Retraining to be a therapist/counsellor - am I mad?

[Spiritedlight]

I'm mid-fifties, have already completed Level 2 and Level 3 (in the evening) counselling course, with the view to either doing a postgrad or Level 4 in September to complete the training. For context, it's at least another 2 years study before I can work in any clinical setting.

But now, I have to do the training face to face - at least one day a week, part-time, the courses are much more expensive, I'm required to have regular personal therapy (also expensive) and pay for clinical supervision. Also, it will inevitably have a knock on effect on what work I can do (I'm self-employed), assuming there is the work (my industry, like others, is undergoing significant changes and work for contractors is tough to get). I'm guessing it could cost anywhere around £15K over the next two years, not including loss of work if I am not available. To specialise further, I'd have to then go on to spend a lot more money...

Whilst I have savings and a great husband who will support me, I really worry about whether I'm investing too much at this point. If this is just a silly jump, if there is even going to be work out there for me. I enjoy the subject a lot, and I am keen to practice but I'm obviously not at the beginning of my career. I've got less energy than I had twenty years ago, and I just worry I'm picking the wrong lane for this point in my life. The doubts are crowding in.

Any therapists out there with words of wisdom?

Costs typically include supervision, materials, indemnity insurance, professional memberships, ongoing training. And then probably a space to work in.

I don't agree that no-one wants counselling at 11am on a Tuesday. There's demand at all times of day. You do have to have some sort of cancellation policy though.

I am not remotely defending giving bad advice to women experiencing domestic violence - that should not happen - and I am sure that there were counsellors who allowed their own personal views to influence their practice. As can happen anywhere. But that is what supervision and training is meant to address, all of which costs money to deliver.

Relate National was a large organisation delivering many thousands of hours of counselling per year. Is it really better that it no longer exists as an independent organisation? And doesn’t it going into administration tell us something about the resilience and stability of the sector overall?

I've been seeing a therapist for two years who is really expensive (i don't see them regularly), way more than £45 an hour. They rarely have day time slots available and always have a waiting list. Same with another psychotherapist friend.

But they both trained 20/30 years ago!

I did the level 2, 3 and Level 7 BACP accredited post grad diploma (part-time) finishing in 2021. I didn’t have much experience after graduating and that’s probably why I struggled to get work. There are just hardly any jobs and I never saw private practice as an option because being single I couldn’t take the risk on having an unreliable income. Some former peers are doing well being self-employed, working in affluent locations being the main driver. Most work doing something unrelated to counselling, like I do.

The Diploma training is tough - academically, emotionally, and it’s often not easy to get a placement. Group work can be intense and bring up a lot of difficult feelings, as can doing the actual counselling. But the personal development aspect made it worthwhile. I always think, when facing big decisions, if I don’t do it, will I always regret it? You know yourself better than anyone else.

I wouldn’t do a Level 4 because as a PP said, it’s pretty much useless these days.

Have you looked into specialist types of therapy, for example working with children or working somatically? EMDR? Or do you have to get the qualifications you mentioned before you can do those things?

I think that’s the way things are going. Fewer, higher cost private providers for those who can afford to pay. The rest of the market scooped up by ‘Better Help’ and other low-paying online providers.

Many counsellors combine private work with working for charitable organisations, such as Relate. But, as I have attempted to describe on this thread, such organisations are now finding it increasingly difficult to survive…

I did the same as you. Really enjoyed level 2 and 3 but just couldn't justify the cost of level 4 and all that went with it. The ones in my cohort that took it forward were the ones that qualified for student finance. I didn't due to not having done a first degree but paying myself for an MBA ( before finance was available for masters!)

The 2 people I know who trained as counsellors (left teaching to do so) describe it as a very expensive hobby! Neither make much money doing it and see it as something to fill their time whilst waiting for their (wealthy) husbands to retire.

Do you want a hobby or a good income? Do you have a garden room/space at home you can practice from?

I have worked as a counsellor for 35 years - first for the NHS and for 11 years with my own private practice in Kent. I prefer to work for myself as the NHS became all about form filling for the client. I've been very lucky and have had a steady flow of clients through three counselling platforms. However since November I haven't had one enquiry and getting worried. I do think this is to do with AI - also the proliferation of on-line counselling places like Betterhelp. I've always preferred face to face. Also I do think the market is flooded with counsellors!
Certainly it would be hard to live off the money which is so uncertain now. I'm ok as I have the state pension now but if you're needing to pay a mortgage etc it would be very difficult.
The only other thing I'd advise would be to specialise in a particular area to attract clients. Good luck!

Hi op...fwiw, I've done L2 and L3. I'm at a kind of crossroads too. I think I might continue to look at options for qualifying.

Have you joined the counselling tutor FB group? Imho lots of good advice on there.

I really love it and want to carry on but obviously it has to make sense as a decision, financially and time-wise.

I did level 2 & 3 almost 10 years ago and didn’t continue level 4 because I felt it was a significant increase in time, cost, and a lot of effort for a not very impressive return. I think the future looks even bleaker now than it did back then. People have less money to spend on counselling these days, and if they desperately need counselling why would they spend lots of money when there are cheaper alternatives available? If I were you I would save (or invest) my £15K.

Oh, thanks -I'd not heard about the FB group. I'll join.

Yes, it's a tricky spot to be in - make the most of the learning so far and proceed. Or not!

