Even though you may have obtained the right counselling qualifications and credentials it doesn’t necessary mean that you will secure the perfect counselling job with ease. Paid counselling work is in great demand, as the number of qualified counsellors continues to steadily increase. This is mainly due to the caring and nurturing aspect of the profession, that attracts and encourages individuals already working in caring professions to re-train to become counsellors.
Paid employment in counselling can be found in a growing number of areas. Counselling is now readily available in the workplace, education, youth work, General Practice and specialist fields like addiction, bereavement, AIDS and eating disorder clinics and centres. The choice in relevant training has also expanded, and counsellors can now extend their skills by acquiring complementary additional counselling qualifications.
Job Search
There are part-time and full-time employment vacancies listed online, in print, through agencies and posted in Counselling centres. Demand for these positions is high however, and to be in with a chance of an interview your skills must be up-to-date, and you must demonstrate an interest in your own continuing personal development.
Dual-responsibility vacancies are also available. These require the counsellor to confidently handle counselling work alongside teaching, nursing or welfare work. Many helpline services are also manned by staff who have a counselling qualification, and who are capable of providing the necessary listening skills to callers.
Other Options
Sessional work is also an option. This type of work requires a counsellor to work shifts that are paid at an hourly rate, and is usually offered as part-time work. Pay is usually at a basic counsellor rate, for two hours, for every client seen.
Counsellors can also consider self-employment opportunities within a Private Practice setting. This type of work will pay considerably more than the basic counsellor rate, but varies according to experience and the type of organisation. With relevant additional training, a counsellor can also work online, or on the telephone.
Some fields of counselling are steadily expanding and may have more employment opportunities available. Youth counselling and addictions counselling are both areas of expansion, and there are generally many employment opportunities to be found within community care.
Related Areas of Employment
There are many other possible areas of employment where a qualified counsellor could potentially find the right job. These include:
- Community education.
- Human resources work.
- Mentoring.
- Art therapy.
- Probation work.
- Adult guidance.
What Do Employers Look For?
Counsellors must demonstrate an understanding of the ethics and principles of counselling, an interest in personal development and the relevant counselling qualifications. Alongside these requirements employers will also be looking for the ability to examine thoughts and problems, motivational skills and the confidence to intellectually challenge others. In order to tick all those boxes a counsellor should be sensitive to the needs of others, mature, non-judgmental, attentive and willing to continue training.
Being confident in your abilities will show an employer that you are a capable counsellor who is focused on your career, and is interested in developing skills and knowledge within the field of counselling.
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