Slightly (!) off the dog topic I know, but do any of you know about counsellor training?  It's something I'm thinking of doing, initially out of interest and as a useful tool, but also with a view to perhaps becoming a counsellor in the long term.  Someone told me that it's not worth doing a course unless it's a BACP one, but these seem to be very expensive and a fair distance from me.

My local college runs level 1 - 5 NCFE courses.  The person I spoke to there says there are lots of different ways into counselling, but they will still make you an accredited counsellor.

My question really is whether this qualification is worth having, or whether it would limit me from the point of view of eventually working as a counsellor.  Any input would be gratefully received!

Thanks!

A friend of mine trained as a counsellor but couldn't get a job so did some voluntary work to get experience.
At the end of that she still couldn't get a job and couldn't afford to work for free so got a job in an office.
Not very helpful of me I know, but good luck whatever you decide !

Thanks for the info :)

My friend is a trained bereavement counsellor so could find out some information about that for you if thats the sort of counselling you want to do?

Whilst I was away from full time work, raising children, I completed an BTEC Level 2 Introduction to Counselling Skills which was run by one of our local counselling charities.

The course was excellent and I was accepted onto a course at a nearby college, and offered the opportunity for placement with the counselling charity.  Sadly things changed a bit whilst I was waiting and we relocated with my husbands job before I could start the course.

The course I was going to do was this one - if I remember correctly

You can read a bit more about the BTEC courses here.  Level 2 and Level 3

Where in the country are you?  If you have a look at your local counselling charities you might find that they offer training days or work as tutors with local colleges so that might be a place to start looking.  It's a hugely worthwhile role but not for the faint hearted!

Thanks Fred's Mum and dogs a babe - yes please to any more information!  I am on the Hampshire/Surrey borders.

Unfortunately the charity she works for is only in Devon so not much help for you i'm afraid. however, she said to approach the conselling charitys in your area and see what they say. This was how she got her foot in the door. They trained her up and she fits in her counselling around her part time job. Think these charitys are so desperate for staff they are quite flexible. I dont know much about the academic side but i guess you could study for a formal qualification (if thats what you want) whilst also gaining experience and learning on the job??