How to Become a Counsellor

Working as a counsellor isn’t a simple career but a major decision one has to make. Ask yourself first if counselling is something you want to pursue. Are you qualified? What are the requirements and steps on how to become a counsellor? Are you willing to go for further study and training to become a counsellor? Nowadays, the role of counselling to help individuals to handle personal and emotional problems has been recognized. Counselling is a broad category but the basic principles of it are to help someone, couples, families or groups who have emotional or psychological problems.

Guide to Become a Counsellor

• Have the right listening and communication skills. These are the fundamental skills needed in professional counselling. The role of the counsellor is to help, so you willingly commit yourself to understand what one is going through. In a way, as a counsellor, you develop a relationship with your client. You can make most of someone’s life. You are going to accept and understand your client no matter what he or she is going through. You should not judge them but always be fair enough to evaluate the situation.

• Be a volunteer worker for counselling experience/training. Remember that the best teacher is experience. This will show you how to approach counselling. As a trainee counsellor, you can encounter real life situations in all aspects. Some may seem simple while some may seem difficult. At the bottom of it, the solution to the problem should be considered by continuous exposure to people will help you become a good counsellor.

• Have a degree in counselling, psychology or social work. These are some common degrees to choose to become a counsellor. You can choose your specialization depending on what type of counsellor you wanted to be. An associate degree can be your first step to start your counselling career. After that, you can narrow down to your field of specialization. Analyse yourself to know which specialization you are most interested in.

Where Do Counsellors Work?

Counsellors can work in many places. You can work in the government, private industry or in your own office. Most institutions hire counsellors and some of them are schools, hospitals (community or private), rehabilitation, mental health institutions, religious sectors, and private companies. The salaries of counsellors depend on his education, training or years of experience, location and his specialization. But they are considered as one of the highest paid professionals.

How to become a counsellor starts within you. If you like listening to other people’s problem and solve issues from time to time, counselling is for you. But if you are over the salary alone, think it over. You must have the qualities to become a good counsellor and you can work to make someone’s life better. The field of counselling is growing.  If you are really interested to be of service, make your way to become a counsellor. Study about your options and determine whether the counselling career is really for you. Do more research and learn more information about it.