Quit NHS and retrain as a counsellor

[Nmeag]

I'm currently employed in the NHS as an AHP. I changed jobs recently and I regret it. I feel bullied, undermined and my confidence is dashed badly. I feel the NHS does not value its staff and its on its knees. Although I love my old job I cannot continue with the current role. Without outing I'm so unhappy. So I have been thinking this morning what could I do: I need a job, I have a young family so plenty of bills and I enjoy working. I'm contemplating a career break and thinking would counselling be a good career choice for me. I don't know much about it, but I know I'm a good listener, empathetic etc but maybe it takes much more than that. So my AIBU is am I silly to give up a career iv had for 15 years becuase i feel bullied and i need to harden up, dont give up the pension and job security and stick it out?
Mumsnet is always a good source of information so I'd value thoughts. Thanks

YANBU at all

23 years here, and there is yet another restructure coming up. I’ve had enough, I’m in a constant state of limbo and we just can’t get any proper work going because we never know if we’re going to have staff to take things forward

Try using ChatGPT etc for career advice - I’ve found it helpful

I don't think you need to harden up but you need a strategy - a sideways move perhaps. Do you need a reasonable salary and pension? If you do - counselling is not the way to go. I have taught counselling - most if my ex students are using it as an addition to an existing role, working very part time (no jobs) or volunteering.

Counsellors may be replaced with Chat GPT AI - it’s already hard to get work so I’d be wary if you need the income. It may be best to look for other NHS work - with redundancies it’s possible all openings will be internally filled.

There is no money in counselling, sadly - as PP said it’s a side hustle at best (and very saturated).

Any sideways moves within the NHS? Quality improvement; education? Look for any secondments. They can be useful stepping stones.

No, you'd be quite mad to quit and retrain for a job about which you admit you know nothing at all, may struggle to get through the training of (my sister said very few people got through her diploma and later degree course on time, because many of each year's cohort didn't continue or were told to take time out to work on their own issues before continuing) and which is very hard to make a living from, unless you're entrepreneurial and/or develop a specialist practice.

I know a lot of counsellors/therapists, and the ones who have had longtime careers have either specialised and worked for the equivalent of the NHS (my sister works in addiction therapy) or moved into training. I do have a friend who is a couples' therapist who has a waiting list, but she's getting a bit burnt out from it.

Its crazy that there are apparently to many counsellors when people are begging for them and on waiting lists for years

Re being a counsellor I would do your research specifically in your area. How many jobs are advertised, how many private counsellors advertising/full, are you in an affluent area where people can afford counselling . Also What style of counselling - therapeutic/cbt/psychodynamic etc

There’s a few training routes - accredited courses are usually 2-4 years and involve additional expenses such as volunteering to achieve training hours and counselling/supervision costs. Iapt training through NHS, training through a company like relate or doing a degree.

I trained as a person centered counsellor around 15 years ago it cost around 4k in courses fees for a BACP accredited course which took four years I also did an additional year to turn it in to a degree costing 3k. Along side I did 3 years of unpaid counselling 2 days a week to achieve my training hours/ gain experience. I worked three twelve hour days to fund this/pay bills.

After qualifying I applied for many jobs but no luck I ended up working in a support style role in local authority where I used my skills in a different field. Same story increased pressure, staff cuts/restructures, low morale. Ended up leaving and now work in a totally different field.
I did do some private work for a couple years but only ever managed to get around 5 clients at anyone time so not enough to leave my job.
As far as I’m aware of the twenty or so people on my course none of them are working as counsellors

It’s very hard to get a paid job as a trained counsellor from what I’ve heard. There might be the demand but there just aren’t jobs available

Hi OP
I worked for decades in the NHS and have had some truly wonderful experiences. That said, I worked in a couple of places where the working environment was toxic and I had to leave. I wasn't in a position to leave without another job to go to but concentrated on applying for other positions until I was successful.
Please consider alternative posts.
I truly appreciate how horrible it is going to work in a horrible work environment.

As a PP said, have a look on counselling directory in your local area and see how many there are.
I'm lucky that I can be a counsellor but we definitely don't rely on my private practice income. You can get work through EAPs but often need extra steps of accreditation to get those roles.
Training as a CYP counsellor could be an extra bonus as some schools are willing to pay a private counsellor to work within their structure.
I mean, it's a great job and I love it, but I couldn't live on what I earn. Think a good three years training plus your own counselling costs throughout the course as a start.
Is there any way you can do PT and train PT?

If you could retrain within the NHS you might find enough work as a counsellor (though still subject to the NHS!); but the profession is over-subscribed these days so tread carefully training outside if a regular income is essential.

@imaginationhasfailedme cyp counselling and school counselling isn’t a great idea right now. A lot of schools can’t afford to take them on and have access to the nhs mhst for free so won’t pay for an additional resource.

So my AIBU is am I silly to give up a career iv had for 15 years

Yes.

i need to harden up, dont give up the pension and job security and stick it out

Yes.

If you're done with the NHS, could you work in a private hospital. Or try the Civil Service.

Have you considered working at a GP practice, the nursing staff seem pleased at my health centre. It seems much better hours and you would probably not have to do retraining. Self employment would mean no sick pay or pension which is an aspect to take into consideration.

Thank you for your personal advice. I enjoy my chosen career I just feel trapped within a toxic team and afraid to raise it, as I sound petty or will suffer the wrath of the person. Its good to know from others that counselling is quite saturated and hard to get a decent income from. I think I'll look into the side stepping thing. Even if I can't find a role right now.

For now, I’d try and stay and make the best of it. With nhs England going and cuts in lots and lots of teams and departments you are better with the devil you know. Maybe look at what training you can do in your own time to look at opportunities in the future.

You could also investigate paying for some career counselling or coaching to think about what you want to do.

Are people on waiting lists for years for private counselling? They are for NHS community mental health services and diagnostic services but don’t think there’s an issue in accessing private services.

I am unsure of what profession you are but can you access the Professional nurse/ midwifery/ ahp advocate service in your area? The AHP strand is newer so might not be in your area yet. They can help with career coaching.

I think its area dependant there aren't many where I live

Very area dependent. I live in a fairly deprived area where the NHS and charity wait lists are years but private counsellors can’t make a living because no one can afford to pay for counselling.

That's actually a really good point I live in a deprived area to so that is perhaps the reason we don't have many private counsellors here.

Non-practicing counsellor here. Good to know you’ve changed your position and now want to side step because as others have said it is very difficult to get work. My former peers who’re making a good living in private practice are all in affluent areas, took on extra training and network like crazy. Some others got jobs in the NHS soon after they qualified (the qualification being a BACP accredited Level 7 diploma which perhaps was advantageous). But the majority of people I trained with don’t work as counsellors.

As a piece of personal development the training was invaluable (but financially expensive and tiring). It was probably the best thing I’ve ever done, on balance.

Have you thought about occupational health @Nmeag. I believe it's a shortage area and the providers are largely independent companys. Many of the referrals will be in relation to MH so a crossover with why counselling might be needed without providing any counselling.

I am a counsellor, I have between 20 to 25 paying clients a week both in a private capacity and with a charity I work with.
i know a fair few counsellors who are also working successfully within the field.
The training is a hard slog and expensive however the job is so rewarding. I can’t imagine doing anything else!