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Original poster

Honest opinions, am I too old...

27 replies

nothingbutsnow · 04/12/2021 20:06

To go into a new career at 47?

I am a self employed digital designer/artist of 17 years. I do relatively well with this but would love to branch out some of my other interests.

My particular choice would be person centred counselling. Something I had always wanted to do but never got around to it. I have a family member who does this, although he lives quite a distance away now and I don't see him often (he was also in 40's when he first began) and have known quite a few people study/work in this field throughout my life, so it is something I know would suit me and I would hope to be able to benefit others also, of course.

But is this a good enough age to begin? I am financially well placed to afford it and have the time to offer to it also. I am currently in a long term relationship, all is well, and there are no other demands on my time.

I know it seems silly to ask about age, but just having a wobble!

OP posts:
BonesInTheOcean · 04/12/2021 20:08

You have another 15/ 20 years of work left, why not

Twattergy · 04/12/2021 20:08

I did some training I'm person centred counseling when I was 30 and was the second youngest person the group. Ages ranged from 26 to about 67, average I'd say was 40. So no, its not too late at all.

QuicklyNowThen · 04/12/2021 20:09

How is the training process op? If its very long would you be able to afford studying or could it be done around current work?
If it's possible then go for it 👍👍
Other alternative is maybe volunteering work in mental wellbeing if it's something you are passionate about I think you get a lot of it

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Madmog · 04/12/2021 20:15

I've just asked DH. He qualified and started working as a counsellor at the age of 54. He absolutely adamant you're certainly not too old.

Madmog · 04/12/2021 20:19

Forgot to say DH knew it's absolutely what he wanted to do as his last job. He was really focused, worked full time, did the course, voluntary work and personal counseling. Not easy, but he had my support.

Original poster
nothingbutsnow · 04/12/2021 20:26

Oh thank you! I dint expect much in the way of replies to this one.

It seems that if i dont try, i might be wasting an opportunity to add to doing the things that i love and am passionately drawn to. I have always been an artist first and foremost, and invested most of my youth into that, which is great - but i have grown to need a little bit more in recent years, and would like to branch out a bit.

In the past few years I have inherited some money, only 5 figures, but am very, very lucky and grateful for that. It is a good time for me to make an investment such as this, if i go ahead with it.

OP posts:
Original poster
nothingbutsnow · 04/12/2021 20:27

Ha, if covid will let me!

OP posts:
MattDillonsEyebrows · 04/12/2021 20:35

I'm 45 and am 1/2 way through an MSc in Psychology. Not sure what I want to do with it yet, but left the probation Service 2019 after 15 years as a Probation Officer and several years with youth offending before that. I got a lovely job with a charity but then Covid hit and I lost my job. I decided that was a good time to take stock and study.

I was assuming I'd look into Forensic psychology given my back ground, but actually from what I've learnt on this course, I'm definitely feeling drawn to Occupational Psych and coaching. This is a complete curve ball for me, as I wasn't expecting to find it interesting, but it really is. If I go down this path though, I'll probably be about 50 before I'm fully qualified but I think its worth it.
So no, in answer to your question you're not too old, especially for a job like that. I know I'd prefer to be counselled by someone with a bit of life experience, rather than someone who's only learnt about life in books at university.

My only warning is though that it is hard, so choose your course carefully. I am doing a distant learning course and it's not my learning style at all as I learn through discussion and interaction with actual people. Zoom & Whatsapp just don't cut it for me. I constantly struggle, and I am literally only just passing my course by the skin of my teeth, getting 55% (50% pass mark) whilst it seems everyone else his getting 72% upwards.
But I have to be kind to myself and remember all the above and the fact that I haven't studies for 20 years and things have changed a lot on those times.

Original poster
nothingbutsnow · 04/12/2021 20:38

@MattDillonsEyebrows

I'm 45 and am 1/2 way through an MSc in Psychology. Not sure what I want to do with it yet, but left the probation Service 2019 after 15 years as a Probation Officer and several years with youth offending before that. I got a lovely job with a charity but then Covid hit and I lost my job. I decided that was a good time to take stock and study.

I was assuming I'd look into Forensic psychology given my back ground, but actually from what I've learnt on this course, I'm definitely feeling drawn to Occupational Psych and coaching. This is a complete curve ball for me, as I wasn't expecting to find it interesting, but it really is. If I go down this path though, I'll probably be about 50 before I'm fully qualified but I think its worth it.
So no, in answer to your question you're not too old, especially for a job like that. I know I'd prefer to be counselled by someone with a bit of life experience, rather than someone who's only learnt about life in books at university.

