Counselling

[notsureifIshould]

Hi

I am considering going into counselling and wondered if any other MNers have done the same. I'm looking a possibly doing an OU Psychology degree and keeping my current admin job (can't afford to do FT study).

Does anyone know of another way to get into couselling? Do the NHS do any on the job schemes? I have applied to the Samaritans to do some volutary work with them, I'm waiting to hear back from them.

I just wanted to know if anyone has done this and was it worth it? It's scary thinking about it as it's going to be a hard, time-consuming, expensive few years to be qualified, but I feel I need to do more than I am at the moment.

TIA

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check out local adult education centres. i've done Introduction to Counselling & Counselling Concepts through that. It gives you a look in at what it entails before you fork out a fortune or enrol in courses that take years to do. it's very hard work, very interesting and can be very upsetting. remember that to be a counsellor you need to have had personal therapy yourself so be prepared to cry a bit and face some home truths about things you didn't realise mattered. Go for it, make a difference to your life and to someone elses

I work for NHS and we have in the last 4 or so years managed to get funding for 2 employees to do a distance learning counselling course - but it was difficult to justify it to the funding consortium.

what about being a sure start volunteer - sure their basic training would be useful too.

my dh started a counselling distance learning course - was lots of work and needed to be very focused, he did it outside of work hours. His housemate at the time also did the course. He finished, DH didn't. I certainly thought it was a good course (expensive modules, but no set time limits and monthly payments) - content seemed wide and varied and there was good tutor support via email and phone. Can't remember which one it was but happy to find out if you're interested.

or is it Homestart? - the one that sends volunteer mums in to support families at different times

Pfer do you have personal therapy as part of the course then?

lexiemum would you mind finding out who your dh did the distance learning course with?

Thanks x

NSIFC - according to my tutor you have to have so many hours of personal therapy (can't remember how many) and have done so many supervised voluntary hours work before you can become a registered counsellor.

This thread has some information and there was another thread a while back you might find useful if you do a search
\link{http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=6&threadid=169528&stamp=060509194619\counselling thread}

Thanks for the info!