Essential skills for a career in counselling
While a counsellor's work is incredibly rewarding they help clients to shoulder some pretty heavy emotional burdens so being able to inspire trust is vital. Discover what other skills and qualities you'll need to succeed in counselling
Attending and active listening
The art of being in someone else's company and being able to give them your full attention, with no distractions - attending makes clients feel supported and important and it's crucial to a counsellor building a therapeutic relationship with the client, as is active listening.
The client needs to feel that their problems and issues are recognised and understood by someone empathetic but impartial. By actively listening you not only take in what the client says, but also encourage them to keep talking. During client sessions it's essential that you're able to strike a balance between talking and listening and know when each action is required.
To 'attend' successfully you need to pay attention to a client's body language, listen to pauses and silences, maintain eye contact to demonstrate to clients that you value what they have to say and moderate your tone of voice so clients don't feel rushed.
Respect for confidentiality and professional boundaries
Confidentiality issues need to be strictly observed. Only in exceptional circumstances should anything discussed in client sessions be passed on to third parties other than the counsellor's clinical supervisor. You will also need to be aware of, and keep up to date with, the ethical and legal responsibilities you have towards your clients. In terms of professional boundaries, clients should be supported to come to their own decisions and conclusions without being influenced by their counsellor's views.
Resilience, patience and humility
The work of a counsellor can be very intense and demanding. You'll support clients through emotional issues on a daily basis, which can lead to burnout if you let stress, performance pressure and overwork build up. You need to develop sufficient emotional robustness and a capacity for self-care, as well as a willingness to recognise your own limitations.
A non-judgemental approach
A counsellor's job isn't to pass judgement or give advice on a client's actions or feelings; instead, through talking therapy they aim to help clients see things clearly, from a different, more optimistic viewpoint. To do this clients must feel free to express their thoughts and feelings without judgement, criticism or rejection. As a counsellor you need to contain and manage your own reactions in a supportive and professional manner.
A genuine interest in others
Technically not a skill, but essential nonetheless. For a lasting and gratifying career you will need to remain curious and committed to improving the emotional wellbeing of your clients. Being able to demonstrate real interest in your clients' individual situations will promote a positive and trusting client-counsellor relationship.
Other useful skills include:
- excellent communication skills
- critical thinking
- teamwork
- compassion and empathy
- flexibility
- confidence
- time management.
Counselling training
You don't need a degree to train to be a counsellor as there are separate training courses available.
Training providers offer a number of options at entry level, as well as further training to support qualification and career progression. Providers also offer courses in a variety of specialist areas, such as children and young people, trauma therapy or couples counselling. The options are vast and enable you to choose a flexible programme that allows you to learn more about a particular area of interest.
The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) recommend a three-step process to qualification, which involves an introductory course to counselling and gaining a certificate and diploma. For more information, visit BACP - Career in counselling.
First degrees in related subjects such as education, nursing, psychology and social work are also useful and may help you to secure a place on a counselling or postgraduate course.
Higher-level qualifications, such as Masters courses accredited by BACP are available and study at this level could give you a head start in the hunt for work, as it demonstrates your commitment to the profession and highlights your breadth of experience. For example, the University of South Wales, Goldsmiths, University of London, Leeds Beckett University and the University of Derby run counselling Masters.
Search for postgraduate courses in counselling.
Careers in counselling
Once qualified the majority of counsellors make a living by setting up their own private practice and combining this with part-time work, however becoming self-employed requires experience.
Within the education sector you could work in schools, colleges and universities, helping to support students with study and personal issues.
Opportunities exist in healthcare, although NHS (National Health Service) posts are limited. You could find work in hospitals, GP surgeries or community and occupational healthcare teams, helping clients with a range of problems.
The charity and voluntary sector also provides an array of job options. You could work for charities focusing on mental health, homelessness, domestic violence, adoption, the rehabilitation of offenders and family relationships.
Throughout your counselling training and work experience it's up to you to decide which area you feel is most suited to you.
Becoming a member of a governing body such as the BACP, The National Counselling Society (NCS), UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) or equivalent can aid your career, as it shows recruiters that you observe and maintain their high professional standards.
Currently, there is no well-developed career structure for counsellors, although opportunities for progression are increasing. Continuing professional development (CPD) is a constant feature of the job.
Successful private practice is a possibility with some years of experience, as is the management of agencies offering counselling and related activities. You could also move into clinical supervision. This involves helping counsellors to monitor their work. Another option is to use your knowledge and counselling skills to move into settings such as teaching and social work.
Find out more
- See what the social care sector has to offer.