Training to be a counsellor; a thread.

1. I hate that I’m constantly asked to provide #counselling sessions for free!

One problem with the way my profession is viewed is that it’s either ‘a chat’ over a cup of tea, or that it’s provided by people who do it ‘for love’.

2. While I love what I do… I have bills to pay! Just like you, you wouldn’t ask a doctor or a nurse to work for free.

The other problem is that to train as a counsellor, we are forced to work for free for agencies to gain our clinical hours.

3. So, agencies don’t ever feel the need to pay counsellors… even when they are funded for the service… because there are always loads of students to provide their service.

4. This also results in qualified counsellors being unable to find full time work due to the amount of services who rely on trainee volunteers to keep their service running, which is now why I have finally decided to train as a psychologist to have my professional title protected

5. The thing is, it took me five years to qualify… an access diploma, an undergraduate degree, now a masters degree, 500+ client hours, clinical supervision and personal therapy (which wasn’t given to me for free either!)

6. Without forgetting all of all my essays, case notes, weekly reflective journals, case studies, session transcriptions and analyses.

So don’t ask us if we offer free ‘taster’ sessions, don’t ask us to ‘analyse you”. And don’t ask us to have ‘a chat’ with you for free.

7. If you want free, go join an NHS or agency waiting list. If you want expertise and a service tailored to your needs, contact me. Counsellors are owed for the years not the the minutes.

Can anyone relate from your own experiences? #counselling #bacp