My only warning is though that it is hard, so choose your course carefully. I am doing a distant learning course and it's not my learning style at all as I learn through discussion and interaction with actual people. Zoom & Whatsapp just don't cut it for me. I constantly struggle, and I am literally only just passing my course by the skin of my teeth, getting 55% (50% pass mark) whilst it seems everyone else his getting 72% upwards.
But I have to be kind to myself and remember all the above and the fact that I haven't studies for 20 years and things have changed a lot on those times.

This makes a lot of sense to me, thank you for sharing that :)

Best wishes with your endeavours!

OP posts:
weegiemum · 04/12/2021 20:59

I'm almost 51, an ex-teacher, and I've not been working due to disability.

I'm about to start training as a counsellor and really looking forward to it. You're definitely not too old!

user1999952776 · 04/12/2021 21:03

No you’re absolutely not too old especially for a counselling career. Good luck!

HUGanALPACA · 04/12/2021 21:05

I retrained as a teacher, qualifying at 46 - u shd go for it!
I found the course demanding - I did it wen the kids were still at home plus had various life complications. Personally I felt age was an advantage- I was much more organised than the younger students and i didn’t mind asking for help. The thing that surprised me the most was how much better I’d got at essay writing compared with my earlier uni days.
U shd absolutely give it a go - if u decide u don’t like it u still have something to fall back on. If u don’t u will always wonder…

Original poster
nothingbutsnow · 04/12/2021 21:11

@weegiemum

I'm almost 51, an ex-teacher, and I've not been working due to disability.

I'm about to start training as a counsellor and really looking forward to it. You're definitely not too old!

Fantastic, good luck with everything, i hope to be joining in soon enough!
OP posts:
Original poster
nothingbutsnow · 04/12/2021 21:12

Thanks all, i ought to know this for myself, and i know that i do, but it is nice to hear it.

OP posts:
Pebbles16 · 04/12/2021 21:16

I do counselling/coaching as a side job and I feel you have to have life experience to bring your best to the situation.

Mxflamingnoravera · 04/12/2021 21:17

I work in a college that delivers university accredited degrees in counselling, most of our students are over 40, many over 50, it's never too late.

maddiemookins16mum · 04/12/2021 21:37

The large holiday firm I’d worked for for 26 years went bust a few years ago. I was 53. I was totally lost. It was all I knew, the travel industry was my life. I now work in a senior role in a totally different industry - one I new nothing about and could never have imagined working in 5 years ago.

Heartofglass12345 · 05/12/2021 12:17

@maddiemookins16mum you can't say that and not tell us GrinI am looking for new career inspiration, I used to be a nurse and now work for test and trace which isn't the best lol.

@nothingbutsnow how does person centred counselling differ from regular counselling? I've always been interested in counselling as a career too Smile

Heartofglass12345 · 05/12/2021 12:17

@maddiemookins16mum I meant tell us what career you went into haha I can't write properly today!

maddiemookins16mum · 05/12/2021 14:41

@Heartofglass12345. Tax accountancy!!!

Heartofglass12345 · 05/12/2021 15:29

Ooh I'm not sure I could do that haha. I honestly feel like when I was choosing my options in school though, no idea what to do with my life!

TooGood2BeFalse · 05/12/2021 15:51

My mum was your age when she retrained.It was some hard graft,but she did it with 3 difficult children and loved it. It was also a career she managed to continue in France and Cyprus.I say go for it

Luredbyapomegranate · 05/12/2021 16:02

Of course!

It’s a bit of a classic middle aged lady career change option Grin. It sounds like you’ll be able to slowly transition from your current career, which is good because it will take a while to train and build a practice.

nordica · 05/12/2021 16:10

The only thing I would say is that it's hard to earn a good level of income from counselling work alone because there are so many counsellors out there and very few paid jobs. So you would be looking into setting up a private practice, most likely working very part time. I would probably think of it more as something to do alongside what you do now and not a complete career change.

HollowTalk · 05/12/2021 16:27

I'd be concerned about what kind of salary you could earn. You'd be self-employed wouldn't you? Wouldn't it take an awful long time to build up a client list? In 10 years' time you might be looking to retire anyway and still be earning a very low salary.

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