Counseling studies for an international student

TOM_1900

(edited 1 year ago)

Original post by TOM_1900

Hi friends,

A question - how can I become a qualified counsellor in the UK? Which course should I take? (not a degree, but enough to get a student visa).I'm an EU citizen with 3 years of experience in my country. No formal education.

Thanks !

Below are NHS requirements, but some places might need less. But NHS is a good benchmark to go by. Good luck, we need more mental health specialists.

To work in the NHS as a counsellor, as a minimum you will need to be registered on a counselling or psychotherapy register accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA). Some services, such as IAPT services, also require additional levels of accreditation and that you undertake additional training in a particular therapy delivered by the service. See the IAPT Manual for details.

There are many different types and levels of counselling training available including at diploma, degree and postgraduate level. Some are available on a part-time basis, others full-time. Many, but not all, lead to registration. Visit the Professional Standards Authority website for information about accredited counselling registers.

For some counselling roles, employers may also ask for a clinical/professional qualification, such as being a registered nurse, occupational therapist or social worker. Or you may need a scientific background for some roles in genomic counselling, for instance.

Each employer will indicate their individual requirements so make sure to check the person specification for the role.