Training to be a counsellor?
Discussion
Hoping someone on here may be able to suggest some options 
Currently I work as a Business Analyst for a local authority, and in the not too distant future there is the opportunity for me to do some consultancy work in this field as well. But what interests me about my work is the 'people' side more than the business side. I would like to aim to work as a coach/mentor/counsellor in the future, possibly tapping in to organisations whose business needs involve staff development, as well as seeing clients in the more traditional way as well.
I don't neccessarily want to train as a psychotherapist, although I recognise a firm grounding in this area would be a bonus. What I'm after is some suggestions as to what route to pursue. There are 1001 'life coach' courses I could take, but to stand out IMO I would need something more than this. I have studied NLP (Master Practitioner) but felt it lacked real depth. The more traditional psychotherapy route seems to involve a degree and post-grad study too. I don't currently have a degree, and as I would need to fit study around my job this would be very long winded and perhaps not specific enough for the area I want to end up in.
So, does anyone here have any ideas where I could start looking? I have seen a year long course for clinical CBT training, which seems a reasonable option, but there are so many courses I'm not sure which ones would be worth the paper they're written on!
Currently I work as a Business Analyst for a local authority, and in the not too distant future there is the opportunity for me to do some consultancy work in this field as well. But what interests me about my work is the 'people' side more than the business side. I would like to aim to work as a coach/mentor/counsellor in the future, possibly tapping in to organisations whose business needs involve staff development, as well as seeing clients in the more traditional way as well.
I don't neccessarily want to train as a psychotherapist, although I recognise a firm grounding in this area would be a bonus. What I'm after is some suggestions as to what route to pursue. There are 1001 'life coach' courses I could take, but to stand out IMO I would need something more than this. I have studied NLP (Master Practitioner) but felt it lacked real depth. The more traditional psychotherapy route seems to involve a degree and post-grad study too. I don't currently have a degree, and as I would need to fit study around my job this would be very long winded and perhaps not specific enough for the area I want to end up in.
So, does anyone here have any ideas where I could start looking? I have seen a year long course for clinical CBT training, which seems a reasonable option, but there are so many courses I'm not sure which ones would be worth the paper they're written on!
First thing is knowing the difference between a mentor, a coach and a counsellor.
I think you need to work out what is the most beneficial for staff development; I'd have thought a business coach is the best way forward - counsellors and psychotherapists (in layman's terms) look at emotional and psychological issues that get a person to a "normal" state whereas coaches help people to excel.
As for CBT, I understand it's a quick and dirty... and not very effective but cheap... form of therapy... hence it's used by the NHS. Most people who need it can get referenced to a local hospital by their GP so you'd be competing against that if you were planning on doing this privately.
I think you need to work out what is the most beneficial for staff development; I'd have thought a business coach is the best way forward - counsellors and psychotherapists (in layman's terms) look at emotional and psychological issues that get a person to a "normal" state whereas coaches help people to excel.
As for CBT, I understand it's a quick and dirty... and not very effective but cheap... form of therapy... hence it's used by the NHS. Most people who need it can get referenced to a local hospital by their GP so you'd be competing against that if you were planning on doing this privately.
Edited by ShadownINja on Tuesday 5th May 09:57
Thanks Shadowninja
I am looking at the broadest scope of options at the moment as I'm wary of studying with too narrow a focus at this stage. I do agree though that I will need to pin down one area at some point though. I'm after a good general grounding in therapuetic techniques with a view to specilaising in the future, but there is just so much out there I don't know where to start!
Interesting comments about CBT.
I have looked for BCAP accredited courses, which range from foundation degrees to post grad studies, but something this in depth & academic may not be required. So any pointers to other institutes, accredited bodies or particular areas to look at would be much appreciated.
In an ideal world I would like have the skills to offer a combination of therapy and coaching to people, to overcome current issues and then excel in the future... I'm not sure if this is rather ambitious or misguided however! IMO, coaching on it's own can be effective but not neccessarily 'in depth' enough for some people, whilst full-on psychoanalysis is often too much & perhaps not always focused on moving towards the future (or I am talking out of my behind & need to pick one field to study..!)
I am looking at the broadest scope of options at the moment as I'm wary of studying with too narrow a focus at this stage. I do agree though that I will need to pin down one area at some point though. I'm after a good general grounding in therapuetic techniques with a view to specilaising in the future, but there is just so much out there I don't know where to start!
Interesting comments about CBT.
I have looked for BCAP accredited courses, which range from foundation degrees to post grad studies, but something this in depth & academic may not be required. So any pointers to other institutes, accredited bodies or particular areas to look at would be much appreciated.
In an ideal world I would like have the skills to offer a combination of therapy and coaching to people, to overcome current issues and then excel in the future... I'm not sure if this is rather ambitious or misguided however! IMO, coaching on it's own can be effective but not neccessarily 'in depth' enough for some people, whilst full-on psychoanalysis is often too much & perhaps not always focused on moving towards the future (or I am talking out of my behind & need to pick one field to study..!)
I think your best bet is to check out websites covering counselling, psychotherapy, coaching and mentoring, or perhaps buy a beginner's guide to each one. I deal more with psychotherapy work and am not interested in coaching, counselling or mentoring. I don't feel that I am lacking particular skills. I would just send a client to a specialist in other fields if I am unable to help them. Having several strings to your bow usually means the practitioner won't have instant and detailed knowledge in a specific practice which means it will take much longer to resolve a problem or achieve a particular goal. It's no different to anything else, really. Would you really trust someone who's a qualified lawyer, accountant and marketeer? Would they really know everything you need them to know or would they have to waste your time/money skirting the issue while making excuses to have to do the research? Each field within your interests is vast if you really investigate. One "problem" with therapists is that they do tend to jump from one therapy to another because (1) it's interesting (2) they think they have covered everything. There's a saying: you don't know what you don't know...
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