Question for the Counsellors?

There are lots of different types of counselling and psychotherapy, and the length of training could vary from 2 to 4 years and more. I guess that the level and quality of support/advice can be very variable and depends on the individual training providers.

I have never done traditional counselling, but did a postgrad diploma in neurolinguistic psychotherapy which takes a minimum of 4 years (I did it over 10 with breaks), and am finishing a PG diploma in CBT this year which should be 2 years but has been squeezed into one (but a prior mental health qualification was a pre-requisite). Both courses have been excellent yet very different.

I guess the most important bit is to find out is what type of counselling/psychotherapy you would like to learn (if you are not sure, I would suggest to do some research, ideally by having some sessions yourself, talking to therapists/counsellors, or at least looking at some books, such as the [url]Sage Handbook of Counselling and Psychotherapy[/url] which describes a wide range of different approaches).
Then you could research colleges/training providers in your area to see what's available.

In terms of careers, I am aware that most people completing counselling courses do not go into practice, and jobs can be hard to come by. At the moment all the psychological therapy resources are poured into CBT and it is getting harder for counsellors to get NHS jobs.

Good luck with whatever you choose to do!

Masha

Hi Fleur,

I think you would like the counselling certificate course at The Manchester College (Moston campus) it's only a year and the lady who runs it has got carte blanche to place a very heavy spirtual focus on the course, it runs from early Oct to early June and it's on a Tuesday but there is a night time option but that's split over two nights, it's a fab course for dipping your toe in but at the same time it's easy going, the only essays you write are about yourself, there is lots of self development and an introduction to all the different types of counselling, although the main model is Person Centred (Rogerian). If you want any more details PM me.

Love

Rebecca x Edited to say that lots of people take this course just to improve their listening/people skills such as teachers, nurses etc, the certificate won't qualify you to council but it will give you a good idea of whether or not you want to take it further, the college also do the Diploma either 1 year intensive or 2 years part time.

hi I have nearly finished my fd in counselling, it has taken me fours years and I still have another year to round it off to the full degree. I believe the longer you take to do this is better as there is so much self development going on

hi I have nearly finished my fd in counselling, it has taken me fours years and I still have another year to round it off to the full degree. I believe the longer you take to do this is better as there is so much self development going on

Very true. IMO there is no short cut to Counselling. It would also be advantageous for you to check on:

Thanks everyone..you have given me lots to think about...:)

hiya ive just finished my first year on diploma .you will have to undertake alot of reading n personel devolopment but when u get to this stage in ur training you will be really busy seein clients 100 hours / you will also need a supervisor it does all come together this is my third year , introduction to counselling ,12 week course then counselling skills level 1 n level 3 then a two year diploma once you get into it it becomes a way of life its all good fun. check out funding because as you progress it starts to get expensive .....good luck with it all .

but when u get to this stage in ur training you will be really busy seein clients 100 hours / you will also need a supervisor it does all come together this is my third year ,

check out funding because as you progress it starts to get expensive .....good luck with it all .

But how do you get 100 hours seeing clients...if you don't work in that area? Would you need to be involved in one of the voluntary organisations?

personal growth....thats my middle name 😮

Yes I expect it will be expensive...I will be self funding so don't want to take myself on the wrong path :). That just makes me think about the debates on charging for reiki....when you value it..you pay for it...but thats another thread perhaps :rolleyes:

I got my hours through a placement that the student finds, it is hard work but worth it I have nearly got my 100 hours

There is an open day at the college I would like to attend in a couple of weeks time....better get myself down there and ask plenty of questions.

I have just finished an intro course to CBT, but they had to combine it with the counselling course due to low numbers. They are trialling some sessions in a new volunteer programme and asked for volunteer listeners..so have put my name forward for that. Need a CRB check, but want to know more about it before I fully commit to that, so will wait till someone contacts me.

I have also sent for the dummies book CBT and counselling, and already have the EFT book so hopefully they mind give me some basic information for now.

I suppose if I do start it,,, and trust the process,, the 100 hours will come forward on their own accord somehow. :rolleyes: Although I don't work in the care or mental health industry but in the commercial sector, but I do have two free days per week with which I can attend and study adequately.

it is on the second year of the FD that you do the placement hours, it is part of one of the modules that you have to complete, you need to log these hours and you can use them for accredition towards the bacp

Have signed up for the Counselling Concepts preliminary 10 week course starting in two weeks, then if I get through that can go onto fast track 😮 for the level 3.... :).

Very popular course it seems.....and got in there just in time..two places left! It's been a while since I did any proper academic studying....

the work is not too bad to start with it is when you get on the foundation degree that most of the written work is done.

That's great Fleur, where are you doing it at?

Rebecca x

I have now attended two classes for the counselling concepts. It's an interesting group but I have noticed most of them already work somehere in the area at various organisations.

I think the fast track isnt going to be a feasible option for me, 5 hours - 4-9 and on a working day for me. The earliest I could start is 5.00 so unless I could get a change of working pattern, I might have to wait till next year and look towards a full term enrollment.

Of course, that's if I am able to continue with it. Although it does say we need two referees, one being the tutor, and as I don't work in the field I have no idea where I would get a second from. Probably the current tutor will cover all that nearing the end of this course.

Although already I am quite unnerved by it all, as DPA and confidentiality is drummed into us. I have resisted doing this type of thing in the past becasue I was concerned about the things people may reveal, and if I could cope with it, not just what's happened to them, but anything they may have done themselves.

Anyway, thats what an introduction course is for after all. 🙂

I have been given a change in working pattern if I want it, however I am now stumped. As the character referees we need cannot be friends or family and I don't work as a volunteer in the conselling arena looks like it's the end of the line for me.

