How to train as a counsellor

[clairem22]

Does anyone have any information on how to train as a counsellor? I am 51 and am looking at a career change and it is something that really interests me. Any advice appreciated.

Have you had counselling?
Counselling or therapist?
What kind of counselling ? CBT? Hypno? EFT?
Age group you like best to work with or any relevant prior exposure to?
How much can you spend on training?

There are lots of different routes depending on what you want to do and who you might want to have as clients.

The BACP is the best place to start. FE colleges run courses up to diploma level. You can become a Samaritan and get basic listening training.

I looked into it briefly last year.

It's best to study on a BACP accredited course but it will take a long time to study - 3 years for the course then at least another 12 months for placements etc.
I was very tempted but the costs put me off.

I was getting itchy feet with my own career (I'm 47 and self employed). However I couldn't quite make the jump.
I ended up taking a School Governor Role at a Secondary School. I'm heavily involved with the Pastoral care and it's seemed to fullfilled me for now. Very different to Counselling of course.

Personally, I'd love to work with teens if I ever became a Counselling. Talking therapy, one to one.

@BuckingFrolics I have never had counselling but have supported family members through break ups and they think I would be good at it. I would probably like to work with people round my own age.

I wouldn't want to spend fortunes on training but then I don't want to waste money on training that is not accredited.
Thank you HeroComplex I will look into that.

@MillicentBystander72 I am self employed too and the thought of doing what I do until I retire fills me with dread. I really need to change my path.

@Herocomplex

Just started this journey myself.

You are encouraged to do a level 2 course (10 weeks) before starting the level 3, which is 12 months. Everyone on my L3 course, completed the L2, except for me. I have a L5 and L7 in Coaching, so they let me skip the L2.

After the level 3, you then need to do either 4 or 5 to actually be taken on to be a counsellor and 'practise' is part of the programme.

Make sure the courses are accredited.

My L3 has cost £1500 and the L5 at my college is about £3200. Both courses are done in the evenings.

After that you can look at further courses such as CBT.

Can anyone recommend an online counselling course?

Hi Claire M. I too wanted a change in career and opted for Counselling over Nursing. I've just completed the level 2 and 3 BACP accredited courses. Ive applied for the level 4 which is two years. In the second year you have to have 30 hours of personal therapy and you have to get a placement within an agency for so many hours also. At the end of that, if they're happy and you pass the qualification you're allowed to register on the bacp therapists lists as a counsellor. I've been told it will be costly - if you dont get a placement within an agency that has a supervisor you have to pay for monthly supervision as well as pay for your 30 hours personal therapy and the course itself.
I would do the level 2 (and 3 if you can do the two together) and see how you feel at the end of it. The level 2 teaches you skills for listening and hearing people and the level 3 is slightly more in depth. A few people who've just completed both with me have decided they dont want to continue onto the level 4 as it isn't what they expected.
Hope you enjoy if you choose to do it, and good luck!

I’ve just signed up for a cache level 2 Counselling Skills, as it’s one of a few distance learning courses my county adult education service is offering free at the moment. Obviously that is only a starting point but I figured I’d try it.

My own therapist is a psychologist (ex NHS) and I’d love to go that route if I could

@*LaneBoy, could you please share the college web is?

I am interested in career changing too and have wondered about being a pastoral tutor in a college - maybe this might work for you too?

Hi, I trained in my forties. As pp have said, there are various routes and the BACP website has good advice regarding choosing a course. It is expensive, you need to be realistic about what personal therapy and supervision will cost you in addition to course fees. I would strongly recommend doing a short counselling skills course first to see how that gels with you, and maybe even a few sessions with a counsellor to see what therapy might feel like. The amount of self exploration you do in therapy training can be unsettling. And jobs are not easy to come by once qualified - generally three years of post-qualifying experience plus accreditation is what employers are seeking. All that said, it’s wonderful work if it’s for you, immensely rewarding as well as demanding. Not everyone uses a counselling qualification in order to be a counsellor either, it’s a good thing to have in many helping roles.

I meant to add that you will likely end up doing an awful lot of volunteering just to get your hours and the necessary experience.

Thanks crafty that’s useful info :)

I’m doing therapy myself again ATM - first time going private and she’s excellent (autism specialist so perfect for me) - I wonder how I’d fare with the more inward looking aspects of a course given I’ve done a lot of it. It’s really interesting to think about!

Sorry I didn’t reply manchester it’s a local adult education place I’m doing my course with, it’s just cache level 2 counselling skills so absolute basics not a qualification, just something to have a go at really