How long does it take to become a counsellor or Therapist?

Question

What is the salary like in the UK for this type of job? Do you get job satisfaction

Answer 1

It really depends as there are different levels of counsellor and pscyhologists.

You can be a counsellor on less qualifications, but really more qualifications the more you're going to paid and the more specialist a job you will have. Your job will be limited the less qualifications you have.

To be a fully qualified counselling pscyholgist you need a three year undergrad degree, followed by post- graduate training for three years including training in more than two models of psychological therapy and supervised placements in at least two different settings along with personal psychological therapy.
A fully qualified counselling psychologist will earn from £26,000 p.a. and this extends to £69,290 for a senior consultant psychologist. Most NHS psychologists earn between £30,000 and £50,000 p.a.

This is for a psychologist though, and although you can become just a counsellor rather than a counselling psychologist, I believe the pay is significantly less, yet so is the time it takes to become one. I'm not sure on the exact rates of pay for a counsellor that isn't a psychologist. You may be able to find this if you look for job vacancies on the NHS.

You can get more money working privately than you will for the NHS although if you work privately you have to be able to get the clients, through some sort of advitising or through word of mouth. With this though, you also have to take into account you will only be getting paid purely for your time with the clients, whereas on the NHS you do get paid extra time for paperwork (though there is much more than there would be privately.)

There is definitely job satisfaction in the job, if it is what you really want to do. It can also be very stressful so if it isn't where your heart is then it's not what you should be doing. But if it is, then it is definitely rewarding, especially when you are really able to help people.

Answer 2

Generally, you'll want a Master's level degree (preferably in psychology or social work) to do quality counseling. A Master's level degree would involve earning a 4-year undergraduage degree, and probably 2 years for your Master's degree.

This really all depends on the type of counseling and/or therapy that you want to do. More regulations and stipulations come with being employed by schools, so be prepared for earning some extra education for that if needed. Also - different disciplines have their own ethics & certification guidelines. So - sex therapy, for example, has it's own certifying organization. When you know specifically the type of counseling you'll want to do - do a search for the qualifications of those individuals. You may find that you need more than a Masters...or less than a Masters degree in some cases!

There will be great job satisfaction in this field if it's truly where your heart is. You obviously must like working directly with people, or you may burn out quickly (even before school is over). Otherwise, I believe that therapists lead very productive and enjoyable lives.

Good luck to you.

(I'm not familliar with salaries in the UK - hopefully someone else can address that issue.)

Answer 3

As long as it takes to make a badge or label saying 'Counsellor' or 'Therapist'! There are practically no regulations!

As a matter of fact, I am trained and certified in 'Listening and Counselling Skills' and 'Holistic Counselling' as well as Hypno therapy. I've actually been on courses and have certificates, which puts me ahead of most in the field! If I was just a tad less scrupulous about peddling bullshit, I could earn a pretty penny!

Answer 4

I used to be an Analytical Psychotherapist, Counselling Supervisor and Trainer, before i retired. Have you thought about what particular discipline you`d care to eventually practice ?. There are many different organisations that you can undertake training with, dependant on where you are based. and how much commitment you are prepared to give, and please be aware that many forms of qualifications are no longer recognised as having any substance. The best option is to apply to B.A.C.P. or U.K.C.P. and enquire about their recognised training courses. If you should require any further information, please feel free to e-mail me.

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Answer 5

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Answer 6

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Answer 7

If you do it properly several years.