Counselling Courses

kevinjones9

Hi Guys,

New to the forum but in need of help. I work fall time but want to train to become a counsellor and the problem I have is that you need to be in the industry to do a course and to get in the industry they want you to have a qualification :mad:

I have spoken to next step who gave me some info but nothing concrete. Cant afford to just leave work as have a mortgage.

Any help or info anyone can give would be very much appreciated.

Many thanks

Kev

Oldernotwiser

Most people on your situation start of by doing an Introduction to Counselling course in the evening at their local college, backed up by relevant voluntary work, they can then look at ways to progress on to the other courses.

Do you realise that hardly anyone is actually employed as a counsellor and that most people are self employed?

http://www.bacp.co.uk/

Racheldevon

Hi there

There are lots of places that offer various counselling courses. As the above poster says you'll need to do a introductory/level 1 short course first, and work your way up to meeting the entry requirements for the diploma, which is usually a two year course

You need to ensure any diploma you do it recognised by BACP/UKCP to ensure you are eligible to register with them once qualified.

Many places run their courses at the weekends (often once a month), or have other flexible options as a lot of people undertake training whilst doing another role.

You generally don't need to be working in the industry to get a place on the introductory courses, just a genuine interest in it. You'll soon be able to see if it's what you hoped it would be, and if it's something you want to pursue further

I'm sure if you have a look on line and through the BACP & UKCP websites, you'll be able to find training institutes near you. Once you've got in touch with those places to make enquires, ask if they have access to something like Fund Finder, where you can search for possible funding support, e.g., by entering details about where you went to school etc, there are sometimes local grants/funding available for certain crtieria being met

Best of luck

dandelionclock30

Its about £4,000 for the diploma in counselling, even with concessions its still around £3,000 in total. Its very very difficult to get a counselling job and the majority of people who have just qualified work for nothing.Where I live a large mental health charity has lost its counsellors due to the cuts.
If you set yourself up, you are competing against many other established people and you have to get your own insurances etc. Funderfinder stoppped being updated around a year ago, so you need to check websites of funders to see if they are still in operation.
In this climate its going to be very,very difficult for you to earn anything from this. If you want to do it for something to do or for self development then go ahead.

kevinjones9

Thanks for the replies guys I will keep trying as what I want to do, even if it is weekend work.

If you come up with any other ideas then let me know.

Kev

top_drawer_2

Hello,

What sort of counselling do you want to do?

There is currently very little work around for those who wish to do the humanist forms (more reflective indepth forms) of counselling but there are a number of positions which are advertised on NHS Job website advertising for Cognitive Behavioral Therapists. The NHS (and others) are putting a great deal of money into this as a solution based approach to issues such as anxiety/depression etc. These qualifications can be gained mainly through unis/colleges and can be used in a variety of settings such as organisations which work to address issues such as worklessness and low level mental health issues.

I know a couple of (fully qualified) counsellors who have qualified at my local uni and currently work in positions such as Youth Worker with children in care, a residential school for children with aspergers and a Support Worker in a charitible organisation who house people who have mental health issues.

I personally have levels 1 and 2 CAPAC counselling qualification through my local college prior to doing a degree in Psychology. Level 1 was a 10-week course run in a local Womens Centre and Level 2 ran at a college. For level 2 I had to complete 150 hours of volunteer work (or be working in a relevant area) for which I had to complete diaries of the interactions I had and how I utilised my listening skills. I also partnered someone on my course who I had to work with, completed a taped one to one session and attended two residential weekends. It was seriously not an easy course to complete. I am by no means a qualified counsellor - to be allowed to do that role I would need to do a 2 year diploma which is horrendously expensive.

If I were you, I would look into doing some volunteer work in a area relevant to dealing with people who have "issues" maybe mentoring a child in a school. In my area we have something called a Visitors Scheme with a young persons charity - they volunteer to spend 2-3 hours a week taking a child who is living in longterm foster care out for an afternoon - one a week, offering personal one-to-one attention they wouldnt get otherwise - sometimes its just chatting, but usually they go on outings.

You need to gain experience of the people you are likely to come into contact with; I met many people on my counselling course or people I currently work with in a mental health/support care facility who simply havent a clue about the lives people who have issues have led and want to "rescue" clients. You will be heading for a very long fall if you dont ensure you have a realistic view of what you are getting in too.

TD

Racheldevon

Reading the above post, reminded me of the opportunities that the IAPT service might offer you. Have a look on the NHS job site, and see if they're recruiting people for Low Intensity IAPT workers, who whilst not counsellors, are trained to therapeutically work with people experiencing low level difficulties

josie.d

NHS IAPT usually recruit in June, but you need to have done some previous BACP approved course first, and also be enrolled onto the diploma course already.

However, this was a few years ago now, so might have changed since.

Racheldevon

Certainly for the higher IAPT posts you need to hold a recognised qualification, or background in for example social work, butmy understanding is that the same doesn't apply for the low intensity IAPT posts as you complete a one year post grad cert. that qualifies you for the work, but that was only on the last lot of posts I saw advertised locally, and this may vary from region to region. It does tend to be the summer like you say, as posts/training starts usually in Sept.

[Deleted User]

Hello Kevin,
I completed a PGCert in Counselling, which led to an accredited diploma in person-centred counselling while I was working full-time, but not in a capacity where I needed the counselling skills or was working with clients. I didd mine at Strathclyde University in Glasgow, where abouts are you based? Although it was a few years ago, I was able to get a grant because I was on a low income and so my fees came to only £800, but I'm not sure if it would be the same in England. Most people in my class of 50 were employed full-time and the rest were either SAHMs or full-time students looking to supplement their studies, so studying part-time and working full-time is very viable. Best of luck!

RedSoleShoes

I've just started Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills (CPCAB) and this involves 4 hours study at college per week plus homework. It's the first level of the professional qualification - you need level 3 and 4 to qualify but this can be done around a full time job. I may not get a full time counselling role at the end of it but at least I'll be on my way and qualified in something I want.