What could be a nobler career than hearing other people out, letting them express themselves, and giving them the tools to better themselves? If that already sounds like the kind of professional you see yourself becoming, then counseling could be your future career.
In this article, we provide all the reasons why you should consider becoming a counselor.
What is a counselor?
Counselors are professionally trained people who aim to help clients work through challenging situations in their lives. They use a range of methods, including talk therapy, to engage with clients, help identify obstacles, and give them the resources and tools to aid them in overcoming their issues.
Counseling can be a somewhat diverse field, and people can specialize in a particular area, such as marriage, addiction, or family.
Reasons to Become a Counselor
Being interested in psychology and counseling and wanting to earn a good salary is usually not enough to make a good counselor. Here are a few reasons people should be driven to pursue counseling.
1. You Want to Make a Difference in People’s Lives
One of the biggest reasons people generally go into counseling is to positively impact their lives. Counselors play a significant role in most of their client’s lives by helping them overcome obstacles and find solutions for a better state of mind and a brighter future.
The magnitude of how many people you can impact will depend on your services, and community counselors can work with non-profit organizations and agencies to reach a wide demographic and the community at large.
2. You Enjoy Listening to People
One of the most significant methods counselors use to help their clients is talk therapy, which requires them to listen a lot.
Counseling requires professionals to be proficient in active listening and able to encourage clients to share more information through a range of techniques.
Proper insight through listening to clients is how counselors implement programs and routines to help clients reach their goals and overcome their difficulties.
3. You enjoy learning about people’s lives
The best counselors often have high Interpersonal intelligence; they want to learn about their clients’ lives in order to make a difference.
As a counselor, you will learn about your client’s personal history, including everything from their childhood to their romantic relationships and family dynamics, to understand how their background may impact their current behaviors.
4. You Can Conduct Research
No two cases are exactly alike, and to ensure your clients receive the best quality of care, you’ll go out of your way to research their particular case.
To help their clients, you need to be committed to a lifetime of learning and research.
5. You Want to Work with People Managing Mental Health Issues
In most cases, counselors will work with clients dealing with mental health conditions. These conditions range from anxiety to depression to bipolar disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
As a counselor, you can incorporate effective strategies and help clients address the underlying causes of their conditions. You will work with clients on steps to minimize their symptoms and maximize function.
6. You Want a Rewarding Career
Counseling can be one of the most rewarding careers because it allows professionals to anticipate and witness their clients achieve milestones, develop positive mindsets, achieve their goals, and potentially change their lives.
As a counselor, you will need to instill professional boundaries; however, because you work so closely with clients, you can develop genuine relationships.
When clients start making progress in meeting their personal and professional goals, you will delight in their successes because you know that your guidance and expertise allowed them to succeed.
7. You Want to Provide a Safe Space for Vulnerable People
Many clients find refuge in their counselor’s office since it provides a safe space.
Many pursue the profession to help disadvantaged or vulnerable people. The work and situations can be incredibly demanding and emotionally charged as you might work with very sick or traumatized clients.
8. You Want to Earn a Good Salary
There’s no shame in admitting that earning a good salary contributes to enjoying a job. While there are many rewarding situations in this profession, the salary is also worthwhile for most.
Your earning potential will depend on different factors, including the area in which you work and your specialization.
For those who know that all of these reasons have resonated with them, taking a Graduate Certificate in Counselling can allow you to expand your foundational skills and help you make a difference in the lives of people, families, and communities around you.
However, should you want to pursue being a full-time counselor, you will need to complete your master’s in counseling.
