5 careers that may benefit from counselling skills
As awareness for mental health grows ever-more prevalent, counselling and its related skills are only set to grow in demand. Regardless of whether you’re working in the field itself or employed in a similar industry, its skill set has proven valuable to a wide range of roles – particularly those in community services or in managerial positions.
You therefore needn’t be an actual counsellor to benefit from the skills it brings.
Below, we explore how transferable counselling skills are to varying other career paths, and how our courses can get you started in upskilling today.
What careers will benefit from counselling skills?
- Team Leaders or Managers.
- Human Resources.
- Individual Support.
- Youth Worker.
- Mental Health Worker.
1. Team Leaders or Managers.
Since counselling equips you with greater communication skills, people skills, and emotional intelligence – these abilities can help elevate your performance as a team leader or manager. Those in this role are responsible for maintaining team morale; helping their peers navigate challenges and encouraging them when necessary.
The observational and active listening skills one gains through counselling training can thus apply to such situations, helping you be a more perceptive and supportive leader.
Additionally, counselling skills arm you with the patience to handle conflict or stress – a critical skill for any team manager. Dealing with unforeseen circumstances or difficult colleagues, while keeping a level head and an empathetic perspective, can help you excel in these positions.
2. Human Resources.
As a career dedicated to understanding and supporting other people, those in human resources can greatly benefit from a counselling skill set.
This industry aims to assist those in the workplace, addressing their concerns, needs, and any conflicts that may arise. Those in this role may help employees through any interpersonal problems they may be facing, providing effective solutions in turn.
The communication skills derived from counselling can thus aid in these situations, as well as the ability to empathise and understand problems from the other person’s point of view. Workers must also be able to trust their HR department with any personal problems that may be affecting their job performance, so the ability to establish safe, open communication with others (skills also learned through counselling) is imperative.
3. Individual Support.
Individual support work can refer to various areas – with the most prevalent ones being disability support; and ageing, home, and community support.
The industry comprises services that offer a broad range of individualised support to those requiring daily assistance, whether with health requirements, day-to-day activities, or in the development or acquisition of certain skills. Such support can be provided over one’s lifetime or through shorter, temporary periods of time – such as when patients undergo illness, an accident, or rehabilitation.
Having the counselling skills to actively listen, communicate, and build a strong rapport with your patients is crucial to such roles; as you’ll not only be physically supporting them through their daily routines, but providing emotional support, as well.
Your clients will also need to know they can trust you with their emotional wellbeing, as well as feel safe enough to share any issues or concerns that may be negatively affecting their circumstances.
4. Youth Worker.
A counselling skill set is critical to anyone in the youth work industry, as you’ll be working with juveniles who may be at risk or dealing with behavioural, social, or emotional problems. Those in this role are responsible for improving the overall well-being of young individuals, helping them navigate through their interpersonal problems and devising activities to aid in their progress.
As such, the area requires plenty of patience, understanding, empathy, and active communication skills acquired through training in counselling. Such abilities can also help you ask the right questions, maintain a keen observation of certain behaviours, and retain a cool, clear head under stress or during situations of conflict. You’ll also build the interpersonal skills needed to effectively collaborate with teachers, parents, social workers, or other local authorities.
5. Mental Health Worker.
Finally, above all else – the field of mental health can significantly benefit from skills in counselling. With counselling focused on improving the emotional, psychological, and social well-being of people, there’s no better industry for your abilities to shine.
Mental health workers are dedicated to helping others struggling with emotional or psychiatric problems. They often provide their clients with appropriate therapies, assist them with their daily activities, carry out regular health checks, and monitor their overall progress over time. Their counselling services may also be provided online as well as in-person.
As such, the relationship-building and communication skills inherent to counselling are ever-required for such roles. As someone responsible for helping people overcome their personal problems, the ability to patiently listen, empathise, and provide actionable solutions is non-negotiable.
What skills can I learn from counselling courses?
As mentioned, counselling typically focuses on building one’s communication and people skills. This can include developing your conflict mediation, decision-making, and relationship-building skills. You’ll also likely train in technical areas of case management; personality and development theories; specific counselling therapies; and working with at-risk individuals or those struggling with trauma. Additionally, a quality course will also dive into the legal and ethical frameworks of the field.
Depending on your course, you may even engage in role-playing activities to help simulate professional counselling experiences. Upskilled’s CHC51015 – Diploma of Counselling, for example, provides these interactive learning activities to help you build your collaborative skills while training you to be “work-ready” for real-world opportunities.
What are the benefits of enrolling in a counselling course?
Counselling courses not only sharpen your edge for the job market – helping you stand out among employers in the industry; but they also grant you a multitude of transferable skills for any career path.
These include soft skills in communication, relationship building, conflict resolution, and self-awareness. You’ll also build the patience, empathy, and understanding to work with others of varying backgrounds and personalities. Additionally, you’ll learn to carry yourself better, handle stressful situations more productively, and nurture strong, supportive relationships with others in the workplace.
Regardless of your field, counselling training can mould you into a more collaborative, motivated employee, boosting your value in your current company and in the overall job market.
How to enrol in a short course on counselling
The enrolment process for counselling courses can vary depending on your education provider. With Upskilled, however, all you need to do is submit an enquiry form on the course page. Our education consultants will then get in touch within 48 hours to discuss the program details further.
At this stage, you’ll have the opportunity to ask any questions you may have on the course (i.e. eligibility, payment plans, career outcomes, etc.). If you still wish to pursue the course, our consultant will then send over an enrolment form to get you started.
Through Upskilled’s CHC51015 – Diploma of Counselling, you’ll learn both the fundamentals and technicalities of a counselling role – including different therapies, relationship-building skills, personality theories, and the ability to work with diverse people. Those who complete the program can go on to pursue entry-level job roles in counselling, or improve their valuable soft skills for the workforce.
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