How to become a Counsellor
in the UK
How to Become a Counsellor in the UK?
How to Become a Counsellor in the UK: Steps to becoming a counsellor typically include obtaining a level 4 counselling qualification or a counselling degree, gaining experience through internships or volunteer work and then registering with a professional body.
This article includes a step-by-step guide to help you become a counsellor or qualified practitioner in the UK.
Contents:
Counselling is the provision of professional assistance and guidance in resolving personal or psychological problems. Counselling is a form of consultation that goes beyond providing advice.
The goal of counselling is to establish a process where the counsellor assists you in achieving certain outcomes. Counselling offers a secure and private environment for you to discuss your issues with a trained professional.
Your therapist will assist you in examining your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours to enhance self-awareness and understanding of others.
A counsellor provides support in helping you discover your solutions, whether that involves making changes in your life or finding ways to cope with your problems. They do not offer opinions, advice, or prescribe medication.
Counselling enables you to:
The counsellor utilises active listening, reflective questioning, and other therapeutic interventions and tools to provide an effective counselling service based on their training and experience with other clients.
The relationship between a counsellor and client should be built on trust, empathy, and respect. A counsellor's role is to listen without judgment or blame, providing relief to clients who are seeking answers and resolution.
Counselling aims to establish healthier ways of relating to oneself and others.
Counsellors play a crucial role in providing a safe and non-judgmental environment for individuals to explore and address their emotional difficulties and mental health issues. In this job role, counsellors primarily engage in "talking therapy," which has gained popularity in recent years, especially among those with mental health conditions, relationship difficulties, or emotional and behavioural difficulties.
Counsellors facilitate this therapy by asking questions to help clients delve deeper into their feelings and emotions. They may also employ techniques such as role-play, visualisation, and memory-focused processes to create a secure space for clients to explore difficult experiences. Outside of sessions, counsellors maintain records of their client's information and may communicate with other healthcare professionals if necessary.
Confidentiality is crucial in this profession, and counsellors adhere to strict confidentiality agreements to protect their clients' privacy.
What Are The Important Skills A Counsellor Needs?
Active listening is one of the most important basic counselling skills for a counsellor, along with empathy and compassion. Counsellors must also be comfortable discussing sensitive subjects such as abuse, self-harm, or suicide. Creating a comfortable and relaxed environment for clients to open up is essential.
Organisational skills and basic computer literacy are also necessary for maintaining client records and administrative tasks, life experience is also a valuable advantage to becoming a counsellor. Patience, calmness under pressure, and the ability to work at the client's pace are vital.
Counsellors must also possess self-awareness and objectivity to provide effective support. Building trust and mutual respect with clients is crucial, requiring a balance between professionalism and empathy.
What Are the Working Hours Like?
Counsellors have varied working hours. While some choose to work full-time, others may work part-time. On average, counsellors spend approximately 20 hours per week seeing clients, with the rest of their time dedicated to preparation and administration.
Counsellors also engage in research, note-taking, and reflection to better understand their clients. With the availability of online and telephone counselling, some counsellors work from home on a freelance basis, allowing them to accommodate clients outside of regular working hours. The flexibility in working hours may be irregular compared to other healthcare professions, as clients often prefer evening or weekend sessions.
What Qualifications Does A Counsellor Need?
There are various counselling qualifications available at different levels. It is recommended to start with an introductory course to see how counselling feels to you whilst you learn to apply the core counselling skills.
Having completed your short introduction course you will have gained confidence in applying the essential skills and will be ready to move to a level 2 course, which provides a broad overview of the profession.
This is followed by a level 3 certificate in counselling, typically lasting around one year, which delves deeper into psychology and counselling techniques.
After completing these initial stages, counsellors must undertake a diploma that includes supervised contact hours with clients. The minimum number of supervised hours required can vary depending on the training provider.
It is important to note that completion of a level 3 qualification in counselling or a related subject is beneficial before enrolling in a level 4 course.
