How To Change Career And Become A Therapist Or Counsellor

Introduction

The field of counselling and psychotherapy seems to attract many people later in their career lives. Indeed, almost 90% of practicing psychotherapists in the UK had careers in other fields before training in psychotherapy, often motivated by personal experiences or a desire for more meaningful work​. So, if you want to change your career to counselling and have wondered how to become a therapist, this article is for you. Even if your current or first career is in unrelated fields, don’t worry because a survey by the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) found that 43% of trainees in psychotherapy were making a career change from fields like law, media, or finance. In fact, like many, you may be motivated by a desire for more meaningful work, better work-life balance, or a personal calling to help others.

Yes, due to the personal and professional rewards of helping others, including emotional fulfillment, as well as the flexibility the counsellor career path offers, mental health professions are a popular choice for second or even third careers, which is good since the demand for mental health care is increasing.

You may have concerns about the transition, but it’s important to note that, those who take the therapist career path later in life perform well in their training programmes because of their potential life experience, maturity, and the emotional insight they take into their studies and practice. But, before you decide what to do, read on so you can make an informed choice.

Keep in mind that the terms ‘counsellor’ and ‘therapist’ are used interchangeably, even though there are some nuances. By the end of this article, you will understand how to become a counsellor, the steps to becoming a therapist, qualifications for therapists, how long to become a therapist, salary for therapists, and about therapist training programs. Hopefully, this will help you decide whether to change career to counselling, but if not, don’t worry, we provide further support, which you will learn about if you keep reading.

Why Choose A Career As A Therapist Or Counsellor?

Since you’re here reading this article about how to become a therapist, let’s review why many change career to therapy, these reasons may resonate for you too.  Many people often get to a stage in their careers where they feel quite dissatisfied. This may be because it’s boring, hard, stressful, unstimulating, or some other reason. For instance, they may want to know how to become a counsellor because they are seeking personal fulfilment and helping others offers this. Another factor that might cause people to seek out the steps to becoming a counsellor are to do with job security. Indeed, as mentioned there is a rising demand for mental health professionals. You may also want to know how to become a therapist because of the flexibility in work settings, for example, you could choose to work in the public sector (NHS, schools, etc), the ‘third sector’ (charities), or in private practice for someone else or yourself. The therapist career path might be interesting to you because of the variety of specialisations that are possible (e.g., CBT, family therapy, trauma counselling). Or, perhaps you’re interested in how to become a counsellor because of the opportunity for continuous personal and professional growth, which this profession prescribes.

Is Therapy or Counselling the Right Career for You?

As we’ve covered why you may want to change career to counselling, the next natural step is to review if this career is right for you. Because the steps to becoming a therapist are not easy so it’s not for everyone. Indeed, if you’re considering the counsellor career path for reasons that are more ‘selfish’ than ‘selfless,’ it might not be for you. Let’s review if it’s suited to you:

Personal qualities

You may be naturally disposed to a career in helping if you’re someone who is easily able to empathise with others, is good at actively listening, and is patient and emotionally resilient, to name just some of the important qualities of good therapists.

Skills required

If you’re a good communicator, can problem-solve, have self-awareness, and good emotional intelligence, then a therapy career change might be one you can thrive in because it may be well suited to your skillset.

Passion for helping others

Please don’t look into how to become a therapist unless you have a keen desire to support others through challenging times. Otherwise, you’re going to struggle in this field and your clients will be able to sense it.

Emotional readiness

The field of mental health requires individuals who are emotionally grounded. If you’re not, you will find it difficult to support others well with their emotional difficulties. This is because your own difficulties will inhibit you.

Interest in human behaviour

If you’ve reviewed qualifications for counsellors then you may notice the importance of having genuine curiosity about mental health, psychology, and behavioural patterns. Some counsellors do not invest enough time in these, which limits the ability to help.

Personal growth

A counselling career change also requires the ongoing willingness to engage in continuous self-development and learning. This is because the theoretical field is vast and ever-changing, and therapists should keep up with it.

What Qualifications Do You Need To Become A Therapist Or Counsellor?

