Can you help me to set up the required requirements to eventually and hopefully qualify as a practicing counsellor
I am 57 years of age
Asked by David robertson - Edinburgh Submitted 3914 days ago
There are no statutory regulations that govern the use term of counsellor and so in theory anyone can set themself up in practice. Of course the IoC would never suggest such a thing and would always be advocating ethical and professional practice. Depending on the role you wish to carry out within the counselling sector, you need to consider what qualification and practice assessment is appropriate: for example to work within the NHS as a specialist counsellor, you would require a post-graduate qualifcation in a counselling model and membership of the BACP which demands 450 hours of supervised practice by an approved BACP supervisor. On the other hand, if you wish to work in the voluntary sector, then our academically and professionally approved courses (see link to the National Counselling Society on our professional affiliation's page) allied to their own supervised practice may be sufficient for you to eventually be considered for a counselling post in the organisation. There are many routes in the world of counselling and the IoC will be here to offer individual career guidance that will give you objective and independent advice that will ensure you make the right decsion for your career aspirations.
If you wish to discuss any of this please call us on 0141 204 2230.