Funding for these courses is generally self-funded, although bursaries or loans may be available. Part-time options are also available for working professionals.
Where Can a Counsellor Work?
Careers in counselling
Counsellors work in a wide range of settings, including hospitals, social care settings, therapy centres, work from home self-employed counsellors, and further and higher education colleges.
They may either work in a fixed location for organisations like the NHS or travel to different locations to see clients. Sessions typically take place in a small, private room with only the client and counsellor present. However, group therapy sessions may require larger venues. In the UK, each local authority has an NHS-funded organisation that offers low-cost or free counselling services.
Careers in counselling require minimal equipment and as long as there is a private space for uninterrupted sessions, counsellors can work from virtually anywhere.
How Much Does a Counsellor Typically Earn?
Counselling jobs
Counselling career salaries can vary significantly based on qualifications and experience. The average starting salary for experienced counsellors is around £33,000, while highly experienced counsellors can earn up to £47,000 depending of the size of their client base. Hourly rates typically range from £45 to £80, with higher rates for experienced counsellors.
Different Routes to Become a Qualified Counsellor
Level of training
Route 1 - a university degree course, usually a foundation degree (has entry requirements)
Route 2 - an online counselling course then a college course - diploma in counselling
Route 3 - training with a counselling organisation
A university course
To become a counsellor, there are various paths one can take. One option is to pursue a university course in counselling or a related field. Many universities offer undergraduate degrees in psychology or counselling, which provide a solid foundation of theoretical knowledge and practical skills. These programs usually include courses on different types of counselling techniques, ethics and professional issues in counselling, and supervised clinical practice. After completing the degree, graduates often have the option to further specialise in a specific area of counselling through postgraduate studies or professional training.
Another path to becoming a counsellor is through obtaining a master's degree in counselling or a closely related field. Many universities offer specialised master's programs in counselling, which provide more in-depth training and specialisation opportunities than undergraduate degrees. These programs typically focus on advanced counselling theories, research methods, and clinical skills development.
PRO'S: Integrated in one place.
If you're looking for a traditional mostly face-to-face learning experience this route provides an integrated experience with many opportunities to learn and interact with others.
CON'S: Cost.
If you choose to follow this route the cost will likely exceed £27,750 depending on where you are living whilst studying at your chosen University.
An online course then a college course
Alternatively, individuals can choose to enrol in a college course that focuses specifically on counselling. These programs typically provide more practical-oriented training than university courses and may be tailored towards specific areas such as addiction counselling or school counselling.
College courses often have shorter durations compared to university degrees, making them more accessible for those looking for quicker entry into the field. However, it is important to ensure that the chosen college program meets recognised standards and accreditation requirements to ensure the quality of education received.
PRO'S: A much cheaper option costs typically less than £4000-£6000 in total tuition fees and still a highly practical experience.
CON'S: You may need to study at more than one location
Training with a dedicated counselling organisation
Another pathway to becoming a counsellor is by undergoing training with a counselling organisation. Many organisations offer specialised training programs for individuals interested in pursuing a career as a counsellor.
These programs often combine theoretical instruction with hands-on practice under the guidance of experienced professionals.
PRO'S: A highly tailored and personalised experience working with professional counsellors
CON'S: These courses have specific entry requirements that need to be fulfilled to be eligible, hard to find as there are fewer providers for this option.
Models of counselling
Psychodynamic model
The psychodynamic model is based on the idea that our behaviour, coping mechanisms, and relationships are shaped by past experiences that are often stored in the unconscious mind.
Psychodynamic Counselling aims to accomplish the following objectives:
Psychodynamic Counselling is utilised in a variety of settings.
Exploration of issues, memories, and everyday experiences is facilitated through active listening and reflection. This allows clients the opportunity to express their true feelings, leading to increased self-awareness and self-esteem.
Humanistic Therapy
Encompasses various therapeutic approaches, such as person-centred therapy, Gestalt, existential therapy, solution-focused therapy, and transactional analysis.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is a therapy that focuses on addressing the connections between thoughts, feelings, and behaviours in a goal-oriented manner.
