Building Bridges - Building Bridges - Counselling as a CareerCounselling as a Career

Careers TalkCareers Talk

11/2/201011/2/2010

Job prospectsJob prospects

A limited (but growing) number of jobs in the A limited (but growing) number of jobs in the counselling field, in these settings: counselling field, in these settings: National Health Service, National Health Service, Education (Colleges of Further Education and Education (Colleges of Further Education and

VIth form Colls, Universities/ Colleges of Higher VIth form Colls, Universities/ Colleges of Higher Ed. and a growing number of state and Ed. and a growing number of state and “public” schools)“public” schools)

Staff Counselling in large public or private Staff Counselling in large public or private companies companies

Youth Counselling agenciesYouth Counselling agencies

Income streamsIncome streams

Sessional work in one of the above settings Sessional work in one of the above settings (Health, Education, workplace)(Health, Education, workplace)

Private work (on an individual, fee-paying basis)Private work (on an individual, fee-paying basis) Teaching/Training work in the counselling field or Teaching/Training work in the counselling field or

a field in which the counsellor has previously a field in which the counsellor has previously been trained or worked.been trained or worked.

Supervision of other counsellors (for the more Supervision of other counsellors (for the more experienced Practitioner)experienced Practitioner)

WritingWriting Possibly some voluntary work tooPossibly some voluntary work too

TrainingTraining

A A “BACP Accredited Course”“BACP Accredited Course” must include must include these 8 Basic elementsthese 8 Basic elements : :

(this is quoted from the BACP Training directory)(this is quoted from the BACP Training directory) Admission, Admission, staff development, staff development, client work, client work, supervision, supervision, skills training, skills training, theory, theory, professional development,professional development, assessment.assessment.

TrainingTraining

A “BACP Accredited Course” must have:A “BACP Accredited Course” must have: A grounding in a core theoretical model (e.g. “Client-A grounding in a core theoretical model (e.g. “Client-

Centred” or “Psychodynamic”)Centred” or “Psychodynamic”) Create a balance between theory, skills components & Create a balance between theory, skills components &

personal development, consistent with the core model.personal development, consistent with the core model. Assessment process should include regular ongoing Assessment process should include regular ongoing

constructive feedback.constructive feedback. Should help students develop as reflective practitioners, Should help students develop as reflective practitioners,

who should also be required to monitor & evaluate their who should also be required to monitor & evaluate their own work and personal development (e.g. through own work and personal development (e.g. through Journal or essays) Appropriately staffed with not less Journal or essays) Appropriately staffed with not less than 2 core teaching staff on any course.than 2 core teaching staff on any course.

Individual Counsellor Individual Counsellor AccreditationAccreditation

Individual Counsellor Accreditation should NOT to Individual Counsellor Accreditation should NOT to be confused with completing an Accredited be confused with completing an Accredited course!course! Individual personal accreditationIndividual personal accreditation is a is a

recognition of the skills, training and recognition of the skills, training and experience of an individual counsellorexperience of an individual counsellor

four routesfour routes to Individual Accreditation: to Individual Accreditation:

Individual Counsellor Individual Counsellor Accreditation - Route1Accreditation - Route1

completed a BACP Accredited completed a BACP Accredited Counsellor Training Course and has:Counsellor Training Course and has:

had at least 450 hours of counselling had at least 450 hours of counselling practice supervised over not less practice supervised over not less than three and not more than five than three and not more than five years. years.

Individual Counsellor Individual Counsellor Accreditation - Route2Accreditation - Route2

Has undertaken a total of 450 hours of Has undertaken a total of 450 hours of successfully completed counselling successfully completed counselling training comprising two elements: training comprising two elements:

a) 200 hours of skills development a) 200 hours of skills development b) 250 hours of theory b) 250 hours of theory and has had at least 450 hours of and has had at least 450 hours of

counselling practice supervised over not counselling practice supervised over not less than three and not more than five less than three and not more than five years. years.

