Advice needed on training to be a counsellor

[muffinchops]

My ds is 9 months old and I have decided not to return to my job as a solicitor with a large City law firm. However, I am really interested in training to become a counsellor perhaps doing a combination of one on one work and working with companies.

I would welcome any advice on the training on offer (particularly as there are a myriad of courses on offer, not all of which are accredited), counselling as a career in general and the viability of working with companies.

Hope to hear from you.

[IDismyname]

No advice, muffinchops, but I think we're heading in the same direction! I'll be very interested to read your replies.

I'm dipping my toe into counselling by starting off as a Homestart volunteer, working with local families. Thought it might look good on any potential cv, and gives me a chance to see if I'm any good at it !!!!

I've just signed off from helping my first family, and they've given me the thumbs up, so I must have done something right.

Good luck

[Bettybloo]

Hi muffinchops,
I'd recommend looking at the Westminster Pastoral Foundation website : www.wpf.org.uk - I think they're one of the biggest organisations for counselling and psychotherapy. I did a foundation course in psycho dynamic counselling there (part time) about 10 years ago and it was fantastic. Sadly I couldn't take it any further at that time so can't offer much more advice than this ( thoughI'm hoping to get back to it early next year), but that websites a good place to start, since I assume you're London based?
They did a weekend introdu tion to counselling course which was really good to give you a basic idea what it's all about before committing.
HTH

[lalaa]

Hi
I'm doing this too!

I got a training directory (about £10) from the BACP (British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy). They have a website here . The training courses are listed geographically by training provider and there's also a really helpful section giving you an overview of the different types of counselling training (eg person-centred, Gestalt, etc, etc) so that you can have a think about which one would work for you best.

I only look at accredited courses as I want to be a registered counsellor. The general form is that you do an introductory course of about 10 weeks, one evening a week. That gives you a good idea of what it's about. The next stage is a year, one day or one evening a week (my training provider calls this the foundation year), and then finally you do the diploma, which is two years one day a week.

Some training providers help you set up your practice as part of the training. (Bath Centre for Counselling and Psychotherapy is one).

You really need to work part time and do the training as it takes a while and it costs money! In addition to paying for your training, as the training progresses, you will also have to find time for a voluntary placement, supervision sessions (with a qualified counsellor who oversees what you're doing with your 'clients', your own counselling or psychotherapy (sometimes mandatory) and the homework.

I looked into trying to do it faster, but once I'd done the introductory course and started doing a bit of research, I realised that the reason you can't really do it any faster is because your own self-development takes time, and that's what makes you a good counsellor.

hth

[IDismyname]

Muffinchops - I met someone last week who is doing a 10 week "introduction to Counsellng" course at the local Adult Ed. centre. Helps you decide which sort of direction you want to go in.

[Heathcliffscathy]

where do i start?

If you want accreditation (and this is extremely advisable, the govt will make counselling/psychotherapy regulated within five years and then you'll have to be) it's a long (and expensive haul). Minimum four years. Find out which model appeals to you (there are loads, from psychoanalysis on the couch, through humanistic right to psychospiritual models and all have their advantages and disadvantages, depends on what 'speaks' to you). Be aware the WPF (as mentioned below) comes from a Christian background, this may or may not put you off, and they are strictly psychodynamic (with roots in freud, although it's come a long way since his day!).

Most courses ask that you do an introductory course first, followed by a foundation followed by a professional training. You need to be seeing clients as a volunteer after the first year. You need to be in your own therapy with an accredited counsellor for the length of your training. You need to be supervised for your client work (you need this in order to clock up hours you need for acreditation). all three of these cost money and time.

sorry to sound discouraging but i'm half way through training and it is really really hard, on many many levels not least of which is going through your own therapy...the group I started with halved by the end of the second year...and this is typical...it really isn't for everyone, and the training will change your life (lots of relationship breakups/life reviews etc too)...

At the end of all this, you can count on a starting salary of around £25-35 per hour, but that is dependent on finding a client base...and this can take years to build up. Counselling jobs are not generally very well paid (£15-25K p.a.) but once you are established (which takes years) the money comes in as you can train to be a supervisor/run training courses yourself/even write books if you're that good: in short this is NOT a career for making loads of money (you will take a while to recoup what you've spent on your training: weekly therapy at £30-40 p.w./supervision at £30-40 every two weeks, although sometimes this is offerred by your placement).

However...it is the most fascinating, rewarding if daunting work I've ever undertaken (apart from being a mother!)...

If you want more advice, feel free to email me via contact another talker.

[Heathcliffscathy]

lalaa! we crossed posts...it's hard but great non? BACP is 3 years (altho by the time you've sorted yourself out and done an intro course it's four) PROVIDED you get your hours in , and you'll know by now that that ain't easy (given clients' propensity for not showing up etc).

UKCP is four years.

it is LOOOONG!

[wobblyknicks]

Didn't realise there were so many people on here wanting to do this/already doing this. I've been thinking about training to be a psychologist/counsellor for a while and I hope you don't mind me hijacking your thread muffinchops but have a couple of q's.

• would you recommend training as a counsellor first or doing a psychology degree first?
  
  
• is it possible to work (earning) p/t and train at the same time?
  
  
• I'm thinking of moving to NZ within the next 5ish years - are there any particular courses or training routes which would be particularly good or bad for use over there?