To train to be a counsellor in my 50s?

[Vlunken]

Has anyone else? I'm mid 50s. Already have a degree in an unrelated field. Have my own counselling already.

Still lots of jobs near me. I think a lot drop out
The level 4 is really hard

@Mellymoon

I'm guessing that what @PacificallyRequested means is that it's not like a "normal" job in which you have specific, guaranteed hours and a salary.
Most therapists/counsellors are self-employed, and not every person who would really benefit from therapy/counselling can afford the average going rate, (here in the North West), of around £50 an hour.
A relative is starting to look for a therapist, and where I live, in a pleasant town, there are 38 therapists within a 5-mile radius. All needing clients!
I imagine it could be a very precarious profession unless you are employed by an organisation, or you have another, regular form of income.
Not being pessimistic, just realistic.

Sorry, I should have clarified that there are 38 therapists registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.

I'm at college OP.

In fact, what I would strongly STRONGLY recommend is to do an in person course. I did my level 2 online and it was rubbish. Technically it was fine, but it was entirely theoretical and I didn't need to talk to anyone. When I joined my level 3 in person, I joined a class where everyone else had done their level 2 in person, and I was miles behind in terms of skills and confidence. I have had some of my level 3 lessons online during various covid times and I hated it and found it much less effective than in person. The bit that's made me come on in leaps and bounds is the in person practice, the conversations and watching other people. I do do some online sessions in my practice, but it's nowhere near as effective, and I'd go so far as to say an online only course is not going to teach you the skills you need for in person counselling, however well it covers the theory.

Re the high numbers of therapists working privately - they seem to be managing! I recently started my own counselling (it's a requirement of level 4) and the first 4 counsellors I contacted had waiting lists and no space for months.

I think as a newly qualified counsellor I would far rather work for an organisation and have that back up that they'd find clients, assess them and assign them to me, plus provide the premises and insurance and framework to work under. There are definitely jobs like that around at the moment, they tend to be the ones who give counselling to the people coming through NHS etc, who can't afford private counselling. They aren't highly paid, but they're paid more than I'm paid now and would give a solid experience to then take into private practice.

A friend of mine, working in tech field, changed career to work in the counseling area in her early 40s. It's a dramatic change, but she seems happy with the change. She did not really have any financial concerns though, so that was not a factor in the decision. I'd be inclined to agree a person with more life experience could potentially bring a lot to such a role.

I think age helps. The younger people on my course say they feel very nervous and judged by their clients (even if they aren't really) - they feel clients don't trust a counsellor in their 20s.

I'm in London and there is literally thousands of counsellors/psychotherapists within a few miles of me and I NEVER have a problem getting clients

I am so busy I always have people on my waiting list - couples and individuals. I've literally been full for over 5 years.

A lot of the practitioners near me have put their prices up to over £100 an hour, the couples therapist closest to me are £260 an hour !

Watching with interest as I have given this a lot of serious thought but I definitely need to earn a living as I'm a single parent. I'd be interested to hear how people supported themselves while they got trained and established.

I'd love to do it as a career but from the outside it definitely looks a bit of a "lifestyle job" in a way. Not in a disparaging way, it's obviously a very important job but a lot of the people who I've come across who do it appear not to need the money.

It does cost a fortune to train and you’ve got to have tenacity after if you want to set up your own business! But there’s definitely a demand out there. Now more than ever (post pandemic)

Lots of people on my training diploma were (like me) in their 40s, some 50s and 60s, two in their early 70s. Fewer in their 20s or 30s. Some in their late 30s.

I'm in a big city, some students commuted and found it hard getting placements nearer their homes.

I'm working part time for a charity (very low pay); the others I'm in touch with all did very well in private practice straight after qualifying.

That's in a city, though. I'd recommend specialising after qualifying and practising online too. Paid jobs seem to want counselling psychologists, CBT practitioners or clinical psychologists.

I think under universal credit self-employment rules you have to earn the equivalent of a full time minimum wage, so about £350 a week, but then there are all the expenses on top. Possible if you can get about ten clients a week, although it's emotionally and mentally heavy work and there's the admin, research, training, etc. as ongoing professional development.

It's difficult working while training and being a parent, yet alone a single parent, though I've met people who managed somehow (must have been hard though).

@Vlunken I say go for it, but probably because I'm hoping to do the same. I am 51, (52 in Sept) and my twins will leave for University then too. I am no longer married, and need a plan for the rest of my life. I want to do something to harness my interest in psychology, thoughts and behaviour and invest in myself. I know it will probably be the best part of £25,000 including all the personal therapy etc, and my earning potential afterwards won't be massively more than I earn now.

But I don't want to do what I do now for the rest of my life. Lack of a pension means that I will need to work for at least 20 more year - and at least as a psychotherapist I could work part time, flexibly, remotely etc. It's the perfect career for someone in later life and it's interesting too!

I've done lots of research in modalities and training programmes. I am favouring transactional analysis, but not decided where yet. Do you mind me asking what training providers you're looking at? Good luck! To me, it seems like a fantastic investment in yourself -what better way to spend time and money?

Can anyone recommend a counsellor? I'm having difficulties finding a counsellor for my own personal therapy. Can anyone recommend a reasonably priced one prepared to discount for trainees in the London/Hertfordshire area?

If you look here you'll find someone - just put in your postcode. Many give discounts for trainees.

https://www.counselling-directory.org.uk

My friend's doing this in her mid 50's but doesn't need to work for financial reasons so plans to volunteer. Another friend does specialist grief counselling.

Check out the BACP website. Look for a therapist who is accredited by either the NCS, BACP or UKCP.

Looking for an accredited therapist would reduce the options massively for @Iceangel8 Which isn’t necessarily a good idea.

@benfoldsfivefan i am a therapist and have been in my own personal therapy for 4 years. I’ve seen 3 different therapists, all accredited who gave me a trainee discount.