Negative perceptions can lead to negative emotions and behaviours in a situation.
This treatment is centred on addressing and altering patterns of thinking or behaviour that contribute to individuals' difficulties, to promote more balanced alternatives.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy used to:
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy can help individuals break the cycle of altered thinking, feelings, and behaviour that can negatively impact their physical and emotional well-being.
The goal of CBT is to empower individuals to develop their own strategies for addressing problems and effectively manage their mental health.
Person-centred therapy
The effectiveness of this therapy relies more on the counsellor's attitude towards the client rather than their skills.
Person-centred therapists emphasise that clients possess the answers within themselves. Through the use of three core skills - empathy, unconditional positive regard, and congruence - clients are empowered to reach a better place independently.
Person-centred therapy will:
Person-centred therapy is useful in:
In therapy, the client guides the overall direction of the session, while the counsellor helps increase the client's insights and self-awareness by asking clarifying questions.
Integrative Counselling
Integrative Counselling acknowledges the complexity of each individual and has evolved from the belief that no single counselling model can fully address all aspects of a person.
Integrative Counselling allows counsellors to utilise various counselling models to accommodate the unique needs of each client, recognising that individuals have different ways of thinking, feeling, and reacting.
An Integrative Counsellor utilises various techniques to assist clients in achieving their desired outcomes and personal growth.
An Integrative Counsellor will:
An Integrative Counsellor acknowledges and appreciates the expertise, abilities, and understanding of all major counselling models. If deemed necessary, the counsellor will refer you to a practitioner specialising in a specific model for targeted therapy.
Gestalt Counselling
The goal of Gestalt Counselling is to assist clients in recognising emotional or cognitive blockages and addressing how these issues impact their current life experiences.
The counsellor assists the client in modifying beliefs and unresolved feelings that impede the client's ability to lead a fulfilling life.
Gestalt Counselling will:
Gestalt Counselling is useful in:
The main goal of Gestalt Counselling is to enhance awareness of feelings, emotions, and thoughts, and to facilitate effective expression of them.
This process can help individuals better understand their thought processes and improve their ability to manage them. The goal is to empower the client to address their own needs as well as the needs of others.
Integrative Counselling
Integrative Counselling acknowledges that no single counselling model can fully address the complexity of each individual.
Integrative Counselling allows counsellors to utilise a range of counselling models tailored to meet the needs of the client, as individuals may vary in their thoughts, emotions, and responses.
An Integrative Counsellor utilises various techniques to assist individuals in making positive changes in their lives, creating a tailored therapy approach based on each client's desires and requirements.
An Integrative Counsellor will:
An Integrative Counsellor respects and incorporates various counselling models into their practice. If they believe you would benefit from a specific counselling approach, they will refer you to a practitioner specialising in that model.
Transactional Analysis
Transactional Analysis identifies three "ego states" within the human personality: Parent, Adult, and Child. Individuals express their personalities through a combination of behaviours, thoughts, and emotions.
According to the TA model, individuals generally use all three ego-states.
One aspect of Transactional Analysis involves individuals behaving, feeling, and thinking based on unconscious imitation of their parents' actions.
The goal is to develop and strengthen the Adult state in TA.
Transactional Analysis will:
Transactional Analysis is useful for:
Transactional Analysis acknowledges the value and worth of every individual. It is a goal-oriented therapy that aims to empower the client and facilitate a new direction in life.
Related Topics:
Can you train to be a counsellor online?
Your Guide to a Career in Counselling
Counselling skills
Counsellor career options
Additional training
How to become a therapist
Training in counselling
A day in the life of a counsellor
What makes successful counsellors?
Opportunities for counsellors
Personal qualities of a good counsellor
How to Become a Counsellor
Free Mini Course
Delivered straigt to your inbox
We'd Love to Share our Knowledge With You
Includes a weekly email - unsubscibe at any time