To want to train to be a counsellor at 42.

[SteveArnottsWaistcoat]

I know I’m not really BU, but is it possible?

I’ve been essentially a SAHM for 16 years. I’m becoming increasingly anxious about my future I want to have a career, but is it too late? I’m very much ready to do something to give myself what I deserve.

I’ve been involved, vaguely, with this kind of work on a voluntary basis for several years at a few different charities. I realise that there simply aren’t enough services out there for people who need them the most.

I feel it’s something I could do to help those who need it the most and I also feel it’s something that I could fit around DC (who are getting older now too and so I’ll have even more time in a few years)

But I just don’t know where to begin with my search! I can’t quite make out if I need to do a degree or where, or if I can do it part time or if I can even do it at the open university!

I already have one degree from many years ago. It’s a BSc(hons) but it’s in no way related to counselling!

AIBU to consider this at my age? Has anyone else? Are you a counsellor yourself and if you are how did you do it? Where did you do it?

Lots of mature students do counselling. If you do a decent course then it takes quite a lot of time with placement, supervision, your own therapy, course work, attending uni etc

Thanks Blueberry.

I think I’d need to do it part time, at least to begin with but I’m so ready for the challenge of doing something worthwhile.

I just am unsure where to begin as Google seems to tell me

1.) I don’t need a degree
2.)That I need a degree.

It’s all a bit unhelpful.

Do your research & make sure there's jobs to go to. A family member trained to be a counsellor as a mature student but there were no jobs at the end of it, she volunteered for years before burning out.

It will be difficult because anyone can say they are a counsellor with no qualifications. There are few salaried jobs IME as many "counsellors" volunteer.

Check out the bacp website. www.bacp.co.uk/ For the best advice.

absolutely go for it - I don't know why people ever think they're too old to career change?? It doesn't matter your age - 42 is still another 25 years until pension age so why wouldn't you change and do something you enjoyed it's a long time!

Yes fine, just choose a good course and look at accreditation. I know a few people who did it in their 50s.

@lovevlyt

absolutely go for it - I don't know why people ever think they're too old to career change?? It doesn't matter your age - 42 is still another 25 years until pension age so why wouldn't you change and do something you enjoyed it's a long time!

I really, really want to! But just trying to know where to begin and knowing I’d be making the right choice is such a chore.

I bitterly regret not taking things more seriously when I was younger and I want to make up for it and achieve something of myself!

I work in a related field. It can be hard to make a living from it. Many people train to be counsellors and there are not enough clients to go around.

You can look at counselling psychology, but that is a PhD and requires a psychology degree beforehand.

Useful information here from the National Careers website:

nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/counsellor

My mum retrained in her 60s as a counsellor (CBT) after being bored of retirement. It has mainly been volunteering for a few years but she is starting to get paid clients.
She did it through courses at a local college, she didn't have to do a new degree.

I work in this field and the older the better really. It is definitely not too late. Check out the BACP website.

Intro to counselling course (usually 12 weeks), cert in Counselling (1yr very part time), diploma course (2years part time) plus placement hours should get you well on the way to working as a counsellor. Setting up in private practice is precarious but I disagree that there “arent enough clients”; I took a different route but there is plenty of work out there. You’ll never get rich -there’s 40 working hours in a week but it’s terrifyingly intense work and I couldn’t do half that -12 over three days is my lot.

www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/psychological-therapies/roles/counsellor

If you are in a position to retrain and ultimately want to be able to earn a living you might want to look at something similar with more paid job vacancies and a more specific training route though.

www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/psychological-therapies/roles/assistant-clinical-psychologist

www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/psychological-therapies/roles-psychological-therapies/childrens-wellbeing-practitioner

There's also related fields like play therapy /art music drama therapy etc that are two year training masters and often don't require a related undergrad just experience.

I ruled this out a few years ago. It starts off pretty inexpensive to start-you work your way up through levels 2 and 3 (which were ‘only’ hundreds of pounds), to a diploma but that was two years to do and cost £6k+ per year in fees and then you have to pay for your own regular counselling/clinical supervision yourself which was another expense.

I didn’t have a spare £13/14k and didn’t want to start getting loans out. Looking into it, it isn’t something that would be terribly lucrative once qualified either. Earning £40 an hour sounds good, but when you factor in overheads, a work area, insurance, ongoing CPD and then finding clients, I realised that it wasn’t going to replace my day job and obviously wouldn’t have a pension scheme!

I know three people who have left careers to do it, but all were financed to do so by high-earning spouses and none do it to make a living-it’s something they enjoy.

What MrsWooster says about training

Plus - I'm in private practise in London, have a waiting list and earn a very good income (I see between 18-24 clients a week)

It's very area dependant but I've reliably earned 45k plus for 5 years

There is huge demand during this pandemic

@SteveArnottsWaistcoat I get that - you don't want to switch to something you at not like but I honestly think in life risk = reward and you won't know until you try. Best of luck and I would encourage you to go for it! Or else you may live to regret it

My mum started training to be a councillor when she was 60. She has just turned 80 now and is giving up her practice this summer.

Just go for it!

I did level 2 and level 3 in counselling studies. I didn't go onto level 4 which would have let to a counselling qualification and registration with the BACP. I looked into job prospects and they were very poor, on a very low wage. The costs of ongoing supervision, costs of private practice, and low wages whether private or employed, really made it unfeasible. On a radio programme I heard someone describe counselling as a middle aged woman's hobby, and that basically summed it up for me. Whilst it is a fascinating area to work in, it is currently poorly rewarded. Training is booming and I know several people (not from my training) who are training to be counsellors. I think that it must be very competitive in private practice and when applying for jobs.

Thank you very much for all your help and advice, both positive and negative.

I’m currently going through websites trying to find information. My local university that offers the course has a hideously bed website to navigate, so I think I’ll need to call them.

You won't be able to get your degree course fees paid as you have a degree but you can do the level 2 course quite cheaply and get an advanced learner loan to do level 3. That would let you see if you enjoy the theory side of things. Have a look at the Counselling Tutor website. There are loads of videos on Youtube as well.

I am currently retraining at 36. I started on an intro course, then level 2 and currently at the end of level 3. So far all training has been through part time evening courses. Next step is bigger because there are different options and level 4/5 requires placements, personal therapy and supervision. Like you I was umming and ahhhing at the start of the process. But did the 10 week intro and got hooked! Make sure the course you do is cpcab accredited. You don't need a degree and many others I have studied with have been older. One lady is in her 60s. Good luck, do what's right for you x

I was the same age as you when I retrained. I’m now 48 and earn ok money for working part time hours.
I was lucky as the agency I volunteered with liked how I worked and kept me on as a paid counsellor once I qualified. They still use volunteers more as they can make more money from them.
Some agencies don’t even have paid qualified counsellors on their books.
I also work part time in a school.
The work does seem to be a bit here and there and it’s up to you how proactive you are and whether you want to work for an agency, find a paid role or work privately.

I have seen training programs for psychological well-being practitioners for the nhs which might be good option too.

My husband is 43 and starting an accredited degree course in counselling in September as a full-time student. He's done an "introduction to counselling" and a foundation level access course over the last 18 months.
It's going to be costly for us, but it's what he wants to do and he was so unfulfilled in his previous role (he's currently SAHD to our toddler). Don't assume it's an easy option, but don't rule it out, good luck!