Careers in counselling

You'll need the right combination of counselling skills to help clients manage their emotional wellbeing. Learn more about the key qualities you'll need to succeed in your counselling career

Attending and active listening

The art of being in someone else's company and being able to give them your full attention, with no distractions - attending makes clients feel supported and important and it's crucial to a counsellor building a therapeutic relationship with the client, as is active listening.

'Active listening involves consciously engaging with the content and emotion of what is being said while using skills to show that you are listening. We listen to understand and focus on the person speaking, rather than listening to think of a conversational response,' explains Jenny Hamilton, senior lecturer in counselling and psychological therapies at the University of Lincoln.

The client needs to feel that their problems and issues are recognised and understood by someone empathetic but impartial. By actively listening you not only take in what the client says, but also encourage them to keep talking. During counselling sessions it's essential that you're able to strike a balance between talking and listening and know when each action is required.

To 'attend' successfully you need to pay attention to a client's body language, listen to pauses and silences, maintain eye contact to demonstrate to clients that you value what they have to say and moderate your tone of voice so clients don't feel rushed.

'Skills that show you're actively listening include asking open-ended questions that invite fuller answers, making affirming noises such as 'aha' or 'I see' and restating key elements of what has been said such as 'I heard you say that felt really difficult for you,'' says Jenny.

Respect for confidentiality and professional boundaries

'Confidentiality is an important condition of therapy that helps clients to feel able to confide in a counsellor, knowing that their issues and concerns will remain private,' says Jenny. As such confidentiality issues need to be strictly observed.

'Counsellors need to provide a safe environment for clients to talk about their difficulties. Clearly stating the boundaries of the counselling relationship helps clients to know what to expect.'

Only in exceptional circumstances should anything discussed in client sessions be passed on to third parties other than the counsellor's clinical supervisor. 'Exceptions to confidentiality arise when there is a risk of harm or disclosure of serious crimes,' adds Jenny. 'It is important for counsellors to communicate the limits of confidentiality to clients to ensure they give informed consent to this condition.'

You will also need to be aware of, and keep up to date with, the ethical and legal responsibilities you have towards your clients. In terms of professional boundaries, clients should be supported to come to their own decisions and conclusions without being influenced by their counsellor's views.

Resilience, patience and humility

The work of a counsellor can be very intense and demanding. You'll support clients through emotional issues on a daily basis. This can lead to burnout if you let stress, performance pressure and overwork build up. You need to develop sufficient emotional robustness and a capacity for self-care, as well as a willingness to recognise your own limitations.

A non-judgemental approach

A counsellor's job isn't to pass judgement or give advice on a client's actions or feelings; instead, through talking therapy they aim to help clients see things clearly, from a different, more optimistic viewpoint. To do this, clients must feel free to express their thoughts and feelings without judgement, criticism or rejection. As a counsellor you need to contain and manage your own reactions in a supportive and professional manner.

'Counsellors need to value each person’s individuality and autonomy,' says Jenny. 'This means respecting clients' right to have views and opinions and to make choices that we may not agree with.

'Aspiring counsellors may find it helpful to start from a place of empathy to try and understand things from another's perspective and experience. Imagining what it must be like to be that person can help us to understand their feelings, behaviour, experience and point of view.'

A genuine interest in others

Technically not a skill, but essential nonetheless. For a lasting and gratifying career you will need to remain curious and committed to improving the emotional wellbeing of your clients. Being able to demonstrate real interest in your clients' individual situations will promote a positive and trusting client-counsellor relationship.

Other useful skills

the ability to inspire trust
excellent communication skills
critical thinking
teamwork
compassion and empathy
flexibility
confidence
time management.

Counselling training

You don't need a degree to train to be a counsellor as there are training courses available.

Training providers offer a number of options at entry level, as well as further training to support qualification and career progression. Providers also offer counselling qualifications in a variety of specialist areas, such as children and young people, trauma therapy or couples counselling. The options are vast and enable you to choose a flexible programme that allows you to learn more about a particular area of interest.

The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) recommend a three-step process to qualification, which involves an introductory course to counselling and gaining a certificate and diploma. For more information, visit BACP - Career in counselling.

First degrees in related subjects such as education, nursing, psychology and social work are also useful and may help you to secure a place on a counselling or postgraduate course.

Higher-level qualifications, such as Masters courses accredited by BACP could give you a head start in the hunt for work, as it demonstrates your commitment to the profession and highlights your breadth of experience. For example, the following institutions run counselling Masters courses:

Goldsmiths, University of London
Leeds Beckett University
University of Derby
University of Lincoln
University of South Wales.

Search for postgraduate courses in counselling.

'As mental health becomes more of a priority for government, healthcare providers, employers and educators, there is an increasing demand for counselling with more options and variety of work available,' explains Jenny.

Once qualified the majority of counsellors make a living by setting up their own private practice and combining this with part-time work, however becoming self-employed requires experience.

'You could work remotely from home, offering counselling online or via the telephone,' says Jenny. Alternatively, you could work outdoors as options such as equine therapy and walk and talk therapy become more popular.

Within the education sector you could work in schools, colleges and universities, helping to support students with study and personal issues.

Opportunities exist in healthcare, although NHS (National Health Service) posts are limited. You could find work in hospitals, GP surgeries or community and occupational healthcare teams, helping clients with a range of problems.

The charity and voluntary sector also provides an array of job options. You could work for charities focusing on mental health, homelessness, domestic violence, adoption, the rehabilitation of offenders and family relationships.

'Counsellors may wish to develop a specialism such as couples counselling, family therapy, play therapy, art or music therapy or work with specific issues such as trauma, grief or eating disorders,' says Jenny. Throughout your counselling training and work experience it's up to you to decide which area you feel is most suited to you.

Becoming a member of a governing body such as the BACP, The National Counselling Society (NCS), UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) or equivalent can aid your career, as it shows recruiters that you observe and maintain their high professional standards.

Currently, there is no well-developed career structure for counsellors, although opportunities for progression are increasing. Continuing professional development (CPD) is a constant feature of the job.

Successful private practice is a possibility with some years of experience, as is the management of agencies offering counselling and related activities. 'Experienced counsellors often progress into clinical supervision, a role where counsellors can consult a more experienced colleague about their work on an ongoing paid basis,' adds Jenny.

'Additionally, counsellors may progress into training, education or development work or branch into other areas such as coaching or psychology.' Another option is to use your knowledge and counselling skills to move into settings such as teaching and social work.

Find out more

See what the social care sector has to offer.

Essential skills for a career in counselling