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

If you retrain a counsellor, you need to think about what would make you employable, and that means what the NHS would employ you for. That is children, systemic psychotherapy or CBT.
I make a living as a therapist in private practice, but I trained to masters level, over 6 years, and it was expensive. The market is saturated for those with shorter qualifications, and those who don’t like marketing themselves.
Despite my masters, I am unemployable in the NHS, because they are so restrictive on what types of therapy they offer. If you train in one of those, you’d easily get a job. Just not sure that would solve your dilemma!

I know someone who trained as a counsellor alongside still doing their NHS job, qualified and did private work as well, then got a job in the NHS as a counsellor (staff support, so counselling for other staff) continued training and plan is to do the counselling full time at some point as private practice. So it is possible.
Maybe doing it gradually is the way to go? You can build up your client base whilst still working.
You can put in a Flexi learning request as well

For working with CYP in the nhs you will be competing against a lot of psychology grads. The typical pathway is psychology degree and then either trainee cwp / EMHP or assistant psychologist. From there it’s usually a period of time and building up a key skills portfolio and applying for training for cbt therapist or a doctorate.

NHS don’t offer much in the way of counselling for CYP instead referring into charity sector for that. They only recognise specific courses for counselling so you’d need to make sure you investigate what roles you would like and what the nhs would accept.

You could look at training to be an adhd coach or sleep specialist or parenting support, there are quite a few different options and things that people offer privately in the wellbeing and mental health sphere.

This is a little out of left field but would you consider retraining as a speech and language therapist? There’s a lot of demand in my area for SALTs

Do look on nhs jobs within a 50 mile radius to see what vacancies there are. Here there are a few admin jobs, bank and ooh nursing shifts and hca. It really just isn’t a great time for changing fields if you already have a solid AHP job.

This totally, the NHS can be a very toxic workplace. However it is also a huge organisation and it should be possible to move roles or find other jobs, within the organisation, without having to leave and give up on your pension and length of service.
As for retraining to be a counsellor, I looked into this myself many years ago. It was a very long and arduous process, in my opinion and also, as a very empathetic person I realised it wasn't the role for me as I wouldn't be able to switch off.

Forgot to mention that most FE colleges offer ten or twelve introductory part-time courses in counselling, so I would really recommend this to dip your toe into it all.

If you enjoy your work now can you apply for the same job in a different Trust or part of the NHS - is it this office/manager that is toxic?