Hi Cee! I'm a future therapist/counsellor (maybe) and I'm looking for any advice or recommendations about next steps. Essentially, I've just fished my counselling skills course, and I loved it, but I think I would like to explore different avenues and improve some skills (communication skills) before committing to the diploma program. I am aware that there are shorter (not properly accredited) courses available, and volunteering over the phone with companies like Samaritans. There's also the option of working towards getting a degree, or trying to get a mental health related job? I'm just looking for any ideas that would help improve my counselling skills, and just general mental health knowledge. If you have any recommendations based on your own experiences, I would greatly appreciate your help. I understand that ultimately, the decision rests with me, but I'll value any suggestions you have. Thanks👍
Hey Kieran! Congratulations on completing your course 👏🏾. I think you could volunteer with a helpline like the Samaritans etc to help you improve on your counselling & communication skills for sure. If you want mental health experience, working in a mental health hospital might be helpful as a HCA but from experience, you won’t get to practice counselling skills much, but you could get to work on your communication with patients. But either way, as you progress through the counselling courses, your communication and counselling skills will also improve naturally even if you don’t do the volunteering or anything else. If you choose to do a masters, such experience will come in handy and increase your chances of being accepted onto the course however.
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Hi Cee! I'm a future therapist/counsellor (maybe) and I'm looking for any advice or recommendations about next steps. Essentially, I've just fished my counselling skills course, and I loved it, but I think I would like to explore different avenues and improve some skills (communication skills) before committing to the diploma program.
I am aware that there are shorter (not properly accredited) courses available, and volunteering over the phone with companies like Samaritans. There's also the option of working towards getting a degree, or trying to get a mental health related job?
I'm just looking for any ideas that would help improve my counselling skills, and just general mental health knowledge.
If you have any recommendations based on your own experiences, I would greatly appreciate your help. I understand that ultimately, the decision rests with me, but I'll value any suggestions you have. Thanks👍
Hey Kieran! Congratulations on completing your course 👏🏾. I think you could volunteer with a helpline like the Samaritans etc to help you improve on your counselling & communication skills for sure. If you want mental health experience, working in a mental health hospital might be helpful as a HCA but from experience, you won’t get to practice counselling skills much, but you could get to work on your communication with patients. But either way, as you progress through the counselling courses, your communication and counselling skills will also improve naturally even if you don’t do the volunteering or anything else. If you choose to do a masters, such experience will come in handy and increase your chances of being accepted onto the course however.
@@ceethecounsellor Thanks Cee 👍
@kieranwhite4856 you’re very welcome