This article mainly discusses how to become a counsellor in the United Kingdom, for which there are various ways you can qualify to work as a therapist or counsellor. For example:

Academic routes

Qualifications for therapists are varied, but a great foundation is a psychology degree (Bachelor’s and Master’s). This offers a broad understanding of the field of psychology and can help you understand which areas of the field you might be interested in.

Steps to becoming a counsellor also include the option of studying counselling or psychotherapy diplomas. These are normally at a lower academic level to a degree so may help you qualify as a counsellor under a particular governing body if they accredit your course (more on this below).

Qualifications for counsellors and therapists also come via specialised courses (e.g., Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), or psychodynamic courses). Some course providers may require some foundational training beforehand. It’s important to check if the course provider is reputable and offer legitimate qualifications.

Licensure and certification

Knowing how to become a therapist depends on where you are, because as mentioned, there are varying criteria. If you want to change career to therapy, then you may want to look at the reputable and recognized national bodies that govern the practice of counselling and psychotherapy where you intend to practice. For example, in the UK the British Association for Psychotherapy and Counselling (BACP) are widely recognised, so reviewing their routeways about how to become a counsellor would be wise. These will often include theoretical training via courses and a need for supervised hours of practice with clients before full certification is conferred.

Ongoing education

Another important consideration if you are serious and want to change career to counselling is the continuous professional development that is often required to maintain certification. This can range from informal study, such as reading, webinars, workshops, to formal training programmes. This will depend on the requirements of your accrediting body.

Alternative paths

 One more way to change career to therapy is the option of alternative counsellor training programs. For example, there are many online learning and part-time courses for career changers. The Open University is one example of this, as well as the New School of Psychotherapy and Counselling, which offers blended options of online and in-person learning. Again, be careful and ensure that the provider is offering a legitimate course that is accredited and offers you more than just a piece of paper at the end.

Step-By-Step Guide To Becoming A Therapist

Evaluate Your Current Skill Set

Consider and identify your skillset and whether you think you have transferable skills to justify a counselling career change. You may think what you currently do is unrelated but you might be using communication, empathy, conflict resolution, and others transferable skills and qualities in your current role. Also consider any other work experience you have, maybe your past roles required valuable skills. Another area may be your home life. If you’ve cared for others in certain contexts, this may support your application for training programmes.

Research Different Types of Therapy and Counselling

When considering how long to become a counsellor, you may be starting to realise that it varies depending on the route you take. So, for example, if you’re interested in being a CBT therapist, you will need to investigate the pathway for that qualification. You may also be interested in working with certain groups of people, such as families, couples, children, or individual adults only. You may also be drawn to working with specific problems, like addiction for example. So, think about your personal interests in different therapy areas before you commit to change career to therapy

Pursue the Necessary Education

Once you’ve done the above, you will need to look at the different options for your area of interest. For example, if you’re interested in working with children and you like the idea of working in a person-centered way, you can look at the different courses available in your region. You might then review if the courses you’re interested in are accredited programs. There will also be other considerations, such as options for online or part-time study which will be important to think about, especially if you’re still working. This will ensure you can complete your training, rather than give up because something was overlooked.

Gain Experience Through Volunteering or Internships

Now if you’re interested in learning about the salary for counsellors, you may need to lay down on the couch for this one. The steps to becoming a counsellor involve much sacrifice for much benefit. One of the sacrifices will be your time, and lots of it. You will not just study the theory, you will also have to put it into practice. This usually means working while you study. This real-world application and experience in mental health settings is invaluable, but often (in the UK at least), it will be voluntary and unpaid. It may be in places like community centres, schools, mental health clinics, or charity organisations.

Work Toward Licensure or Certification

So the therapy career change involves more than the training or study, and the voluntary practice hours. Yes, if you’re working towards some sort of accreditation or qualification, and usually it’s both, you will have to commit time, energy, and money to other things as well. These include a personal supervisor which is usual and good practice in therapy work, exams, and applications for accreditation. Many courses and accrediting bodies also require that you have undertaken your own personal therapy. This may seem controversial as therapy should never be imposed, however, it is aimed to help trainees work through their own ‘stuff’ and also learn about how to be a good therapist by experiencing it from the other side.