Individual Counsellor Individual Counsellor Accreditation - Route3Accreditation - Route3

Can provide evidence of a combination Can provide evidence of a combination of: of:

(a) some formal counselling training and (a) some formal counselling training and (b) several years of practice (of 150 (b) several years of practice (of 150

hours minimum per year, under formal hours minimum per year, under formal supervision).supervision).

This includes a requirement for at least This includes a requirement for at least 450 hours of counselling practice 450 hours of counselling practice supervised over three years. supervised over three years.

Impact of Regulation of Impact of Regulation of Counselling & PsychotherapyCounselling & Psychotherapy

Regulation is due to come in soon – possibly 20011-Regulation is due to come in soon – possibly 20011-1212 As a result of e.g. Allitt and Shipman and other abuses by As a result of e.g. Allitt and Shipman and other abuses by

professionalsprofessionals Self-regulation by the professional bodies themselves (e.g. Self-regulation by the professional bodies themselves (e.g.

BMA, RCN) are seen to have failed to protect the publicBMA, RCN) are seen to have failed to protect the public Regulation means that the titles “Counsellor” and Regulation means that the titles “Counsellor” and

“Psychotherapist” are protected - not just anyone can use “Psychotherapist” are protected - not just anyone can use themthem

Getting onto the register will entail doing an approved Getting onto the register will entail doing an approved course (similar to BPS registration) course (similar to BPS registration)

Regulatory body likely to be HPC (Health Care Regulatory body likely to be HPC (Health Care Professionals) Professionals)

Grand-parentingGrand-parenting

Means the bringing onto the new Means the bringing onto the new

register of those that are currently register of those that are currently accredited and/or practising as accredited and/or practising as Counsellors or PsychotherapistsCounsellors or Psychotherapists

Professional BodiesProfessional Bodies

BACP (Counsellors and Psychotherapists)BACP (Counsellors and Psychotherapists) UKCP (Psychotherapists)UKCP (Psychotherapists) BPS (Counselling Psychologists)BPS (Counselling Psychologists) Loads of other smaller catering for Loads of other smaller catering for

particular related trainings e.g. as particular related trainings e.g. as Analysts, (Freudian, Jungian) and Analysts, (Freudian, Jungian) and Psychotherapists (Gestalt, Integrative Psychotherapists (Gestalt, Integrative etc.)etc.)

Counselling PsychologyCounselling Psychology

Open to those with a Psychology degreeOpen to those with a Psychology degree See www.prospects .ac.ukSee www.prospects .ac.uk And BPS websiteAnd BPS website

Counselling Psychology Entry & Counselling Psychology Entry & TrainingTraining

Entry Requirements to training for Counselling Psychology:

Most common training route for a chartered counselling psychologist is first to gain Graduate Basis for Registration (GBR) by:

completing an accredited degree in psychology (one to four years).

OR by sitting the qualifying examination of the British Psychological Society (BPS),

OR by obtaining an appropriate society-accredited postgraduate qualification,

OR by taking an appropriate society-accredited conversion course

See the BPS website: www.bps.org.uk/careers and the Prospects website: www.prospects.ac.uk

Counselling Psychology Entry & Counselling Psychology Entry & Training 2Training 2

Then: Then: Must complete a BPS-accredited

postgraduate training course in counselling psychology:

OR: an MSc, Doctorate or the BPS qualification in counselling, confering eligibility to register as a chartered counselling psychologist. (Details of accredited courses are given on the BPS website.)

OR have completed the BPS qualification in counselling psychology (three years full time or equivalent period part time); this is known as the 'independent route'.

Counselling Psychology Entry & Counselling Psychology Entry & Training 2Training 2

This qualification provides a yardstick against which the experience and qualifications of potential counselling psychologists can be assessed. Those following the independent route are expected to:

Compile a training plan with the help of a training co-ordinator;

keep a competence logbook; attend a course in a core model of counselling or

psychotherapy; present a portfolio to the society; and attend a viva examination.

Both qualification routes confer eligibility for chartered counselling psychologist status and lead to the acquisition of equivalent competence.