This describes it pretty well. 😜

I don’t want to see the OP burn through her savings to qualify in something that will never truly pay her a living.

I also agree about a flooded market. My local area has loads of qualified therapists. I found mine through a referral from work mental health service.

It’s a difficult one. I am a therapist, and I retrained in my 40s. I’m now in my early 50s, and I have a full and thriving self employed practice, however it is a very low income in comparison to my skills and effort, and there is a maximum number of clients you can work with on a weekly basis without burning out / doing a rubbish job. Ongoing costs are high, especially room rent. One of the reasons I am nearly always full, is that many therapists don’t offer in person work.
there are also plenty of therapists not able to fill their practice / get work.
If you are doing a generic CPCAB level 4, I’m afraid you are much more likely to fall into the “not getting enough work” category. There are some that do, but you are more likely to be successful if you do degree or masters level training, or if you train in a modality you will be employed in (CBT, systemic psychotherapy, or children).
If you plan to be in private practice, you also need to be able to effectively market yourself, as there are a huge number of people training.
It is absolutely possible to have a successful practice, to thrive and to love the career. I do. You do need to be realistic about what you will earn at the start, and be prepared for costs of running a business.
Also if you can, do a training that will make it easier for you to work.
hope that helps a bit.

edited to add: I charge a lot more than £45, have a waiting list, and only work during school hours. I have a level 7. I agree with PP that some parts of the market are flooded, but not all. Everyone I trained with is thriving.

Thanks, this is really helpful.

I would say as someone working within the education field, a there is huge demand for parents wanting counselling for their child, but very few of them want to pay for it and expect the school to be paying. Some schools do have a school counsellor, I know, but very many don’t and they simply don’t have the budget to pay for this.

Can I ask what training you did? And if you specialise? I'm assuming it took you over 4 years? Did you work at the same time? Happy to DM you if that's preferred. Thanks

Hi OP - I’m in the same boat as you, having done Level 2 and Level 3. I really want to do Level 4 but haven’t found a way to fit it in to my life at the moment. I was able to work part-time when I did Levels 2 and 3 but for financial reasons I had to return to work full time, however I have changed my job to one that I am able to deliver some therapeutic interventions in, making the most of my new skills and knowledge. I’m looking at doing Level 4 at a residential centre over some long weekends but it is £ and whilst I’d love to be able to say I’m a qualified counsellor I’m not sure how much it will benefit me work wise. I’m hoping to train in CBT with my new job at some stage.

I’d say go for it. My BFF retained 6 years ago from hairdressing to become a therapist, she’s now a qualified couples therapist too. Earning well, working from home and loves it. Didn’t take long to get a decent amount of clients, even through covid times. Best thing she’s ever done, and a career that will take you into retirement.

@SpiritedlightI haven’t done additional training to specialise, but I think my specialism is my training. I did a longer training, with a significant amount of my own therapy, and this means I am better placed to offer in depth work. I was also immediately eligible to work with insurance companies. I did a 4/5 year integrative masters after an intro equivalent to your level 3. The taught part was 4 years, and then dissertation and viva. Yes I worked part time, others I know worked full time, but I don’t know anyone who managed full time work + school
aged children + masters. My course was once a month at the weekend, so it was manageable to work too. I am happy to chat in DM.

Not the person you’re asking but I did a post grad diploma in counselling and psychotherapy, and a masters in a specialism. I had a lot of experience in service management and safeguarding so set up private practice soon after qualifying. I easily get clients because of my specialism - most of my clients now are by word of mouth, if you’re good previous clients will recommend you to others.

In terms of training, go for the best you can rather than the least you need. You’re working with people’s psyche, so it’s important to take the work (and training) seriously because there is huge potential for harm. While I know you’ve been in therapy, therapy while in training is a different beast, because the training will throw up all sorts of stuff that you think you’ve laid to rest.

The training isn’t just academic, the self development part is what will make you a good counsellor as opposed to just being competent. It’ll will inform the type of therapist you’ll be, your ethics and your capacity for safe therapeutic relationships.

In my experience it’s possible to build a thriving private practice, I work from home so after set up costs it’s a fairly cheap business to run even allowing for insurance, supervision and CPD. How many client you see will depend on your client base - I work a lot with trauma so keep a low case load, because working well with trauma is very demanding.

It’s good, challenging, rewarding work but you need to invest in your training, be able to build decent networks and be organised enough to run it as a business.

Hiya, I graduated with a masters in counselling last May (level 7), and have since set up my private practice. Have consistently grown my client base since then, which is something I was initially concerned about. I haven't needed to undercharge, instead I charge what is the average for my city, though I intend to up this after I do further training and become more specialised. As far as I know, everyone from my masters cohort who have gone on to private practice currently are full client-wise. So, the need is definitely there.

During my training I had two placements: many placements rely on trainees to fill the spots, so it wasn't a case of scarcity. Placements are useful to get an initial feel for an area youd like to work in and could go on to specialise in once qualified.

Have you tried testing the market in your local area, for example searching your local FB groups for posts requesting counsellors? That will give you a sense of what the local market is like. Are they swamped by replies?

On a similar note, have many of your friends paid for counselling?

These are just questions to consider and equally apply to other self-employed professions. At one point I knew more people training to be personal trainers than people using personal trainers!

Tbh, most people looking for counselling do not ask on Facebook, and not everyone tells their friends they are having counselling.