Start Building a Network

If you want to change career to counselling, another helpful way is to start networking with professionals in the field. This is made much easier these days with sites dedicated to professional networking. By doing this, you can make connections who can help you along the way. For example, you may ask them about their expertise if you have a question about something, or you may take interest in posts made by them that could lead to some CPD.  It’s also prudent to join professional associations like the BACP on networking or social media platforms, as this can also help you to expand your network.

Begin Applying for Jobs or Setting Up Private Practice

Another important aspect in the steps to becoming a therapist is what happens after you’ve done your training, gained your qualifications, got your accreditations, and networked with other professionals. Yes. setting up your own private practice! This is a part of the process that many seem to underestimate. You should not assume that simply having the ability and readiness to practice is enough. It’s not. If you want to be serious about working as a fully fledged therapist, you need to market yourself. These days this means using the WWWW – the Wonderful World Wide Web. And with the proliferation of digital therapy, you can work with people far and wide (do check your insurer’s conditions for international clients). So there’s no shortage of clients who need help, they just have to be able to find you.

Common Challenges In Changing Careers To Become A Therapist Or Counsellor

When considering how to become a therapist, you may be looking at it through rose-tinted lenses, but if you do, you’ll be in trouble. Why? The clue’s in the above heading. There are going to be some legitimate challenges along the way. I don’t say this to deter anyone from joining this wonderful and meaningful profession, I say it because it needs to be mentioned for anyone considering a career change, and their potential clients. So, what are some of the common challenges? There will be a lot of studying, if you don’t like academia, you may struggle. You will also need to attend personal therapy of your own, if you’re not open to this, it will be problematic. You will be constantly judged, on your academic performance, and your ability as a therapist (there will be a lot of practice work), and you will lose time with your family and yourself. All of this – the study, therapy, and potential supervision fees will rack up. And if you’re working another job at the same time (which most do), it will mean even less time and energy. It can also be quite emotionally draining. Two things you’ll need above all others are resilience and determination, because you will need to pull yourself through.

Success Stories: Real-Life Examples Of People Who Made The Switch

So after reading that, you still want to know how to become a counsellor? Great – then let’s take some inspiration from those who have done it and succeeded. There are several successful psychotherapists who started their careers in other professions and transitioned into mental health.  Here are a few examples:

Irvin D. Yalom: Before becoming a renowned psychiatrist and psychotherapist, Yalom was interested in a career in medicine. He is now one of the most influential figures in existential psychotherapy and group therapy, having written many notable books in the field.

Carl Rogers: Rogers, one of the founders of the humanistic approach to psychology, initially pursued a career in agriculture and later in religious studies. It wasn’t until later that he shifted to psychology, becoming one of the most influential psychotherapists of the 20th century.

James Bugental: Bugental worked in engineering and management before transitioning into psychotherapy, where he became known for his work in existential-humanistic psychotherapy.

Victor Frankl: Frankl, known for his work in existential psychology and for his book Man’s Search for Meaning, originally trained as a neurologist before his ground breaking contributions to psychotherapy.

These inspirations show us that it’s possible to successfully transition from another field, even if it’s completely unrelated, like in Bugental’s case. They highlight one can succeed in the field of psychotherapy even if from another background. I personally know several successful psychotherapists who came from other fields, and I’m also one.

How Long Does It Take To Change Career And Become A Therapist?

It’s important to consider how long to become a therapist as you’ll now know it’s a serious commitment.  The short answer is: In the UK it can take between 2 and 14 years! Why? Because the titles ‘Counsellor’ or ‘Therapist’ can be used by various professionals. So, if you’re looking for the shortest routeway and want to be a qualified Counsellor, you can study a Diploma in Counselling which typically takes 2 to 3 years. You might complete a Level 2 or 3 Certificate in Counselling Skills, followed by a Level 4 Diploma in Counselling. And you can do it part-time so you can continue working, but remember, you will need to practice too as most professional bodies, like the BACP require 100 hours of supervised practice in addition to academic coursework.

