Counsellor

Overview 

Counselors are those who assist others in resolving personal and interpersonal problems. They assist people in exploring their feelings about various occurrences by talking it out with them in a private atmosphere. Their goal is to equip their clients with the tools they need to tackle challenges, solve problems, and create positive changes in their lives. Counselors must be patient, sympathetic, nonjudgmental, and accepting of individual variations in order to help this process.

- Career Scope As a Counsellor

• School Counselor

School counsellors work with kids of all ages in schools to assist them with issues such as academic accomplishment, career selection, personal, social, and career development, college readiness, and so on.

• Career Counselor

Professional counsellors assist people in making career decisions and developing their skills, taking into account aspects such as interest, personality, and aptitude. They usually concentrate on topics like job exploration, career change, personal career growth, and other career-related concerns.

• Psychological Counselor

Psychological counsellors are experts that assist people in gaining control over their emotions and feelings. These experts specialise in treating people with a wide range of emotional, behavioural, and social issues that affect daily life and adjustment.

• Marriage and Family Counselor

Marriage and family counsellors are qualified therapists who assist people in resolving and dealing with family and marital issues. They deal with couples and families to handle relationship issues such as domestic abuse, jealousy, and adultery, as well as family concerns such as child misbehaviour, parent-child relationships, temper outbursts, and so on.

• Child/Adolescent Counselor

Counselors for children and adolescents with behavioural, emotional, and social challenges give assistance and counselling. They also work with children who have developmental, anxiety, personality, sleep, or eating disorders, among other issues.

• Forensic Counselor

Forensic Counselors are trained to deal with delicate situations such as rape, child abuse, violence, and other illegal activities. They also advise criminals on how to normalise and socialise their actions.

• Substance Abuse Counselor

Subtance abuse counselors help people overcome their dependencies on substances such as alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. Such professionals help people deal with the mental, social and emotional effects of subtances, and make systemic changes to overcome these habits.

 

- How to Opt for a Career as a Counsellor

Path	Stream	Graduation	After Graduation	After Post Graduation
1	Clear 12th standard in any stream with/without Psychology	Pursue B. A.(H) Psychology/Applied Psychology or for 3 years	Pursue Masters in Psychology/Applied Psychology/Counselling Psychology for 2 years	Pursue PG Diploma in Counseling and Guidance
2	Clear 12th standard in Any Stream with/without Psychology	Pursue B. A.(H) Psychology/Applied Psychology or for 3 years	Pursue Masters in Psychology/Applied Psychology/Counselling Psychology for 2 years	Pursue Ph.D for 2-3 years in the same discipline
3	Clear 12th standard in Any Stream with/without Psychology	Pursue B. A.(H) Psychology/Applied Psychology or for 3 years	Pursue PG Diploma in Counseling and Guidance	-

 

- Quick Facts 

• Most colleges have eligibility criteria of minimum 50% aggregate marks in Class XII / and some of minimum 60%. Some colleges/ universities also have an age limit

 

- Top College in India to Become a Counsellor

College	Location
Lady Shri Ram College for Women, University of Delhi	Delhi
Jesus & Mary College, University of Delhi	Delhi
Gargi College, University of Delhi	Delhi
Indraprastha College for Women, University of Delhi	Delhi
Tata Institute of Social Sciences	Mumbai and Other Locations
Christ University	Bengaluru
Ashoka University	Sonepat
Fergusson College	Pune
Ambedkar University	New Delhi
Punjab University	Chandigarh
Jamia Millia Islamia	New Delhi
University of Mumbai	Mumbai
Banaras Hindu University	Varanasi
Aligarh Muslim University	Aligarh
Indian Institute of Counselling	New Delhi
National Council of Educational Research and Training	Delhi,Mysore, Shillong
Rajiv Gandhi National Institute Of Youth Development	Tamil Nadu
IGNOU	New Delhi
Gautam Buddha University	Utter Pradesh
National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development	New Delhi

 

- Top College in The World to Become a Counsellor

College	Location
Harvard University	United States
University of Cambridge	United Kingdom
Stanford University	United States
University of Oxford	United Kingdom
University of California, Los Angeles	United States
Yale University	United States
University of California, Berkeley	United States
University College London	United Kingdom
University of Amsterdam	Netherlands
The University of Melbourne	Australia
The University of New South Wales	Australia
University of Toronto	Canada
University of British Columbia	Canada
The University of Hong Kong	Hong Kong
National University of Singapore	Singapore

- Important Entrance Exams

• Postgraduate

College	Tentative Date	Important Elements
DU B.Ed	Forms- April to May Entrance- June	Written Interview   General Awarness and Teaching Aptitude Reasoning Depth in Subject knowledge upto class 10th Language Proficiency (Hindi, English)
Lady Irwin College	Forms- April to May Entrance- June	General Awarness, mental and teaching aptitude and ability English Comprehension Home Science
Banaras Hindu University- Faculty of Education	Forms - Feb to March Entrance- April	Teaching Aptitute Reasoning Current education scenario
St. Xavier s College of education	Forms- April Entrance –May	Written test followed by Interview and GD
Mumbai University- CET	Forms- May Entrance- June	Written test-Objective   General Mental Ability General Knowledge General English Broad aspects of general education and special education
Jamia Milia Islamia	Forms- April Entrance – May	Written test InterviewGeneral ability test Language profiency test Subject comprehension test
Panjab Univeristy	Forms- July Last Date: July Entrance End of JulyForms- July Entrance – July	WrittenIntelligence and Reasoning test General Awarness test English Language Competency and comprehension test Education/ aptitude for teaching test
GGSIPU- CET	Forms- March to April Entrance – May	General Comprehension, Mental Ability, Reasoning, General Awareness, Aptitude of Teaching

 

- Job Description

• Establish a trusting and respectful relationship with clients.
• Encourage customers to discuss concerns they are afraid to discuss with others.
• Actively listen to the worries of your clients and empathize with their situations.
• Accept the issues expressed by clients without prejudice.
• Assist customers in gaining a better knowledge of their issues.
• Help clients make judgments and choices about possible paths forward by challenging any discrepancies in what they say or do.
• As needed, refer customers to alternative sources of assistance.
• Participate in monitoring and training sessions
• Participate in individual counseling (mandatory for accreditation)

- Pros & Cons of a Career as a Counsellor

Pros - 

• Counselors have the opportunity to make a positive effect on people's lives.
• Counselors get to meet and support different clients every week, so there are constant variations.
• Counselors who have a few years of expertise can create their own practice, which provides prospects for self-employment.
• Working in NGOs, clinics, government, and private counseling centers, and other settings are all options.

Cons - 

• It is possible that the work will tire you emotionally.
• Counselors must read on a regular basis to stay current on new research and psychotherapy practices.
• Counselors need to constantly update their skills and knowledge through seminars and workshops etc.
• The initial salary is not very high.