How to become a counsellor or therapist

CONTENTS

1. What’s a counsellor or therapist?

2. Routes to becoming a counsellor or therapist

3. Comparing degrees, diplomas and master’s in counselling

4. Skills needed for counsellors

5. Finding work experience

6. Registration as a counsellor

7. How to get a job as a counsellor in the UK

8. What it's like to work as a counsellor or therapist?

9. Is a role as a counsellor or therapist right for you?

What’s a counsellor or therapist?

This counselling career guide gives a brief overview of how to become a counsellor or talking therapist.

Working as a counsellor or therapist can be a really rewarding career. You could help people work through personal or mental health issues, helping them regain a sense of control over their lives. You’ll listen to clients confidentially and help them make positive changes.

While ‘therapist’ and ‘counsellor’ are often used interchangeably, there are some differences:

• Counsellors mostly encourage clients to talk through their problems in short-term, focused sessions.
• Therapists often focus on mental health and may explore the root causes of issues over a longer period.

Becoming a counsellor is a big commitment to undertake, as training will take you on your own journey of personal development. It may also cost you more to qualify. In this guide, we tell you some of the things worth knowing before you decide on a psychotherapy career path.

Watch this video from our sister site Whatuni for a quick overview of what it takes to become a mental health counsellor.

Routes to becoming a counsellor or therapist

If you’re wondering what degree you need to become a counsellor, it’s not as simple as that.

Counselling isn’t regulated by a government body. Instead, individual professional bodies help to govern the profession. So there’s no prescriptive list of counselling qualifications and skills to take, but employers and clients will want to see that you’ve completed enough training to practise ethically.

This means you should choose a counselling course that’s accredited by a professional body, as it’ll help you towards professional registration. It will show that you’ve met minimum standards and achieved the required number of client hours to practise independently.

There are a few different professional bodies for counselling, and it's worth looking at what they offer. They include:

• British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP)
• British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)
• COSCA (Counselling and Psychotherapy in Scotland)
• National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society (NCPS)
• UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)

Different approaches to counselling

There are different theoretical approaches, and before you train as a counsellor, you'll need to decide which you prefer. The most well-known of these are as follows.

• Humanistic counsellors are client-led, guiding individuals in self-discovery.
• Cognitive behavioural therapists help clients by teaching them techniques to change their thought patterns or behaviours.
• Psychodynamic counsellors help clients reflect on their past history, linking it to their present experiences.

Counsellors can also specialise in areas like bereavement, addiction, or relationships, helping people to navigate tough or complex issues.

Counselling degrees and qualifications

There are three main groups of qualifications you can take to become a counsellor. You can complete a degree, a diploma or a postgraduate degree.

How long does it take to become a counsellor? Well, it depends on the route you choose.

• If you take a counselling degree, you could qualify in three years. But if you’re only 18 years old, you may feel you lack the life experience that would help with clients.
• If you are a career changer and study a counselling qualification part-time, it will take longer for you to become a counsellor or therapist, and it may cost more up front.

So you need to be really sure it’s the right pathway for you.

It can help to become a counsellor after working in fields like social work, teaching, healthcare or coaching. You'll gain valuable experience with people and the issues they face. If you do this, the BACP recommends taking a three-step approach:

1. Introduction to counselling course. Taking this short, introductory course will allow you to explore your interest further.
2. Certificate in counselling skills. This one-year course helps you to develop your listening skills in triads (threes) and learn basic theory. You’ll also try out different types of counselling, from humanistic to CBT, helping you choose your next step.
3. Core practitioner training. Whether it’s a Level 4 diploma or a Level 7 master’s degree, you’ll be immersed in your preferred style of counselling. You'll also start practising with clients, completing more than 100 hours of supervised practice.

Be aware, online courses may not meet the standards set by the main professional bodies for counselling.

Below, we look more closely at different types of core practitioner training.

Undergraduate counselling degrees

You can find foundation and bachelor’s degrees in counselling or psychotherapy, sometimes in combination with psychology. Bachelor's degrees last three to four years if studied full-time, longer if part-time. Psychotherapy courses usually include theoretical teaching in lectures and practical placements in therapy environments.

If you want to become a counsellor or psychotherapist, make sure the degree meets the requirements for professional registration. Some degrees only provide the groundwork for postgrad training. In Scotland, professional training as a counsellor is at postgraduate level.

To find the top universities for counselling degrees, check our subject table for Counselling, Psychotherapy and Occupational Therapy.

The price you pay for a degree at university will depend on the nation where you live. You can also find university-validated degrees run by colleges or counselling agencies, where fees are often lower.

Student finance may be available if you are a UK resident – check with the training provider.

To find out more about what to expect when studying for a degree, check our Counselling, Psychotherapy & Occupational Therapy subject guide.