Then there are the Practitioner Psychologist or Psychiatrist routeways which are considerably longer. It takes between 7-9 years to become a Practitioner Psychologist. This involves an Undergraduate Degree which is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) and takes around 3 years. Then the postgraduate study which is usually a Master’s and, or a Doctorate in a specific field of psychology (e.g., clinical psychology, counselling psychology). This can take around 3-6 years. Some programmes include placements, but additional supervised practice may be required for chartered status. The Psychiatry route takes between 10-14 years. This involves a 5-6 year Medical Degree (MBBS), Foundation Programme of 2 years, where graduates work in various medical specialties, and then specialist training in psychiatry, which is another 6 years.

Salary Expectations For Therapists And Counsellors

The salary for therapists can vary based on the type of professional they are and on region, experience, and whether the therapist works within the NHS, in private practice, or a combination of both. Private practice work can potentially earn more than stated below, depending on client volume and session rates. Let’s consider the typical UK salary ranges for counsellors, psychologists, and psychiatrists:

Counsellor (BACP-registered or equivalent):

Starting salary: £23,000 to £30,000 per year for newly qualified counsellors working in the NHS or charitable organizations.

Experienced counsellors: £30,000 to £40,000 per year.

Private practice counsellors: Can charge between £40 and £90 per session, leading to potential earnings of £25,000 to £60,000 per year, depending on the number of clients.

Practitioner Psychologist (Clinical, Counselling, Educational, Forensic, etc.):

Starting salary: £38,000 to £45,000 per year for newly qualified psychologists in the NHS (Band 7).

Experienced psychologists: £45,000 to £60,000 per year (Band 8a-8b).

Consultant-level psychologists: £60,000 to £90,000+ per year (Band 8c-8d and higher).

Private practice psychologists: Can charge between £70 and £180 per session, depending on experience and specialisation, leading to potential earnings of £42,000 to £216, 000+ per year, depending on the number of clients, session rates, and working hours.

Psychiatrist:

Junior Doctor (Foundation Year): £29,000 to £34,000 per year.

Specialty Registrar (in Psychiatry training): £40,000 to £55,000 per year.

Consultant Psychiatrist: £84,500 to £114,000+ per year, depending on experience and seniority.

Private practice psychiatrists: Can charge between £100 and £300 per session, depending on experience and specialisation, leading to potential earnings of £60,000 to £360, 000 per year, depending on the number of clients, session rates, and working hours.

The Importance Of Self-Care As A Therapist Or Counsellor

So, we’ve looked at how long to become a counsellor, qualifications for therapists, and the salary for counsellors, but there’s another aspect of the journey that must be mentioned; Self-Care. This is something that all people must attend to because we all live in a world of chaos. But, for those in the field of mental health, the chaos is somewhat omnipresent. Yes, we don’t do work that might allow distraction from difficulties, our work is very much entrenched in the difficulties of others. So you have to be made of some strong stuff to do this kind of work, day-in-and-day-out. Despite the strength, we’re human and must be extra mindful of taking care of ourselves. This may be ensuring good quality sleep, exercise, diet, and the ability to charge our social batteries through quality interactions, rather than being the go-to therapist in our social networks! Most people can do their jobs just fine if they miss out on some of these basics, but for therapists, basic self-care is a necessity. If we fall short in these ways, we and our work will suffer and our clients will too – which is unacceptable.

Conclusion

This article aimed to help you decide why you might choose a career as a therapist or counsellor by asking you to consider if it’s the right career for you. This is important because the demand for mental health care is increasing, and clients need therapists who are in this field for the right reasons. It’s also important to consider this seriously because of the commitment. This is why we’ve reviewed qualifications for counsellors and other mental health professionals, as well as other aspects of the process. To assist you, we have also provided a step-by-step guide about changing careers, as well as some of the common challenges that can occur. You are now aware of the length of time to qualify and the salary you can expect.

What To Do Next

If you aren’t running for the hills, then welcome to the beginning of the most important journey of your life! Yes, if you’re serious about entering this beloved field, we want you. And, what’s great is you don’t have to navigate it without a map like so many before you have. Start your journey today. And this is just the start. So, for some much-needed in-depth guidance on the various aspects of this road, sign up for our free upcoming e-book, and paid video series (coming soon). Through these, we will continue to take you through every step, step-by-step and not just tell you about the whats, but also the crucial hows, placing you in the best position for this transition. This way, you’ll reap the most from the process – and become a better practitioner for it.