Counsellor

Introduction

Counsellors help people to deal with any problems, distress or loss of direction they experience in their lives. They usually work with clients on a one-to-one basis, meeting them in private and treating their problems in confidence. People may need counselling to help them cope with situations or issues such as bereavement, anxiety, drug or alcohol dependency, debt or domestic violence.

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Work Activities

The process of counselling can take a few sessions, or a much longer period of time. Before counselling starts, the counsellor and the client agree on the session's methods, duration, fees and confidentiality. Usually the client and counsellor meet once a week.

By listening carefully and patiently, the counsellor can begin to understand the difficulties from the client's point of view. Counsellors ask questions to help their clients explore various aspects of their life and feelings, encouraging them to talk as freely and openly as possible.

Sometimes clients release intense feelings such as anger, anxiety and grief, which they may not have shown in front of their family or closest friends. Counsellors are trained to witness and accept these emotions without becoming burdened themselves.

Counsellors must establish a trusting relationship with their clients. As the relationship develops, many clients are able to address aspects of their lives which they may not have thought about, or felt able to confront before. It is very important that counsellors do not give advice, make judgements or attempt to impose solutions on their clients. Their aim must always be to enable people to talk about and clarify their problems, and then to act for themselves to resolve them.

The type of problems counsellors help people with depends on where they work. For example, some counsellors work in hospitals and general practices, helping people to cope with chronic or terminal illnesses, bereavement, and drug or alcohol dependency.

Some companies ask counsellors to help them explore and manage the stress experienced by managers and employees.

Victims of crime or survivors of serious accidents who experience post traumatic stress disorders may need counselling.

Schools, colleges and universities may have counsellors to help students with personal, social and academic problems.

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Personal Qualities and Skills

You must enjoy working with people and helping them to solve their problems. You must respect the client's right to make their own decisions, and avoid making judgements, giving advice or imposing solutions.

The ability to use tact and treat your client's problems in strict confidence is essential to counselling. Some clients experience positive changes after a short time, but others need counselling over a longer period, so you will need patience, tolerance and determination.

You will need excellent communication skills, to listen carefully and to ask the right questions to help the client to work towards decisions.

Clients may reveal intense emotions, and discuss painful aspects of their past or present experiences. You must be comfortable with this, and not become burdened by the problems you encounter.

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Pay and Opportunities

Pay rates for counsellors vary widely depending on whether they are employed or self-employed.

The pay rates given below are approximate.

In Scotland, counsellors in private practice tend to earn about £17,000 - £20,000 a year, rising to £26,000 or more as they become established and build up a reputation.

In the National Health Service (NHS), counsellors start on Band 5 of the Agenda for Change pay scale. From April 1, 2008 this has been £20,225 - £26,123 a year. Specialist counsellors earn up to £38,352 and counsellor consultants can earn up to £44,527 a year.

Those who work full time for an organisation may work a 37-hour week, including some evening or weekend work. Counsellors in private practice arrange their hours to suit themselves and their clients.

Many counsellors are self-employed and run their own practice, often from home.

Employers include hospitals and general medical practices; schools, colleges and universities; alcohol, drug and HIV/AIDS agencies; advice and community centres. Counsellors may manage telephone helplines, for example, for Childline.

Some agencies deal with specific issues: Relate offers relationship counselling, and Cruse helps people cope with bereavement.

There are more professionally qualified counsellors than there are vacancies; there is strong competition for all posts. Many positions are part-time or voluntary (unpaid).

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Adult Opportunities

It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

For professional counselling a responsible attitude is important and it is often a second career.

There is a range of part-time introductory certificate and diploma courses, including some on an evening and/or weekend basis.

Courses at various levels are available from a number of centres, by open/distance learning. Relevant courses have titles such as: Introduction to Counselling Theory, Information, Advice and Guidance, and Counselling and Mediation.

• 53% of people in occupations such as counsellor are self-employed.
• 48% work part-time.
• 10% have flexible hours
.
• 2% of employees work on a temporary basis.

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