hurdles. The human mind is also endlessly fascinating. It can be difficult to see clients in turmoil, but the advantages definitely outweigh the drawbacks."

Get qualified as a Counsellor

While there are no strict legal requirements or regulations governing the profession of counselling, most employers and professional bodies require counsellors to hold relevant qualifications and meet certain standards of competency and ethical practice.

Counsellors typically start by earning a bachelor's degree in counselling, psychology, or a related field, followed by possible postgraduate qualifications for further specialisation. Many Counsellors also opt for accreditation or membership with professional bodies like the BACP or UKCP to demonstrate their commitment to ethical practice and ongoing professional development.

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