Counsellor

As a Counsellor, you will help people explore their thoughts, feelings, and experiences in a safe, supportive, and confidential environment. You will listen without judgement, helping people to better understand their challenges, develop coping strategies, and make positive changes that improve their emotional wellbeing and quality of life.

Counsellor is also known as Therapist.

Role Characteristics

Perform individual and group therapy
Build relationships, trust and respect with people
Encourage people to talk about their problems
Actively listen to people’s concerns and empathise with their situation
Support people to make positive decisions and choices
Work with other health and care professionals

Skills

Active listening
Empathy
Observation
Resilience
Problem-solving
Communication

Day in the life

Watch this video to find out more about work as a Counsellor.

Routes into this role

Here are some example routes that can lead into this role.

GCSEs

BTEC, T-Level or A-Levels

Undergraduate degree

Foundation degree

How to become

Although you do not need a degree to become a Counsellor, you might find it helpful to complete a university degree in counselling, psychotherapy, psychology, or another related subject. This will help you to gain the competencies, research skills, and knowledge-based learning that professional bodies such as the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).

There are many ways to access university level education, you might:

Study A Levels, BTECs, or T Levels. Useful subjects might include Psychology, Sociology, Health and Social Care, or other social sciences. You could also complete an introduction to Counselling short course. You can explore a range of opportunities in the section below.
If you do not have these qualifications or didn’t quite get the grades to go straight to university, you could complete an Access to Higher Education course (a college course for adults who want to access higher education but do not have the traditional requirements), or a Foundation Year (a year-long university course designed to prepare you for studying at a university level).

You can then go on to study an undergraduate degree in Counselling, Psychotherapy, or a related subject.

Alternatively, you could complete a Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling, a qualification that trains you to work as a qualified counsellor in the UK without needing a university degree.

One of the most important steps in becoming a counsellor is gaining relevant experience. You could start by building some relevant work or voluntary experience in community organisations, helplines, healthcare settings, social care, charities, or support services. This will help you to develop your communication, empathy, relationship-building, and reflective practice skills as you work up to gaining supervised experience practicing counselling.

Where can this role lead

From your role as a Counsellor, you could specialise in supporting different groups of people or using different therapeutic approaches as an Adult Psychotherapist, Art Therapist, or Drama Therapist. You could also build on your understanding of emotional wellbeing and behaviour change to work as an Addiction and Recovery Support Worker.

Your active listening, empathy, and relationship-building skills would also transfer well into sideways moves such as Social Worker, Health Trainer, or Community Development Support Worker, where supporting people to overcome challenges and improve their wellbeing remains at the heart of the role.

Progression might involve undertaking further training to become a Clinical Psychologist, using many of the therapeutic skills you have already developed to assess, diagnose, and treats mental, emotional, and behavioural disorders.

If you enjoy helping people but would prefer less one-to-one therapeutic work, you could explore opportunities as a Researcher or Data Analyst, using your understanding of people and wellbeing to help improve services and outcomes across health and care.

Location

Hospitals
Peoples Homes
Community Settings
Schools, colleges and universities
Prisons

Working hours

Weekdays
Part Time
Full Time
Casual Hours
Overtime
Flexible Hours

Opportunities

Undergraduate Degree

Undergraduate BSc (Hons) Counselling and Mental Health

Learn how to improve the lives of those in need. You'll prepare for a challenging but rewarding career in health and social care on this counselling course.

Organisation: Leeds Beckett University

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Volunteering

Volunteering in Health and Care

Find out more about volunteering opportunities in Health and Care

Organisation: Volunteering Opportunities

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Access to university

Access to Higher Education (Psychology)

This qualification is the ideal stepping stone for those seeking to further their education and career prospects, offering a flexible and supportive route into higher learning.

Organisation: Heart of Yorkshire Education Group

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