5 careers that could benefit from counselling skills

Two teachers learning counselling skills

We’re all trying to get ahead in our careers but you’ve probably never thought that a qualification in counselling could be the answer.

If you work with people (and who doesn’t?) you most likely already employ several useful tactics and skills to mediate, manage and negotiate in the workplace. By undertaking a diploma or degree in counselling, you can dramatically improve your level of confidence and increase the effectiveness of your current skills.

What careers can benefit from counselling skills?

Here’s a few professions where managing other people to a high level can make all the difference that is outside of a counselling career.

Human Resources

HR is vital to the success of a business. Their ability to understand the type of person needed for a position, the wider needs of staff and the business, and the ability to assess, mediate and negotiate all make a HR professional worth their weight in gold. Counselling skills provide advanced insight into the needs, desires, fears and pressures of different kinds of people, as well as how to effectively empathise in different situations.

Nursing/Healthcare

Most people can only imagine the types of emotional distress nurses and other patient facing healthcare professionals see in their working life. Patients who suffer from mental health illnesses, patients who are disoriented, scared, confused or angry; families who are distraught; managing doctors and administration tasks.

A counselling course will teach you different communication techniques and the situations to use them in to improve your communication in the workplace. Plus you will learn coping mechanisms that you can employ for yourself to help you deal with situations and experiences you encounter.

Teachers

The ability to engage and teach one student, let alone a classroom of students, is not an easy task. Students of all ages study for different reasons and learn in different ways, and to be the best you can be in your teaching role, learning how to relate and communicate with a large group of people is paramount.

By expanding your existing skillset as a teacher to include dedicated counselling skills, you will be able to understand and empathise with a greater number of different personalities. You will be able to earn their trust, get under their skin (in a good way) to find out how to optimise your teaching style.

Teachers who can effectively connect with and motivate their students are priceless. Your ability to communicate and empathise with students will give you an edge in the classroom and could see your career expand into broader school matters or new teaching opportunities.

Team Leader or Manager

Whatever industry you’re in there are two main reasons counselling skills can help a leader of teams - and they are connected to your future success.

  1. You have a team under your leadership working together to reach a common goal . When your team is not happy, focused or engaged, it becomes your responsibility as a leader to provide guidance, direction and when required, to rally the troops. You might need to resolve a conflict between two team members; a team member might need coaching on time management; or perhaps is having a family/personal crisis they need support with. Having an understanding of communication methods for different situations will ensure you have the skills and competencies to coach and mentor your team to get the best from them.
  2. Counselling can be a valuable qualification for your resume/CV. Whether it is related to your primary expertise or not, it proves your dedication to your career and an understanding of core managerial competencies. Also, when they hear that your team is happy and productive, and that you are an empathetic, fair and responsible team leader (thanks to your counselling skills), you’ll be best placed to rise quickly through the ranks as a person who can coach and lead a team to success.

Sports Coaching

A sports coach at any level ;will provide leadership and guidance to their players. The psychology of sport, competition and winning is complex and can see players reach incredible heights in their athleticism and drive to win. As players develop and excel, they will look to their coach for guidance both on and off the court.

If they are struggling to improve you need to have the empathy, patience and communication skills to successfully help them. If they are talented on the court, but troubled in their private life, you will need to help them maintain focus in their athletic performance, but also help them manage their personal issues.

A course in counselling could make the difference to your players’ game and to your win column.

Check our Counselling and Community Services Courses to learn more
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