Counselling degree apprenticeships

In England, degree apprenticeships are available in many professions. But counselling apprenticeships (such as for psychotherapists) are still in development.

If they do become available, there are advantages to this training route. Apprentices are paid employees and the fees for their degree are paid by their employer. You will gain a university degree, but it’s not the same as going to uni – you won’t have the same student experience. Also, apprenticeships only run when an employer has vacancies and can be harder to find.

Professional diplomas in counselling

Diplomas are often run by counselling agencies, although some colleges and unis may offer diplomas too. Training is generally part-time, with courses lasting up to three years. Diplomas may be at Level 5 or 6 (or SCQF Level 11 in Scotland).

Costs range from £3,800 to £5,500 per year.

Training with a counselling agency has key benefits. You’ll learn from practising counsellors, giving you the chance to hear about their experiences and gain pro tips. You might also gain hours working with clients by volunteering with them.

The disadvantages are that, unlike a degree or master’s, a diploma is less widely recognised. You may not be eligible for a student loan, so you may need to find the money up front. Many providers will accept staged monthly payments to help with this.

Some courses include a recognised academic award such as a Higher Technical Qualification or a degree validated by a partner university. If so, student finance may be available.

You can find accredited professional diplomas listed on the websites of professional bodies for counselling.

Postgraduate counselling degrees

If you have a degree in a related field like psychology, you can take a postgraduate course at university. This can lead to a diploma, certificate, master's, or even a doctorate in counselling or psychotherapy.

If you don’t have a related degree, a certificate in counselling skills will often be required to show that you have the necessary listening skills.

If you want to become a CBT therapist and register with BABCP, you must complete CBT training at postgraduate level. You must also have a mental health background in a ‘core profession’. So, you could become a counsellor with the BACP or complete a nursing or occupational therapy degree before starting postgraduate CBT training.

Costs range from £4,500–£13,500 per year, with master’s courses taking up to three years to complete, depending on whether they’re studied full or part-time.

Additional costs

There are other costs you may have to pay when training to become a counsellor, as you’ll be working with people who may be at their most vulnerable.

• Supervision – you’ll need sessions with a counselling supervisor to reflect on your practice. This ensures you practise ethically and learn from your experiences. A three-year diploma may expect you to complete between 25–45 supervisions by the end. Supervision sessions may cost between £30–£88 for an hour.
• Personal therapy – this isn’t always mandatory, but some diplomas require up to 40 sessions. Some people will have personal therapy even if not required, as it helps you experience sessions from the client’s point of view. Costs range from £40–£80 per session.
• Membership of a professional body for counselling – student memberships range from £26 per year at UKCP to £92 with the BACP.
• Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks may be required; in Scotland, the equivalent scheme is PVG (Protecting Vulnerable Groups). The cost may be included in your course fees, or you may need to pay it yourself.

These costs add up. If you qualify by taking an undergraduate degree, the expenses will be similar to those of any other student. But most people become a counsellor later in life, paying to complete professional or postgraduate training. This means you could pay an extra £10,000–£30,000 to become a counsellor.

Comparing degrees, diplomas and master’s in counselling

There are pros and cons to the different training pathways.

Also, if you want to work in the NHS, roles in the Talking Therapies service require additional postgraduate qualifications, such as a High Intensity CBT Course. You can only get one master’s loan, so if you use it to qualify as a counsellor, you may have to fund the full cost of further training yourself.

Skills needed for counsellors

The following skills will help you succeed as a counsellor or therapist:

• Strong active listening and observation skills.
• Empathy and sensitivity.
• Ability to build a rapport and work with people from all different backgrounds.
• A willing, non-judgemental and respectful approach to understanding others.
• Reflective practice, recognising your own limits, and learning from your own practice through supervision.
• Patience and belief in other people's abilities to change and grow.
• Strong written and verbal communication.
• Good IT skills.
• Maintaining ethical practice and setting safe boundaries.
• Ability to stay calm when under pressure.
• Ability to work independently or as part of a team.
• Time management and organisation.
• Understanding of diversity and equality issues, working across different cultures or backgrounds.
• Keeping to legal requirements such as data protection and safeguarding.

Finding work experience

You may not need to find work experience for counselling before you start an undergraduate degree course, but any experience will show your interest in the subject. For entry to professional diplomas or postgraduate training, you will need to show experience of using listening skills.

While training, you may also need to secure your own placement.

How to get work experience in counselling

Places where you could volunteer or find work experience include:

• Counselling agencies like Relate.
• Mental health charities like Samaritans, Mind or Student Minds.
• Children's centres.
• Citizens Advice services.
• Organisations with telephone helplines.
• Churches or other religious organisations.

To volunteer as a counsellor, you will need to be undertaking your core practitioner training and receiving supervision.

