How to get into Counselling

[RoxanneJane]

I'm thinking about a complete career change and would love to get into Counselling, but have no idea where to start!
I'm a single parent to a pre-schooler, currently working part time and responsible for a mortgage and all other household costs (so full time study wouldn't be feasible).
Can I study online? Which are the qualifications I'd need? I realise I would need to start from the bottom and work up, but just don't know where to get started. Can anybody please advise on this?

nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/counsellor

This is quite helpful.

I looked into retraining as a counsellor and was planning on doing a postgrad course. Changed my mind after a lot of thought and went down the social work route instead

Counselling isn’t a protected title so anyone can do a 6 wk course and call themselves a counsellor.

I would recommend you look at BACP accredited courses - either at places which also train psychotherapists or at local colleges. Hugely recommend you get your own therapy or counselling too which isn’t always a requirement for counselling (it is for psychotherapy).

You will need to accrue a number of hours to be registered with BACP and will need a supervisor but a good training college can support with that.

Currently most colleges are working on line but it’s unlikely anywhere reputable will do that in normal times due to the skills based work needed. I may be wrong - I’m training in psychotherapy so it might be different in counselling.