Thinking of Becoming a Counsellor? What I Wish I’d Known Before Starting

By Joanne Vogel – Counsellor, Psychotherapist and Clinical Supervisor​

Thinking of becoming a counsellor? Joanne Vogel shares what she wishes she had known before starting counselling training, including placements, supervision, self-doubt, private practice and the emotional journey of becoming a therapist.

There is often a moment when people first begin to wonder whether counselling might be the right path for them.

Sometimes it grows out of a life experience. Perhaps you have supported a friend through a difficult time, worked in a helping profession, or experienced counselling yourself and seen the difference it can make.

You may find yourself thinking:

“I’ve always been the person people talk to.”
“I’d love to do work that feels meaningful.”
 “I wonder if I could become a counsellor?”

If that is you, you are certainly not alone.

Many people begin by searching for how to become a counsellor in the UK, what counselling training involves, or whether they would be suited to working therapeutically with others. The answers are rarely simple, because counselling training is not just an academic route. It is a personal, emotional and professional journey that asks you to develop self-awareness, resilience, ethical understanding and the ability to sit with another person’s experience without rushing to fix it.

I work with trainee and newly qualified counsellors who have started exactly where you may be now: curious, hopeful, excited and often just a little uncertain about what lies ahead.

The truth is that becoming a counsellor can be one of the most rewarding careers imaginable.
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It can also be one of the most challenging.

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My Own Journey

When I decided to train as a counsellor, I do not think I fully appreciated how much the journey would change me personally as well as professionally.

Eventually, I undertook further study at Keele University, completing my Master’s degree alongside clinical practice.

Like many trainees, I juggled study, placements, family life, assignments, supervision and the emotional demands of learning to sit with other people’s pain.

There were moments of self-doubt.

Moments of exhaustion.

Moments where I questioned whether I was capable enough.

But there were also moments when I realised this was not simply about learning techniques.

It was about becoming the kind of practitioner who could sit alongside another human being with compassion, curiosity and professionalism.

I do not think anyone can fully prepare you for how much counselling training asks of you.
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Nor for how much it gives back.

Counselling Is More Than Learning Skills

People often imagine that counselling training is about learning what to say.

In reality, it is much deeper than that.

Training usually involves developing:

• self-awareness
• emotional resilience
• ethical understanding
• reflective practice
• communication skills
• theoretical knowledge
• professional boundaries
• and the ability to tolerate uncertainty

You will almost certainly be encouraged to reflect on your own experiences, relationships and patterns.

You will not be expected to be perfect.

But you will be asked to understand yourself more deeply.
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For many trainees, this becomes one of the most transformative aspects of training.

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Looking After Yourself During Training

One thing I wish more trainees were told early on is that counselling training can stir up your own feelings and life experiences.

That does not mean you are unsuitable.

It means you are human.

Personal therapy, supervision, peer support, rest and good boundaries all matter. You are learning to offer emotional steadiness to others, but you also need places where you can be supported yourself.

Becoming a counsellor is not about becoming invulnerable.
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It is about becoming reflective, ethical and aware of your own limits.

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Understanding the Training Journey

There is not one single route into counselling in the UK.

Many people begin with an introductory counselling skills course before progressing to a professional qualification, such as a diploma or degree-level training route.

BACP guidance on training to become a therapist 

BACP guidance explains that recognised training normally includes an integral supervised placement of at least 100 client hours.

Most recognised training pathways include:
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• counselling skills training
• diploma-level or degree-level professional training
• supervised placement experience
• personal development work
• ethical learning
• reflective practice
• and ongoing supervision

Training providers vary, so it is important to check carefully that any course you are considering meets the requirements of the professional body you may wish to join.

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What Nobody Tells You About Placements

Many trainees describe it as the point where everything suddenly becomes real.

You move from role plays and theory into sitting with actual clients.

It can feel exciting.

And terrifying.

You may worry:

• “What if I say the wrong thing?”
• “What if I don’t know what to do?”
• “What if I freeze?”
• “Am I good enough?”

Almost every trainee I have worked with has experienced some version of these fears.

The reality is this:
You do not need to know everything.