But if you've only completed a counselling skills certificate, you may still be able to practise your active listening skills. Volunteer roles can include befrienders, group facilitators, advocacy or mentoring, or listening service helplines. In such roles you can usually expect specific training on how to work safely, setting boundaries and knowing when to refer issues elsewhere.

You could also spend time in an environment that provides support for other people, such as in healthcare, education, mental health or social work. It's good to have experience of working with different kinds of people.

Registration as a counsellor

Before you set out on your training, ensure it meets the requirements to register with a professional body for counselling.

Most professional registers will accept you after your initial training. Others need further qualifications and hours in practice. In all cases, you must be a member of that body, be practising as a counsellor, and adhere to standards of conduct and ethics.

A number of counselling bodies, including the BACP, NCPS, and UKPC, have aligned their standards through a new framework called Scope of Education and Practice (SCoPEd). This has helped make it easier to find out what’s needed to register as a counsellor.

The following registration schemes are all overseen by the Professional Standards Agency (PSA); this is essential If you want to work within the NHS.

How to get a job as a counsellor in the UK

You don't necessarily need a degree to become a counsellor or therapist, but you will need sufficient training.

You are likely to need:

• An accredited or approved qualification in counselling.
• You may also need additional NHS qualifications such as Counselling for Depression, or a qualification in delivering consultations online or by phone.
• Membership and registration with a professional body for counselling.
• Disclosure and barring check, as most work will be with vulnerable or young people.
• Jobs may ask for one or two years' post-qualifying experience.

Look for job opportunities online, on sites like NHS Jobs, charity job boards, or professional bodies such as the BACP jobs board. Another option is to set up a private counselling or therapy practice.

Counselling job prospects

Finding out how to become a psychotherapist in the UK can be stressful, as competition for jobs can be high.

As counselling is often a second career, a portfolio career is common. For instance, you could practise as a counsellor alongside another job such as teaching. Or you could be involved in the running of a counselling agency, which can bring more stability as well as more opportunities for development.

What's it like to work as a counsellor or therapist?

You could work at an NHS or private hospital, in therapy rooms, a GP clinic, a care home, your own home, or in an agency.

Psychotherapy jobs at the start of your career might be part-time or contract-based, and you may have to work evenings and weekends.

Counsellors typically offer face-to-face sessions, but remote counselling is now more common (online and telephone). You may also need to travel to attend clients, such as delivering sessions in different schools or community hubs.

A counselling job description might ask you to…

• Provide sessions to help clients explore their emotional, behavioural or psychological difficulties, working towards positive change.
• Support clients who have specific issues with anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship issues or bereavement. Some job settings will have a specific focus, such as perinatal bereavement or relationships.
• Assess clients for suitability and carry out risk assessments, making referrals where required.
• Maintain ethical standards, confidentiality, safeguarding.
• Keep accurate records such as session notes, outcomes, and possibility statistical measures for reporting.
• Work collaboratively with other colleagues or professional services as required, such as school settings, NHS mental health teams.
• Show that you have undertaken CPD (continuing professional development).
• Attend supervision (individual or group, as required).
• Lead in outreach activities, workshops, promotion or training (if you take further qualifications to become a trainer).
• Deliver brief or time-limited sessions.

Counselling roles and responsibilities

The day-to-day tasks of a counsellor could include:

• Meeting with several patients or clients and listening to their issues.
• Encouraging patients or clients to talk about how they feel.
• Finding new solutions and strategies to help patients or clients meet their goals.
• Helping patients or clients to see things differently or more clearly.
• Recording patient or client progress.
• Referring patients or clients to other support services where appropriate.
• Supporting families and carers.

Counsellor salary expectations and costs

The average salary for counselling graduates ranges from £21,000 to £28,000. Entry-level jobs for counselling graduates are often part-time, sessional, or zero-hours contracts until you build up more experience.

Senior psychtherapist salaries may earn £36,000 pro rata in the charity sector; a service manager might earn up to £45,000; and a head of services up to £62,000 in higher education. Private practice rates vary widely.

If you work within the NHS, pay ranges from band 5 to 7 (£31,049–£54,710). This applies to roles such as high intensity therapist.

After you complete your training, you will still need to pay extra costs to practise:

• Supervision will be an ongoing cost, although it may be paid for by your employer.
• Personal therapy may be required by your professional body.
• CPD is required each year, depending on your professional membership body. Many counsellors use CPD as an opportunity to upgrade their training to become a supervisor or trainer, or diversify into a different modality.
• Insurance will be required if you are in private practice.
• If you act as a data controller (such as holding contact details of clients), you may also need to register with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), paying an annual fee to maintain this.

You will also have the other costs of self-employment, unless you are employed by a counselling agency or the NHS.

Is a role as a counsellor or therapist right for you?

It can be emotionally and physically demanding work. You could be working with patients or clients who have upsetting circumstances. However, you'll be making a huge difference in their lives, and the work can be very rewarding.

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