Care Development Project

As a Counsellor you will provide emotional support to help people overcome challenges for example bereavement, living with a long-term condition or drug or alcohol addiction.

Counsellors can work in a care organisation, health service, community centre, youth service or have your own counselling business.

Role overview:

• giving people the opportunity to talk through their feelings
• listening to people and asking questions to encourage them to reflect on their experiences
• encouraging people to cope with their challenges and make positive changes in their lives.

Skills and experience:

The specific skills needed to work in this role include

• excellent listening skills
• the ability to put people at ease
• the ability to cope in emotional situations.

You don’t need to have a degree to become a counsellor as there are qualifications in counselling at different levels.

The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) recommend a three stage training route.

• Introduction to counselling: basic counselling skills course usually lasting 12 weeks and is available at further education colleges.
• Certificate in counselling: provides theoretical understanding of counselling at a higher level usually lasting a year part time and available at further education colleges.
• Diploma level qualifications in counselling: usually one to two years part time with a minimum 100 hours’ work placement. There are lots of different courses and qualifications and you can find a list of BACP accredited courses here.

A degree in a related subject such as nursing, psychology, social work or education might also be useful.

You may need some previous experience of working in social care, health or counselling role. You could gain this experience through a work placement, from your personal life, through volunteering or as part of a traineeship or apprenticeship.