Should I become a counsellor?
August 6, 2021
As human beings, we all encounter challenges in our personal lives. Sometimes, these issues are easy to deal with either on our own, or by reaching out to our friends and family. However, there comes a time when we are faced with an obstacle that is too much for us to handle by ourselves or by our loved ones. At such instances, reaching out and seeking help from professionals, like counsellors, can be beneficial.
What is counselling all about?
Counsellors are trained, objective professionals whom people can create healing and trusting relationships with. They are trained to assist others in working through their personal and emotional struggles and provide a safe environment in which their clients can learn to clarify their issues, explore options, develop strategies to address and resolve problems on their own, and increase their own self-awareness. For some, even the act of sharing their problems with a counsellor and being listened to, is helpful.
Counsellors typically engage clients on a short-term basis to work through a specific issues such as, but not limited to, the following:
- Relationship problems
- Mental health conditions including anxiety, depression, PTSD
- Emotional health problems such as low self-esteem, aggression, anger
- Personal growth and development
- Major life events like grief and loss, job change or loss, retirement, divorce
- Workplace problems
- Addictions
Why you might consider becoming a counsellor
Do you dream of making a real difference in the lives of people? Do you consider yourself a thoughtful, honest and careful listener? If so, counselling is a way in which you can both realise this dream as well as tap into your strengths to become someone who can effect positive change in the world. Here are 3 reasons why you should consider counselling as a profession:
1. Counselling is meaningful work
Often, people consider a career switch to counselling because they desire a sense of meaning that their previous job was not offering them. Counselling enables you to form meaningful connections with others and support them through some of the most difficult challenges in their lives.
2. You are seeking flexibility in your career
Being a counsellor can be extremely flexible. With the average working hours for a counsellor being slightly over 34 hours a week, counselling can be a great option if you are looking for flexibility in your career as you can schedule appointments with your clients around your existing commitments.
3. Counselling allows for professional and personal growth
Counselling does not only provide benefits for your clients – you, too, will also grow as a person and as a professional. Helping others through their problems can help you address your own struggles and approaches to resolutions.
Where do I begin?
If you have resonated with what you have read thus far, you may be wondering what your next step should be. Naturally, you can consider searching for counselling courses that can help give you an introduction into the world of being a counsellor.
Here at the Arium School of Arts & Sciences, we provide learners with an effective approach in the art and science of counselling where they will learn how to help others by applying their knowledge and sequentially receiving practical experiences.
We offer a range of counselling courses such as:
Professional Certificate in Para-Counselling
Professional Certificate in Group Counseling Process & Practice
Specialist Diploma in Counseling Psychology
Graduate Diploma in Clinical and Counseling Psychology
You can also click here to check out the complete list of the numerous programs ASAS offers!
References
BetterHealth. (n.d.). Counsellors. Retrieved from BetterHealth: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/counsellors
HealthTimes. (2017). What do counsellors do? . Retrieved from HealthTimes: https://healthtimes.com.au/hub/mental-health/37/guidance/nc1/what-do-counsellors-do/2213/
Ikon Institute of Australia. (2019). Ten Reasons Why You May Consider Counselling as a Profession – Becoming a Counsellor . Retrieved from Ikon Institute of Australia: https://ikon.edu.au/becoming-a-counsellor-ten-reasons-why-you-may-consider-counselling-as-a-profession/
International Career Institute. (2019). 6 Reasons to Become a Counsellor . Retrieved from International Career Institute: https://icieducation.co.uk/blog/6-reasons-to-become-a-counsellor/
