To think I could become a counsellor/therapist without going to university?

[careerwanted]

Now that my DC are at school I’ve decided that I’d like a career for myself. I’ve been thinking about what I would like to do and potentially looking at becoming a counsellor or therapist.

The only qualifications I have are GCSE’s ranging from A-E grades. I don’t want to go to university and build up any debt but happy to pay for courses that I can save up for and pay for. Looking at the City of Bristol college which offers evening courses such as introduction to counselling £200 and then level 2 and level 3 at a slightly higher cost (no problem as I could save for this).

I’m planning on going to the open evening and discussing with a careers advisor the right path to take but wondered if any MNers know if it would be possible to become a counsellor/therapist without going to uni and doing these courses or am I just getting carried away with myself?

I’d be really interested to hear from anyone who has decided they’d like a career and went for it. What did you want to do, how did you do it. Was it worth it?

Thanks

Would you consider something like a youth work apprenticeship instead?

What Isadora and others have said: you can opt to do a degree level course to train as a counsellor, but it is not absolutely essential. You can do a diploma level course, which is often a slightly more cost-effective route. I am a qualified and registered counsellor and did not do a degree level course in order qualify. It's worth saying that a good diploma level course will absolutely offer practical and relevant training that will prepare you for practice as a therapist. Yes, it's expensive, time-consuming and demanding whichever route you take - also very definitely not a way to get paid much very soon! I would recommend doing a level 2 or 3 course to start with as a way to see if this is really 'for you' without a massive financial commitment.

An interesting view:

www.theguardian.com/society/2017/aug/19/what-im-really-thinking-disappointed-counsellor

Counselling isn't psychiatry though, Andrew

I didn't say it was. Psychiatrists need a medical degree, everyone knows that counselling is not psychiatry.
Counsellors need to know when their clients do need a psychiatrist though, that is the point.

If you're in Bristol OP (noticed you mentioned city of Bristol college) I'd highly recommend volunteering with One25. They work with women involved in street sex work in Bristol, most of whom also have drug and alcohol issues. I use to volunteer with their outreach programme befor wi got pregnant and I know they're currently looking for drop in centre volunteers. I completed several in house training courses on managing addiction, helping abuse survivors etc, while with them. Would be a great way to test the waters

Another Bristol option is helpline volunteering - there are quite a few based in Bristol off the top of my head:
Self injury Support
Bristol Mindline
Womankind

Even to volunter in counselling you need a certain level of qualification.
It is not as easy as people think, the orginisations will take the best and you would be up against qualified counsellors gaining experiance.
If you really think this is the field for you then do an introduction to counselling first (they do this at city of bristol) because it's not just money that it costs!
I'm lucky to have a paid job in counselling but that is 2 years and accedition later!
A level 4 doesn't qualify you either and it would still put you at a voluntry level.

I trained counsellors at level 2/3/4 in a college.

To do the Certificate in Counselling Skills at level 3 you needed to have gcse maths and English or sit a test in them. They were qualifications so that the college would allow you entry to most courses.

You do not need further qualifications before you start. However the academic req are demanding - you have to write essays, there were 4 on the certificate course, 8 on the diploma course plus a 7-10k portfolio evidencing your practise on placement.

You do not need a degree, a third of the class I taught did not have degrees. They had all sorts of jobs - PA’s to social services, TA’s, a teacher, someone who worked in Tesco.

And there was a large piece on the radio yesterday about trying to encourage working class people into counselling so please do not let it put you off.

When I trained people fee reductions were available for those on low incomes.

As for jobs I’ve been constantly and easily employed for more than ten years (I did have multiple academic quals beforehand) - there are plenty of jobs in London - I can only speak about London

As for placements - no one was allowed clients until the 2nd year of the Diploma - so that’s at least 2 years 3 months after starting to train.

And the placement staff decided if you were ready, along with your supervisor- no one started counselling clients until 2 trained professionals said you were ready.

And yes of course there were still people who really struggled.

Some career titles are protected by law like solicitor, doctor, barrister, nurse and you cannot call yourself those things unless you've done loads of qualifications. Others have no restrictions - so I could set up as therapist or counsellor or life coach tomorrow whether I could even read or write.

However whether you get any customers/clients is another matter.

Possibly HCA roles in mental health inpatient settings, or support, time and recovery worker roles in the community might be something you could consider?

I know this post was a while ago but interestingly no... you don't need qualifications even though BACP would have you thinking otherwise. "There are currently no laws in the UK regarding counselling and psychotherapy.However guidelines recommend that, in order to practice, counsellors should have completed at least an appropriate diploma, or completed a course that was a minimum of 400 hours therapy training."
www.counselling-directory.org.uk/profquals.html

I have actually been practising as a "therapist" for a number of years and have a huge client base. I am always completely upfront and tell people I am not professionally qualified but have a number of references and the rest is up to them.

Legally it can be done and I truly believe as long as you are completely honest and upfront then it is ok.

It's sad as there are not enough affordable, accessible places for people to talk in a safe environment. I guess the flip side is you are then open to any Tom dick or Harry having a go... although i have number of people who will vouch I'm pretty good!

Best of luck x

Melberryb do you have regular supervision?

Helpful, positive response. Thank you.

Most people I worked with in addiction services didn't have a degree - they did the (IIRC) DANOS training up to at least level 2. So that's possible?

A friend of mine has just finished her BSc in Counsellling and is now BCAP registered. It was a hard and expensive slog! £9K a year plus having to have counselling herself at £75 an hour now she's qualified. Its pretty poorly paid too - you either have to build up your private list or she's gone into NHS work which seems to be seeing people who have been waiting for over a year and sorting them out in 6 sessions!

Where do you live? A quick search shows courses up to level 2 at most colleges x