47 Retrain for counsellor, is it worth it?

[AshGreen]

I feel that I spent a lot of my life letting things happened for me, I had two postgraduate degrees but never worked in the filed that related to my studies, I then did retail jobs just because I was offered the opportunities. I don't dislike it but also don't love it.

Reaching 50, I looked back my life (mid life crisis? ) with a lot of regrets and now really want to make a change for myself and do something I love and believe in.

Counselling has always been a profession that appeals to me, I have now done Level 2 and Level 3 counselling courses and feel this is the job I want to do. But I really not sure if I can continue to Level 4 which will allow me to practise but will cost 13K and 3 years time. I am willing to do the hard work and take up a loan to do the course but the job prospects is pretty grim for this profession.

I really don't know if being financially worse with no job security is the price worth paying for doing something I love?

I'd love to see any links showing a level 5 course and above which doesn't need a prior level 4?

You won't be seen as middling. You just won't be a psychotherapist!

Level 5: www.conel.ac.uk/course-detail/foundation-degree-in-counselling--level-5/12666/

Level 7: www.salford.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/counselling-and-psychotherapy-professional-training

The course itself is 2 years with another 300 hours (likely volunteering) afterward to be qualified.

I think you’ve misunderstood here. Once you’ve completed your level 4 (which will need to be one with a minimum of 100 supervised client hours), you will be ‘qualified’ although it will be difficult to get a job.

I'm a counsellor. Retrained in my early thirties.

I'm now a counselling tutor, teach Levels 2 through to 5, I LOVE my job but
It's not great money. Most I've earned (salaried) is about £27k. Freelance tutoring gets me about £200 a day but It's one day a week is that usually, jobs few and far between, and hard work. Obviously the freelance work is more money but not reliable work, only in term time etc. It's good fun and great to see students learning.

Before that I did EAP work. Nights-nights being more lucrative but not much money. Daytime is much busier and harder work but a decent job and flexible if you'd want to do some days/nights doing that and Private Practice or something else the rest of the time.

Private practice-I have a few clients but It's exhausting and hard work to get one going properly, I've never had the energy or courage to be honest. Hiring a room if you don't have a suitable one at home is expensive.

The SCOPED thing, I will be completely honest and say I haven't even got my head around that yet. Need to do some reading up on it.

Just another account of personal experience for you :)

I worked for Supporting Minds who've just gone bust. They'd let more or less anyone onto their L5 BTEC. I did the interviewing for them.

So that foundation degree fees are 12k. Then presumably you pay another x k to top up to a BA.

But you can exit after two years with the Diploma. They’re charging a ridiculous price for it because they’re in London.

This thread has been really eye-opening for me regarding the huge differences all over the country for counselling Diploma’s.

So that's 12k for a diploma but my diploma is 8k so not sure what's so much better about it (both accredited by bcap)

@Gardengirl108 I would be really surprised if these posts are not reserved for people who already have a professional qualification in Nursing, Social Work or OT.

Then prepare to be surprised. These recruit to train posts are designed to fill the massive gap in NHS therapy provision. I have personal knowledge of someone who was successful last year on one of these schemes who didn't have one of the professional qualifications you described.

Thanks I'll look into it.

@Gardengirl108 I was being polite. Every single trainee post on the link you posted is for people who hold a core clinical qualification. These traineeships posts are for existing Band 6 (qualified) practitioners. There are Graduate entry Psychology Assistant type posts at Band 4 which could eventually lead to acceptance on these post grad schemes, and I suspect this is what your friend does. I work as a Mental Health Prac in a CMHT. I'm rising to this because I don't want anyone to think the NHS offers this level of salary to unqualified trainees!

Yes I realised this when I looked into it.

Also All the trainee positions are for CBT training only. Not to mention I expect they'll go to much younger candidates!

I just came across this and would be interested to find put what OP decided and how she's getting on. Personally (and professionally) I wouldn't recommend counselling training to anyone who is serious about having a fulfilling career. Everything costs, room hire, supervision, CPD, BACP membership, directory listings. Some of these are only applicable if you're in private practice I suppose. I've just closed my private practice today and closed all my profiles on directory listings, the cost was too much in comparison to what I was earning. Counselling is overly saturated with not many jobs available, those that are available are low paid. If you end up doing private practice you'll be paying out for alot! I did the MSc in Counselling and Psychotherapy and it was three years, including placement and dissertation and I honestly wish I'd spent my time and money working towards a career with more prospects. I'm now looking for work elsewhere. The only plus is that the course provides you with opportunities for self reflection and growth. But you can get that through either having counselling or doing some self help work!

Not only are there so few jobs available, my theory is that, generally speaking, counsellors who're employees don't voluntarily leave their jobs - could be because they enjoy their work, or maybe because they know there's so few opportunities out there and even in their organisations (it's rare to find senior counsellors). So this compounds the issue.

I never bothered with private practice because of the unreliable income and high outgoings. The self-employed counsellors I know all have partners who are employed and have above average salaries.

I agree with you @benfoldsfivefan the counsellors who already work in an organisation very rarely leave. When a job does eventually come up there are so many counsellors applying for that one job! I wish I'd known all this before I trained!
I've looked into IAPTs and PWP training and that seems to be a similar story. With the the added disadvantages of people feeling really unsupported and leaving because of burnout! 😯