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Job Scope
Counsellors help people with problems, needs and difficulties. They provide individual, couple, family and group counselling through listening and developing awareness. They are skilled in structuring and guiding counselling intervention. They provide a positive, neutral space for discussions between clients without getting emotionally involved with the individuals or personally affected by the process.
Counsellors are found in many settings, including hospitals, schools, family service centres, rehabilitation services and agency administration.
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Personal Qualities
Counsellors believe in the dignity of the human person and the uniqueness of the individual. They respect confidentiality and privacy. Counsellors are people with good listening and interpersonal skills. They place responsibility on each person to decide and initiate change and are sensitive towards their clients’ feelings. They also have a high degree of self-awareness.
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Minimum Requirements (As recommended by the Singapore Association for Counselling guidelines)
For University Graduates:
Prospective Counsellors are required to have completed post-graduate courses in counselling theory with 100 hours of supervised practical experience. This should be accompanied with at least one year of counselling experience. Graduates who are unable to attain the course requirements may qualify in the Non-Graduate Category
For Non-Graduates:
Applicants must complete a minimum of 300 hours of recognised counselling theory and skills practice. This should be accompanied with at least two years of counselling experience.
A list of counselling courses endorsed by the Singapore Association for Counselling (SAC) can be found in www.sac-counsel.org.sg
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Salary Range
The starting salary is about $2,000 to $2,400 for a graduate.
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Professional Development Opportunities
There are many continuing education courses and seminars for counsellors. Counsellors can specialize in various branches of therapy such as solution-focused therapy, cognitive-behavioural therapy, child counselling, educational counselling, school psychology, addiction counselling, art therapy, marriage & family therapy and others. These areas of specialisation serve as platforms for professional development. With an advanced degree, counsellors may even set up private practices to provide specialist treatment in areas where “service gaps” exist and/or function as head of an agency and perform executive roles.
For more information on Counsellors, log on to www.sac-counsel.org.sg
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Training Pathway
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