Career advice- counselling?

[Ohmymg]

I’m currently studying an education related degree and initially planned on a PGCE to go into primary teaching. I’m now into the second year of my degree and would rather head down the route of counselling for children/adolescents.

I’ve looked at Educational Psychology too- but worry about how competitive this would be(only 12 places per year at the only uni I could study at) and as I’m 36 I’d be looking at being 40+ when qualifying.

I’ve asked my LA about a voluntary placement within their counselling and psychology team to hopefully gain an insight but wondered if anyone works in this area who could give me some advice as to what to study after my undergrad degree.

Any advice welcome, thank you

I haven’t ever done a counselling course, but I do know a number of people who joined my current workplace who have either decided to complete them as a career change and plan to work as full time counsellors or did them as a change in direction in the same company.

Truthfully, I don’t think it’s particularly lucrative - this may not be a concern for you, of course, and I wonder if such a specified area of counselling might further limit the number of clients you have.

My personal feeling is that a teaching qualification would be a good place to start. You could perhaps look at counselling after working in a school for a few years?

There are some child & adolescent counselling courses that you could take up after your degree. I did several of these courses starting at certificate level up to MA in child psychotherapy. It depends which qualification you’re looking to have, but if you’re wanting to work specifically with children the course has to be counselling with children not just, for example, counselling or counselling with adults.
It is expensive also and depending which route you take could take 3 years to train. Have you also looked at play therapy courses?

That last paragraph was a bit negative! I meant to add it’s also very rewarding and really interesting! Definitely worthwhile if that’s where your interests are 🙂

Oh and there’s always a demand for child therapists and school counsellors it’s just the lack of funding that may mean there’s less jobs.

You could do a general counselling qualification and some further training in working with children and young people. It’s fair to say there aren’t a huge number of employment opportunities and most will want further CPD and accreditation before you’d be eligible to apply. In saying that, anyone I know who has wanted to make a living as a counsellor has been able to do so usually through a combination of employment and private practice.

Tbh your teachers qualifications will open doors for you that a counselling qualification alone wouldn’t.

Thank you all. I had considered the PGCE and some post qualification teaching.

My employment background is the early years- I was qualified to foundation degree level but felt a top up in that area would be too restricting. I did work with vulnerable children at times but more revenues experience is obviously going to help.

I had even considered post compulsory education. Perhaps I’m getting cold feet about teaching, I’m honestly not sure!