counselling as a career

Are you considering counselling as a career? If so, you might like to explore the many different areas of counselling, from relationship counselling to career counselling, to find the right direction for you.

Many counsellors gain skills in various counselling areas, while others find their niche and become experts in that field. The following are ten of the most common areas of specialisation in counselling – let us know if we can help you explore any of these in more depth before enrolling in further study.

1. Crisis Counselling

Crisis counselling is often a short-term form of therapy that helps people to overcome the aftermath of a crisis. The focus is on helping people to confront stressful situations, treat their immediate needs and assist them in developing coping skills.

Crisis counsellors work in many healthcare settings and as phone support with hotlines. A crisis counsellor should be resilient, empathetic, collaborative, and self-aware. If you’d like to explore crisis counselling as a career option, our Certificate of Crisis Counselling is an ideal place to start.

2. Relationship Counselling

Relationship counselling involves working with couples to explore relationship difficulties and find clarity and mutually agreeable solutions. Helping people understand their issues and change their perspective to resolve conflicts is at the heart of what relationships counsellors do.

Relationship counsellors work in private practice and other healthcare settings. Relationship counselling as a career requires a high level of interpersonal skills, tolerance, compassion, ethics and patience. If you’d like to build a career in relationship counselling, consider an introductory course like our Certificate of Relationship and Communication Counselling.

3. Grief & Loss Counselling

Greif & Loss Counselling (also known as bereavement counselling) involves helping bereaved individuals, families, young people and children to work through the stages of grief and loss in healthy ways. Grief counsellors provide a safe space for clients to talk about their lost loved one and can help them maintain a connection with that person.

Grief and loss counsellors work in private practice, hospitals and other community and healthcare settings. If you feel you’re right for a counselling career in grief and loss, consider our Certificate of Grief & Loss Counselling to explore your aptitude further.

4. Child & Adolescent Counselling

Child and adolescent counsellors help young people facing challenges develop coping strategies. They liaise with parents, carers, teachers and other care providers to improve a child’s happiness and emotional well-being.

Child & adolescent counsellors can work in private practice or as a team in other healthcare and community settings. If you’d like to explore a counselling career working with young people, our Certificate of Counselling Children is an ideal place to start.

5. Aged Care Counselling

As our aging population grows, older Australians need counselling services that are unique to them. A counselling career specialising in aged care will help you better understand more senior people and provide for their needs.

Aged care counsellors work in the community and retirement, aged care residential, and hospital settings. Explore the aged care counselling specialisation with our Certificate of Aged Care Counselling.

6. Trauma Counselling

Trauma has a profound impact on an individual’s wellbeing and functioning. Trauma counselling is a specialist field that focuses on helping those who have suffered trauma.

These type of counsellors work in various settings, from hospitals to community centres and private practice. If you’d like to learn more about trauma counselling, take a look at our Certificate of Trauma Counselling.

7. Addiction Counselling

Helping people with alcohol or drug dependency requires specialist knowledge in addiction support.

Addiction counsellors work across community settings, hospitals and private practice. If you’d like to give your counselling career the edge, enrol in our Certificate of Counselling/Certificate of Alcohol and Other Drugs dual program.

8. Career Counselling

Career counsellors provide guidance on choosing study and work options to those looking for direction. If you aspire you help people navigate educational endeavours and career opportunities, career counselling as a career is an excellent choice for you.

Career counsellors (or guidance counsellors) work in universities, schools, colleges, and private practice. If you’re interested in this counselling career, explore our Certificate of Career Counselling.

9. Family Therapy

Family therapy is a type of counselling that focuses on helping families to navigate difficulties. It’s a therapy that incorporates coping mechanisms that promote recovery of relationships.

Family therapists work primarily in private practice. If you’re interested in developing insights into a range of techniques in family therapy, take a look at our Certificate of Family Therapy.

10. Youth Work

Are you passionate about working with young people in need? A counselling career in youth work and justice might be your calling. Youth workers make a real difference in the lives of young people. They organise activities and delivering interventions and critical counselling services.

Youth workers work in community centres, schools, youth refuges or private organisations, such as Scouts or Guides. If you’d like to explore youth work, take a look at our Certificate of Youth Work.

Is a counselling career for you? If you’re still unsure about what course to choose, talk to one of our Course Counsellors via phone, Live Chat or email today to gain clarity. We can’t wait to help you find your new direction!