You need to be willing to learn.
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Competence develops gradually through experience, reflection, supervision and practice. Nobody begins placement as the finished article. Placement is where you begin to integrate what you have learned, notice your growing edges and develop confidence one client session at a time.

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The Importance of Supervision
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One of the biggest misconceptions among new counsellors is that supervision exists simply because professional bodies require it.

It does not.

Good supervision becomes one of the most important professional relationships you will have.

Supervision offers a space to:

• think about your client work
• explore ethical dilemmas
• recognise blind spots
• process difficult feelings
• celebrate progress
• build confidence through support and challenge
• and continue growing as a practitioner

BACP supervision guidance to the BACP supervision page.

BACP guidance for trainee counsellors includes a minimum of 1.5 hours of supervision per calendar month, supervision at least every two weeks, and approximately one hour of supervision for every eight client hours worked.

But beyond the requirements, supervision provides something equally valuable:

Reassurance that you do not have to carry this work alone.
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A good supervisor does not expect you to be perfect. They help you think, reflect, learn, stay ethical and develop your own professional judgement.

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The Reality of Private Practice

Many trainees dream of one day having their own private practice.

It is a wonderful goal.

But as I discovered, private practice involves much more than seeing clients.

You may eventually need to think about:

• professional insurance
• GDPR and record keeping
• registering with the ICO
• setting fees
• writing policies
• managing finances and HMRC
• marketing
• websites and directories
• professional memberships
• ongoing CPD
• room rental or online working
• and balancing the practical realities of running a small business

Nobody teaches you all of this overnight.

Most of us learn gradually.

And being honest, often through trial and error.

But also often with support from supervisors, colleagues and others who have walked the path before us.
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It is completely normal to feel confident in the therapeutic work while still feeling uncertain about the business side of private practice. These are different skills, and both take time to develop.

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Imposter Syndrome Is Normal

Perhaps the biggest surprise for many new counsellors is discovering that confidence does not magically arrive once you qualify.

You may still wonder:

“Who am I to do this work?”
 “Am I experienced enough?” 
“What if I get something wrong?”

The counsellors who ask these questions are often the very people who care deeply about practising ethically and competently.

Confidence usually does not appear before experience.

It develops because of experience.

One client at a time.

One difficult session at a time.

One conversation in supervision at a time.
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Self-doubt does not necessarily mean you are not suited to counselling. Sometimes it means you are taking the responsibility seriously.

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Is Counselling Right for You?

Only you can answer that question.

Counselling is not easy.

It asks a great deal of you.

But it also offers extraordinary privilege.

To witness people’s courage.

To sit alongside grief and hope.

To support change.

To see people rebuild their lives.

If you are considering this profession, I would encourage you to explore it with curiosity rather than pressure.

Talk to practising counsellors.

Research training providers.

Attend introductory courses.

Find out what supervision involves.
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Ask yourself not only whether you want to help people, but whether you are willing to keep learning about yourself, your limits and your responsibilities as a practitioner.

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A Final Thought

When I first started training, I could not have imagined where the journey would eventually lead.

I certainly could not have predicted the clients I would meet, the lessons I would learn, or the supervisees I would later support as they developed into confident practitioners themselves.

What I do know is this:
Nobody becomes the finished article overnight.

We grow through reflection, experience, support and supervision.

If you are thinking about taking that first step into counselling, or you are already on the journey and looking for support, you do not have to navigate it alone.

Whether you are a trainee counsellor finding your feet, newly qualified and building confidence, or beginning to think about private practice, the right supervision can provide a space to think, reflect and grow.

Becoming a counsellor is not simply about gaining a qualification.
It is about gradually becoming the kind of practitioner your clients can safely trust.

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Find Out More About Supervision

If you would like to find out more about trainee and qualified counsellor supervision, you can explore the information available on my website:

Trainee Counsellor Supervision → link to Joanne’s trainee supervision page

Clinical Supervision for Counsellors → link to Joanne’s main clinical supervision page

Online Clinical Supervision → link to Joanne’s online supervision page

Person-Centred Supervision → link to Joanne’s person-centred supervision page
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Supervision for Private Practice Counsellors → link to Joanne’s private practice supervision page

I am also always willing to help out and advise new Counsellors or those willing to explore this in further detail, please feel free to get in contact with me. Jo Vogel