This is something I've felt really strongly about for a few years now. I really hoped that someone here could share any advice they might have from their own experience, or people they know, on the best way to go about becoming a counsellor. I've been thinking about this for a few years now and I want to make sure I choose the right kinds of study or courses to go about it.
I do think that it would be a job I'd be suited to. People have often said that they like to talk to me about problems they're having, because I've helped them to understand what they think or want, rather than telling them what to do. I don't purport to be able to understand everything everyone's been through for a minute, but from some of the things that have happened in my life, I've got a lot of time and empathy for anyone who is struggling with what they're going through. I used to be a lawyer and after a nearly fatal accident and spending two years learning to walk again, it made me realise that it was ok to say actually I would like to completely change what I'm doing. I do have the time and resources to be able to study and obtain qualifications I might need. The one thing I'm worried about is my very restricted mobility. A lot of counsellors do talk to patients by phone or skype, so I don't think my difficulty with being able to get about would necessarily mean I couldn't do this job.
If anyone can tell me which the best qualifications to start off with would be, that would be really appreciated. The other thing I'd also like to know is how one would go about actually finding patients, as a lot of the counsellors I know of have been recommended to people by doctors.