Career as a Counsellor

With increase in complications at several turns of your life, you may often feel confused and low. Whether you worry about career planning, walk out off a relation or face social, emotional, academic, familial and economic crisis, you need support at various stages of your life. Here in rises the need for a counselor who can help you to face the challenges at different stages of your life. Counselors ensure healthy development of a person by offering support, evaluation, therapeutic aid or consultation. They can also be involved in teaching and research. It is needless to say that there is a growing demand for a patient and compassionate listener who can help sufferers including children neglected by their parents, aged people thrown out of their family, married couples lacking compatibility, victims of domestic violence and many others to overcome their crises and live a better life through counselling.

Careers

Ø  School Counselor

Ø  Career Counselor

Ø  Psychological Counselor

Ø  Marriage and Family Counselor

Ø  Child/Adolescent Counselor

Ø  Forensic Counselor

Ø  Substance Abuse Counselor

Ø  Rehabilitation Counselors

Eligibility

Ø  For a career in counselling, after 10+2 one can do their graduation in subjects like psychology, social work etc and can go for post graduation in counselling, Life skill education or psychology from an accredited educational institution.

Ø  Candidates who have Masters degree in any area are eligible to apply for Diploma Course in Counselling, but some institutes prefer students with psychology background. The duration of the course varies from 1- 2 years.

Ø  Those having a graduation in Psychology can opt for PG Diploma Courses. Besides regular studies, most courses in counselling and guidance are also offered as part time as well as correspondence.

Courses

Certificates

Ø  Certificate Course in Counselling

Ø  Diploma in Educational Counselling Diploma in Educational Counselling

Ø  Post Graduate Course in Guidance and Counselling

Ø  Post Graduate Course in Guidance and Counselling

Ø  Post Graduate Diploma in Counselling Psychology

Ø  Post Graduate Diploma in Psychological Counselling

Ø  Post Graduate Diploma in Psychological Counselling

Masters

Ø  M.A. Counselling Psychology

Ø  M.Ed. Guidance and Counselling

Ø  M.Phil. Guidance and Counselling

Ø  M.Phil. Guidance and Counselling

Ø  M.Sc. Counselling and Psychotherapy

Ø  M.Sc. Psychological Counselling

Admission Criteria

Admission is through merit / entrance test.

Though formal training is not essential, individuals who are interested in taking up counselling as a career would do well to specialise. Most counselors have a background in psychology as this provides an insight into human behaviour which helps them to understand better the problems of their clients.

Candidates who have Master’s in any area are eligible to apply for a diploma in counselling, some prefer students with psychology background. Some institutes offer a diploma for which graduates are eligible. The duration of the course varies between one to two years It is also possible to enter this field directly after postgraduate study in psychology, available at most colleges and universities.

Some Institutes/Colleges/Universities

Ø  Lady Shri Ram College for Women, Delhi

Ø  Jesus & Mary College, Delhi

Ø  Gargi College, Delhi

Ø  Indraprastha College for Women, Delhi

Ø  Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai

Ø  Christ University, Bengaluru               

Ø  Ashoka University, Sonepat               

Ø  Fergusson College, Pune     

Ø  Ambedkar University, New Delhi     

Ø  Punjab University, Chandigarh          

Ø  Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi          

Ø  University of Mumbai, Mumbai

Ø  Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 

Ø  Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh   

Ø  Indian Institute of Counselling, New Delhi   

Ø  National Council of Educational Research and Training, Delhi, Mysore, Shillong           

Ø  Rajiv Gandhi National Institute Of Youth Development, Tamil Nadu

Ø  IGNOU, New Delhi

Ø  Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida, Utter Pradesh

Ø  National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development, New Delhi

Ø  Indian Institute of Counselling

Cost of the Course

The average tuition fee ranges from ₹ 15,000 INR to ₹ 1,00,000 depending upon the type of institution.

Careers Prospects

The present day scenario of breakdown of the family structure from joint family to nuclear family, the society changing from agrarian to industrialized society, attitude of people changing from collective to individualistic, the issues and problems of people has taken a new shape.  Keeping this in mind, it is thus important to look at counselling as a profession where the counselor is equipped with the necessary knowledge and expertise in counselling skills so as to manage the issues and concerns of today’s world effectively. 

The scope is increasing at a steady pace, especially in metro cities counselling is huge at the moment, so it really depends on where you are and which field you plan to work in.

Employment Sector

Ø  Clinics

Ø  Welfare Departments

Ø  Non-governmental Organisations

Ø  Social Welfare Organisations

Ø  Schools

Income

Remuneration of a counselor varies according to the area of work they have opted. At the initial stage of their career, one can earn ₹ 20,000 - ₹ 25,000 per month. They can charge students and clients anything between ₹ 500 to ₹ 2,000 for a career counselling session with them. Top career counselors can earn thousands of rupees each month offering career counselling services for just few hours a day, few days a week. They can charge per sitting according to their choice and can earn more than ₹ 70,000 per month.