We’re looking forward to beginning our Theology (Counselling) pathway in September, and we wanted to explain some of the different approaches people might take to becoming a counsellor. Different methods of counselling training of study suit different people, and we’ve described each of them below.
Before pursuing education.
You could begin your steps towards working in counselling by volunteering in a helping role. Many charities, such as Samaritans, offer training around many of the vital areas you’ll learn about in counselling and give you experience talking one-on-one with people in difficult situations.
During your education
You can choose from several different educational routes, depending on your flexibility, budget, and learning requirements.
Level 4 diploma training
Colleges tend to offer excellent courses if you’re looking to learn counselling basics. Often, they take around three months for an introduction and two years for a level 4 diploma. In Manchester, there are lots of brilliant courses to choose from, including The Manchester College. A diploma is often a flexible qualification that can enhance your employability and allow you to practice as a counsellor, provided the programme is recognised by professional bodies in the UK.
A BA degree in counselling
A degree in counselling can help you if you’d like a more committed educational experience and are looking at changing career paths. Undertaking a BA will likely give you more opportunities for career development and potential for professional registration. It will also give you more opportunities to interrogate your learning, taking place over three years with a higher time commitment that gives you opportunities to go in-depth. At NTC, our counselling pathway has been developed to provide you with learning skills that can be applied to community settings, and we have a bursary to support this learning.
Take part in placements.
Part of your counselling learning experience might be doing a career placement, allowing you to apply your counselling skills in patient environments. This can help you to understand what you’re looking for in a counselling career and perhaps give you a chance to think about further learning once you’ve finished your degree or diploma.
After your study.
Once you’ve finished studying, you need to become a member of a registered body like the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy before you can start practising. You can register by passing a Certificate of Proficiency (CoP) or completing a BACP-accredited course. You will then be required to continue your professional development and work within the accreditation’s ethical framework.
If you’d like to learn more about studying for a degree in counselling, visit our course page here or get in touch to book an open day.
