Annual Salary
£25,654 to £45,838
Average UK salary in 2019 was £30,378
(source Office for National Statistics)
Swap to Medical or Social care or go back to all job sectors
Swap to Medical or Social care or go back to all job sectors
Counsellors help people discuss their problems and feelings in a confidential setting.
Average UK salary in 2019 was £30,378
(source Office for National Statistics)
You could work: evenings / weekends; attending events or appointments
There will be
6% more Counsellor jobs in 2026.
In your local area
You might use one particular type of therapy or a combination of methods to:
You could work one-to-one, or with couples, families or groups. Counselling can be done face-to-face, online as well as over the phone.
You could work in a therapy clinic, at a GP practice, at a school, at a college or from home.
Your working environment may be emotionally demanding.
You can get into this job through:
You could do a diploma, degree or postgraduate course in counselling or psychotherapy.
Some undergraduate courses offer counselling in combination with other subjects, for example psychology, sociology or criminology.
You should look for a course that includes practical skills training and supervised placements.
You'll usually need:
You can start by doing an introduction to counselling course, which can last up to 12 weeks. After that, you can extend your training by completing courses like:
Colleges will set their own entry requirements but most will expect you to have completed the introductory and Level 3 counselling courses to go further.
Paid or unpaid experience is essential for course and job applications. Many counselling bodies offer volunteering opportunities and you can find these on Do-it.
Some organisations, like Relate, Samaritans and Cruse offer training to volunteers, for their listening or support services. This kind of experience can be really valuable, before taking up professional counselling training.
You'll need to:
You'll be expected to undergo counselling yourself and regularly reflect on your practice with a supervisor, as this is needed for accreditation.
Counselling is often a second or additional career, and life experience is highly valued.
Becoming a member of a body on the Professional Standards Authority's counselling register can improve your chances of getting a job.
You can find out more about training and careers in counselling from:British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy; UK Council for Psychotherapy; National Counselling Service
Competition for full-time paid work is strong and many counsellors do a mix of part-time, voluntary and private work.
It's important for newly qualified counsellors to get peer support to develop their skills, so it's unusual to go straight into working for yourself.
Counsellors often specialise in a particular area, for example bereavement support, relationships or addiction. With experience, you could set up your own practice.
You could choose to train as a counsellor supervisor or trainer. You could also move into a management or consultancy role.
You'll need: