Hi everyone
I just started up a business as a life coach, I work full time so it is a part time business. I am also interested in Counselling and have done the BTEC Level 2 Counselling skills course. I'm not sure what to do next. My next step is to leave my full time job and do something I consider to be worthwhile. At the moment the coaching is keeping me motivated outside of my full time job but I am also interested in Counselling mainly CBT.
It's too early to say how the coaching business will go but I feel as though I need something else to help me leave my current full time job which is office based. I am a bit torn about going down the Counselling training route - certificate then diploma as I know this is probably all person centred counselling or to consider an online Psychology course. I know the Psychology course will take me ages to complete and as I know I am interested in Counselling it seems sensible to go for the Certificate then diploma course.
When I did the BTEC I had a really hard time with the practical side of things because being watched really bothered me. I know it is something I have to get past in order to become a counsellor. Has anyone done the Counselling certificate course? Can you tell me what it's like.
I looked into training as a CBT counsellor which also seems really involved. I guess what I would like is to move into Counselling or a related field on a full time basis as soon as possible. Once I feel more satisfied in my full time job then I think I would have the patience to study for a long time. It seems right now I just want to get out of the environment I work in right now and start working with people. I have applied for jobs like that that come up but I think my downfall is lack of experience. I have volunteered in the past too to increase my experience but it is hard to get Counselling related experience.
Hope all that makes sense, just wondered if anyone has any thoughts?
You need to ask yourself some serious questions.
Firstly, If you doubled your income from your life coaching business could you make a living at it? That's probably the income you would get if you continued life coaching and added counselling.
Secondly, you currently see clients in an evening (because they, like you, also work during the day). If you gave up your day job, how many of clients would you be likely to see during the daytime?
Thirdly, are you paying rent or paying a mortgage. Can you budget if you didn't have a regular guaranteed income month in and month out.
Fourthly, are you thinking of hiring an office? Dont! There is a world of difference between working from home and working from an office. Rent, business rates, business refuse costs, water charges, sewage charges ...
In short. Whatever you decide to do, you should hold onto your day job safety net for as long as possible. Most of us (and I certainly include myself in this) are too optimistic for our own good. We over estimate our expected income, and under estimate our estimated expenses. Regular income is worth it's weight in gold.