What is counselling?
Counselling is a type of cognitive therapy that aims to guide people to overcome emotional issues. Professional counsellors provide a safe and supportive space for their clients to raise any issues they have and express their feelings. The role of the counsellor is to determine the main problem and provide their clients with techniques to help them overcome these issues. These practitioners play a vital role in helping individuals who are going through a range of difficulties such as:
- Mental health issues
- Bullying
- Eating disorders
- Infertility
- Trauma
- Bereavement
- Low self-esteem
- Relationship problems
- Anger management
In Sydney, some of the professional accreditations that Sydney counsellors are able to join include:
- Australian Counselling Association (ACA)
- Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA)
Should you complete a counselling course?
Are you passionate about helping people overcome their problems and live emotionally fulfilling lives? If this sounds like your career ambitions, counselling is perfect for you. In order to succeed as a counsellor, you must have the following soft skills:
- An empathetic attitude where you can put yourself in the position of the client, which is the key to helping build trust, support and strengthen the relationship you have with them.
- Clear communication skills are necessary when communicating the different strategies that the client can adopt in order to overcome their problems.
- Strong understanding of the ethical and legal obligations that you must uphold at all times towards clients.
Read on to find out more about the study and professional opportunities available for you in order to kickstart your life as a counsellor.
What are the course and study options for counsellors in Sydney?
There are many different course options available for students who are interested in pursuing a career in counselling. However, the minimum requirement that you must meet before entering the workforce is that you complete a Bachelor in Counselling. This is a formally accredited course that is acknowledged by the top counselling bodies. In Sydney, counselling schools provide a lot of flexibility to accommodate your learning pace and busy schedule by offering both part-time and full-time study options. In addition, some of these course providers offer on-campus, online or blended learning options.
These courses are beneficial for students as they introduce them to important topics such as psychology, counselling methodologies, relationships, mental health and ethics. This will be supplemented with practical work experience where you get to work with a counsellor with real clients.
If this is something that you would be interested in, Natural Therapy Pages has already provided you with all the resources that you need to make this dream become a reality. On this page, you will find all the available course options and if you have any further questions about their course options all you need to do is enquire with them directly.
What happens after you complete your counselling course in Sydney?
Once you obtain your undergraduate degree, it is highly recommended that you enrol with the Australian Counselling Association (ACA), in order to improve your chances of finding employment by positioning yourself as a credible counsellor. Once you do this, you will be eligible to work in many different workplaces such as community health centres, aged care centres, hospitals, educational facilities and crisis helplines.
Additionally, once you gain an abundant amount of professional experience, you will be able to start your own counselling practice. Natural Therapy Pages can provide you with immense assistance especially during your early stages of establishment by letting you list your face-to-face counselling consultation or via an online session.
Finally, you also have the option to continue studying which is a much sought after option for many people working in counselling as it allows them to upskill and stay up to date with the latest developments in counselling. Some of the options available to you include enrolling on a Bachelor of Psychology, Bachelor of Counselling or a Master of Counselling.
