Counselling psychologists work with clients to help them improve their mental health and emotional wellbeing Show
As a counselling psychologist you'll use psychological theory and research in therapeutic work to help clients with a range of difficult life issues and/or mental health conditions. Clients can include children, adults, families, couples and groups. Life issues that people struggle to deal with may include:
Mental health conditions include:
You'll work collaboratively with the client in a holistic and insightful way to enable them to consider change and take control of their recovery. Practising as a counselling psychologist requires a high level of training and also self-awareness, which is achieved through personal therapy. Counselling psychologists are based in:
ResponsibilitiesAs a counselling psychologist, you'll need to:
With experience, you may also need to:
Salary
Research and lecturing posts at universities often follow academic and related staff scales. For salary details, see the University and College Union (UCU). Counselling psychologists working in private practice, commerce or industry should expect pay at a similar level to those in the public sector. Figures are intended as a guide only. Working hoursWorking hours are usually Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm, for jobs in the NHS. Many counselling psychologists are self-employed, or work partly for the NHS and partly for themselves. If you're self-employed you may work evenings or weekends to suit client requirements. There are good opportunities for part-time work, career breaks and job-sharing. What to expect
QualificationsTo practise as a counselling psychologist in the UK you must be registered with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC), which involves training at postgraduate level. To begin training you'll normally need Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC). This is achieved by completing a psychology degree or conversion course accredited by The British Psychological Society (BPS). For a full list of GBC qualifying courses see the BPS Accredited Psychology Courses. You'll then need to complete the BPS-accredited Qualification in Counselling Psychology (QCoP), which is the independent route to training as a counselling psychologist. You'll typically need a good first degree, usually a 2:1 or higher, as well as relevant work experience, evidence of research skills and basic counselling/therapeutic training to get a place on an accredited Doctorate course. A 2:2 may be accepted if you also have a higher qualification such as a Masters in psychology that demonstrates your research ability. Contact individual courses providers for exact details on their entry requirements. You'll also need to undergo an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check (Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme in Scotland). To get a place on the QCoP, you'll need to be working in a trainee role, either paid or voluntary. You must also engage a coordinating supervisor, who must be on the BPS Register of Applied Psychology Practice Supervisors, to support you during the training. On successful completion of either the Doctorate in Counselling Psychology or the QCoP, you're entitled to chartered membership of the BPS and full membership of the BPS Division of Counselling Psychology. You'll also be eligible for entry onto the HCPC register, which entitles you to use the title of counselling psychologist. Postgraduate training is usually self-financed. As part of the training you'll also usually pay for your own personal therapy. In certain cases, you'll also have to pay for your required supervision. Some trainees secure posts as assistant psychologists first and negotiate part or total funding towards their training from their employer. You could also approach psychology departments to see if there are any funding opportunities (for example, scholarships or bursaries) available. SkillsYou'll need to show:
Work experienceCourse providers typically ask for a minimum of one year's relevant work experience in a mental health or counselling role. Experience as an assistant psychologist, psychological wellbeing practitioner, health or social care support worker or counsellor is useful, as is work as a healthcare assistant in a ward or community setting. You could also find work in a mental health charity or victim support unit or in a role such as bereavement or relationship counselling. Any experience you get should be more than befriending and should be face-to-face. Contact course providers to check on what type of experience, and how much, they are looking for. Once you start training, it's important to network and build up contacts with other counselling psychologists through attending conferences, for example. Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available. EmployersMany counselling psychologists provide clinical services in health and social care settings. Employers include:
Opportunities are also available in the prison service, voluntary sector, educational settings, such as schools, colleges and universities, research, forensic settings and industry. Alternatively you can work independently, either alone or in a group practice, or as an organisational consultant in the public or private sector, where you may be involved in training, development or conflict resolution. There are also some opportunities for experienced counselling psychologists to work abroad, with organisations such as Médecins Sans Frontières and the World Health Organization. Look for job vacancies at:
The national and local press, as well as hospital websites, also advertise vacancies. Professional developmentOnce qualified, continuing professional development (CPD) will be an integral part of your career and is an essential requirement of retaining your HCPC registration and chartered membership of the BPS. Most counselling psychologists have a supervisor or mentor who can provide advice and guidance for dealing with challenging situations, clients or groups. Further study and specialist development are usually encouraged and your ongoing development should include a mixture of directed and self-directed activities. These can include:
You'll need to keep an up-to-date and accurate record of your professional development activities, showing that your CPD contributes to the quality of your practice and service delivery and is beneficial to your clients. With between two and eight years' experience, you can qualify to join the Register of Psychologists Specialising in Psychotherapy. It's also possible to train to become a clinical supervisor and join the Register of Applied Psychology Practice Supervisors (RAPPS). More information can be found at the BPS Professional Development Centre. Career prospectsClearly defined career paths are available with certain employers including the:
With the right combination of skills and experience, you can move through the grades, taking on more management responsibility for both staff and counselling psychology services. There are also opportunities to move into specialist areas such as post-traumatic stress disorder or to work with specific client groups such as children or the elderly. With experience you can become self-employed, or combine self-employment with part-time work for an employer such as the NHS. As your career progresses you may become involved in consultancy or the teaching, supervision and training of other counselling psychologists. A senior counselling psychologist may have a portfolio of work that includes working for the NHS, while also practising privately and teaching at a university. There are also opportunities to move into research. What field of psychology makes the most money?Psychiatrist positions are by far the highest-paying jobs for psychology majors. The average salary is $217,798, according to PayScale.
Where do counseling psychologists make the most money?The Best States for Psychologists by Salary. Which type of therapy makes the most money?Psychiatry is one of the highest-paying fields tied to psychology. However, salaries can vary considerably within this field depending upon your specialty area, where you are employed, and the type of work you perform.
How do I become a Counselling psychologist in the US?To become a counseling psychologist, you will need to complete an accredited doctoral program in the field. Before taking this step, however, you will first need to have completed a related bachelor's and master's degree.
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