Is listening to others and finding solutions to their issues is something you enjoy? Are people able to open up to you? You could be a good counsellor if you answered yes to the questions above. Counsellors encourage people to talk about their feelings and problems in a private setting.
You will need to be able to establish trust with people and make them feel comfortable in your presence. You need to have great communication skills, a lot of patience and empathy, and be non-judgmental. You’re there to help the person reflect on their situation and consider other ways to do things. In order to relate well with others, you will need to understand your own opinions and thoughts about the situation.
You will need to complete some training and will usually require a counselling diploma issued by a recognised professional body. You may need to do further study or work placements in order to gain more experience. For you to become a professional member, there are strict rules regarding training, ethics, and the length of time that you have been working.
You will develop a relationship of trust with clients when you work in this field. You and your client will make a plan about what you will cover in each session, and you will encourage them to share their feelings. Listen carefully and ask lots of questions to ensure you fully understand the information being shared. Counselling involves helping someone to think differently or see things clearly. You will need to maintain a strong sense of ethics and confidentiality. You will also need to know when to refer a client to another health professional.
You can work face-to-face, over the phone or online, with an individual, a group, a family or a couple such as Couples Counselling Cheltenham. For Couples Counselling Cheltenham, contact a Cheltenham Counsellor. You could work in schools, universities or colleges. Counsellors are now employed by some corporations to help with workplace stress.
Counsellors have many options, including full-time or part-time work with the NHS, youth education and charities, and in educational settings. You can specialise in certain areas of counselling, such as working with couples who are experiencing relationship problems, or with victims of sexual abuse, addictions, or depression. After you’ve established yourself, there are opportunities to move into management, administration or training of counsellors. You can also work as a self-employed or freelance counsellor. It’s important to build a portfolio that includes all your experiences, whether they are voluntary, part-time, or private.