Counsellor
Help people understand their feelings and choices so they can find their own ways to make positive changes to their lives.
About the job
What it's like
You would help people understand their feelings and choices so they can find their own ways to make positive changes to their lives.
You would spend time with people - your clients - and help them talk about their feelings in a safe and confidential environment. You wouldn’t tell people what to do but you’d help them look at the choices they have made and change their future behaviour.
People could come to you for many reasons including relationship difficulties, the death of a loved one, or to improve the way they deal with everyday life. You might help with a wide range of issues or specialise in an area such as eating disorders or addiction.
You’d need to build trust with people, make them feel relaxed and know that they’re not being judged.
You would:
Build a relationship of trust and respect with a clients
Agree what will be covered in the sessions
Encourage clients to talk about their feelings
Listen carefully, ask questions and check that you understand a client's situation
Empathise with a client’s issues but challenge them when necessary
Help them to see things more clearly or in a different way
Refer clients to other sources of help if suitable
You’d also go to regular meetings with your counselling supervisor and keep confidential records of your cases.
In most cases you would counsel clients on their own and face-to-face, but you could also work with couples, families or groups, or counsel people over the phone or on the internet.
Explore more information about this job
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Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- developing a plan
- empathising
- questioning
- verbal communication
- listening
- supporting
- mediating
- building relationships
- reflecting
- positive attitude
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
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Care
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Childcare and Development
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English and Communication
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People and Society
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Psychology
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Foundation Apprenticeship: Social Services and Healthcare
You can get a head start in this career by doing a Foundation Apprenticeship in S5 and S6.
You'll get an SCQF level 6 qualification which is the same level as a Higher. You'll also learn new skills and gain valuable experience in a work environment.
Discover what's on offer at your school on Apprenticeships.scot.
There are no formal qualifications needed to work as a counsellor. Although, most counsellors are accredited by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) or Counselling and Psychotherapy in Scotland (COSCA).
A lot of clients expect their counsellor to be BACP or COSCA accredited, so it’s a good idea to investigate this. Most employers ask for applicants to be a member of BACP, COSCA or another professional body.
All relevant HND courses in Scotland meet BACP’s entry criteria. Be aware though, as there’s a difference between BACP-approved and BACP-accredited courses.
To gain COSCA accreditation, you’d have to be doing a course. This could be:
an intro to counselling short course
COSCA certificate in counselling skills
SCQF Level 10 or 11 Diploma in Counselling or a Masters in Counselling
Most counsellors enter the profession with a degree. To get into a psychology or counselling degree course (SCQF level 9 or 10), you’ll need National 5 qualifications and at least three Highers at grades AAB. Entry to a postgraduate course (SCQF level 11) requires you to have a relevant degree. Some postgraduate courses also ask for counselling work experience.
Doing an HND or SCQF Level 4/5 course lets you become a registered member of a professional body, like BACP or COSCA. You’d be able to work on a private basis, but many employers look for a higher level of qualification. BACP and COSCA both recommend getting qualified to Diploma/Masters level.
Want to start working as a counsellor while you’re a student? To become a BACP or COSCA student member, you must be taking a course in counselling or psychotherapy. They do not accept courses in areas like psychology, hypnotherapy or social work. Your course also should not be fully online or distance learning.
Of course, BACP and COSCA aren’t the only professional bodies. There are lots out there, including:
A Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) certificate from Disclosure Scotland.
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