I have been given a change in working pattern if I want it, however I am now stumped. As the character referees we need cannot be friends or family and I don't work as a volunteer in the conselling arena looks like it's the end of the line for me.

What about your Boss and the Counselling Concepts preliminary teacher

What about your Boss and the Counselling Concepts preliminary teacher

Yes my manager would probably be willing to be a character reference......she has always appreciated my integrity and honesty:rolleyes::D

I intend to speak to the tutor next week about a few things anyway, but she wants the application pronto as they will be making the decision next week who they are taking forward. I am self funding too and it's not cheap. ....so I want to know what the course contents. I wouldn't want to get to week 8 then realise it's not for me.

This sounds really exciting for you Fleur! hope it all goes to plan and that you find it interesting and helpful - and maybe een a start of a new career!

Love and Light

Well, I have now been given change in my working pattern to accomodate this,,,,,my manager will have a character reference ready for me soon, and the tutor has said she is happy for me to go forward. I think it's very exciting and will be very life changing....:).
Two more session of the starter course and then straight onto the next stage the week after.

I met the other tutor will will also be running the course, she is also interested in art therapy, and I got the inkling she is also very spiritual.......I am Sooooooo going to love it. 😉

Soooo nice to have a real purpose in life, good luck.

Little update..

The first module assignments are to be handed in after half term.....not very interesting subjects, and unfortunately my old die hard habits of procrastination took a grip....even today..loads of time..some sections needed to be completed...but didn't 😮

For those who have already done this course..how on earth do you handle the attendee who is all " me and my stuff" every flippin week for hours on end. It's getting tricky to say the least...I think I am going to have to broach the subject with the tutor....and not sure how I am going to handle it yet. The person in question obviously has "stuff" which needs healing as she gets very upset.. but we are students..not therapist, and I think we are being left to deal with it for too long on our own.

But....we are away on the residential weekend soon. The tutors wont tell us anything about it....just to trust them.....However as we are paying quite a lot for it, I think we should be told something about it. They say we will put barriers up if we know! Plus, there aren't enough rooms and some will be asked to share...another objection of mine. 🙁

As things stand now...not really sure I will continue after this level....

Fluer, as a trainer of counsellors myself, I think it is vital that you speak to your tutors as soon as possible (it might be too late though as I see you posted this message last month... ) They need to be aware that you aren't feeling safe and why that is.

As you say, you aren't therapists, however they are. The whole process is about learning, and you have an opportunity now to learn a great deal about the process of counselling and how that can lead to new understanding and change.

I really look forward to an update!

As things stand now...not really sure I will continue after this level....

Hi Fleur,

Self development groups and personal counselling ran alongside my significantly experiential course. All experiences were appropriate. I chose to get from each of them what was offered.

I found benefit from pushing my boundaries and getting out of my previously self imposed comfort zone. If you are unable to share a room with fellow attendees how may you learn to share a room with a client? If you are unable to trust your tutors how may you learn to trust your clients, or yourself?

It sounds to me as if you wish to let the tutors, the "needy" attendee and now perhaps even readers of your posts take on the responsibility for your decisions around self development. May I invite you to take it back?

Hi Fleur,

Self development groups and personal counselling ran alongside my significantly experiential course. All experiences were appropriate. I chose to get from each of them what was offered.

I found benefit from pushing my boundaries and getting out of my previously self imposed comfort zone. If you are unable to share a room with fellow attendees how may you learn to share a room with a client? If you are unable to trust your tutors how may you learn to trust your clients, or yourself?

It sounds to me as if you wish to let the tutors, the "needy" attendee and now perhaps even readers of your posts take on the responsibility for your decisions around self development. May I invite you to take it back?

I understand the points you are making. But my point is not about sharing room with attendees but

as an example, when 2 hours of time is shared between 6 people....and one person takes 90 minutes of it.....on multiple occasions it does become a challenge.

and thankyou ..I do take responsibility for my own growth and development, perhaps on here it's been perceived that I don't?? 🙂

All the best Fleur, I wish you well on your journey.

I
as an example, when 2 hours of time is shared between 6 people....and one person takes 90 minutes of it.....on multiple occasions it does become a challenge.

Most counselling courses are "experiential learning". What this means is that you are supposed to learn from the experiences you encounter on the course and how to deal with them. This is why your tutors will have told you not to discuss stuff that happens on the course, outside of the course. When another student annoys you by taking up excessive time in group work, you're supposed to say something about it in the group- not in private to the tutor, and certainly not on a semi-anonymous internet forum. You learn about emotions, such as anger with the perceived selfishness of others, by experiencing those feelings, rather than just reading about them. And having experienced the feelings, you can explore different ways of dealing with them. You can do all this within the groupwork on the course- that's what it's for!

BTW, don't be surprised if you find that some people on a counselling course will have massive personal problems, as bad or worse than many people whom you'll see as clients. This again is all part of the learning experience.

as an example, when 2 hours of time is shared between 6 people....and one person takes 90 minutes of it.....on multiple occasions it does become a challenge.

Dealing with that challenge in a resourceful way will be part of your learning and development, of course.

I'm curious - will you say nothing, or express a little of the feeling that you and perhaps others in the room share? The temptation for me would be to say nothing, but nowadays I resist that temptation strongly lol.

If I put myself on the spot, and it's difficult without actually being on the spot, I might say something like "I'm wondering what is stopping you from taking these issues to your own personal therapy." That would be honest and probably open up a discussion on what is and isn't appropriate to a self-awareness group. Another possibility might be to address the facilitator "I'm left wondering where you are drawing the line between self-awareness and personal therapy." I wouldn't expect a reply, but again it would be honest and address the issues.

Doing the foundation course [which was integrative] was really useful for me because I didnt know what kind of counsellor I wanted to be.