The process of talking about and working through one's personal issues with a therapist is called Counseling. A Counselor is a skilled, unbiased expert who establishes a relationship of healing and trust with their clients. They are qualified to provide a variety of services, most typically verbal or dialogue-based forms of therapy. At times, a Counselor may collaborate with a physician or other medical specialists to provide comprehensive and integrated therapy. People frequently seek Counseling for various issues such as personal loss, work and career issues, addiction and abuse, parenting, career transition, trauma, and many more. There are various types of Counselors based on their area of specialization and the work that they do, which are discussed in the sections below.
Read More: How to Become a Psychologist
In order to make a career as a Counselor, aspiring candidates must pursue their graduation in relevant Psychology Courses such as BA Psychology, BSc Psychology, or MSc Psychology from any of the Top Psychology Colleges in India. Admissions to any of the top Psychology colleges are done both on the basis of merit and entrance exams such as GATE, CUET, and GPAT. Apart from qualifying for the aforementioned degrees, candidates aspiring to make their career as a Counselor should also get their Certificates and Licence as per their professional segregations. The average Psychology course fees range from INR 5,000 - 50,000.
The average salary of a Counselor usually ranges between INR 2.55 LPA - 4 LPA. However, a crucial determining factor of a Counselor is their specialization or area of practice. The average salary of a career Counselor is INR 2.47 LPA on the other hand the salary of a marriage Counselor is INR 9.49 LPA. Factors such as qualification, location, and experience also play an important role in determining the salary of a Counselor. Read More: Salary of a Psychologist
Table of Content
4.1 How to Become a Counselor After 12th
6.1 India
6.2 Abroad
8.1 Advantages
8.2 Disadvantages
Career as a Counselor: Quick Facts
| Eligibility | Candidates must clear 12 boards in the science stream They must pursue their graduation and post-graduation in Psychology Courses such as BSc Psychology and MSc Psychology |
| Employment Opportunities | Counselor, Psychologists and Mentors |
| Starting Salary | INR 3.47 LPA |
| Average Salary | INR 5.11 LPA |
| Highest Salary | INR 13.11 LPA |
Counselor Qualifications
Every profession requires a certain amount of pre-obtained knowledge that eventually helps candidates get a better understanding of the subject and thereby create a rock-solid foundation in the same. In order to pursue a career as a Counselor, candidates must pursue relevant degrees as discussed below.
- They must complete their class 12 board exams from a recognized board with a minimum aggregate score of 60% or above preferably Science as they study stream.
- They must then complete their graduation and post-graduation in relevant Psychology Courses such as BA Psychology, BSc Psychology, or MSc Psychology.
- Admissions to undergraduate Psychology courses are usually done on the basis of merit but admissions to postgraduate programs are done on the basis of entrance exams such as IPU CET, SUAT and NEET.
- Candidates, who want to conduct research in the subject can choose to pursue PhD in Psychology, for which they need to first qualify for their postgraduate degrees followed by clearing various entrance exams such as GATE, and GPAT.
Types of Counselors
As already mentioned above, there are various types of Counselors based on their specialization and area of work. Some of the most pursued career bifurcations amongst Counselors are Career Counselors, Marriage Counselors, and Substance Abuse Counselors.
The sections below will discuss the various types and their average salaries for your reference.
Guidance Counselors
| Description | A guidance Counselor is someone who provides professional advice on matters related to a career. They are typically associated with the guiding process for students across schools and colleges. |
| Average Salary | INR 3.99 LPA |
Mental Health Counselors
| Description | Mental health Counselors are responsible for looking after patients who are going through some stressful situations in life and are having trouble dealing with their emotions like anger, fear, and anxiety |
| Average Salary | INR 3.58 LPA |
Adoption Counselors
| Description | An adoption Counselor is a professional who facilitates adoption for people and provides Counseling and advice for children, looks for parents seeking adoption, etc. |
| Average Salary | INR 3.67 LPA |
Trauma Counselors
| Description | Trauma Counselors are professionals who help people get over some trauma they faced in life like accidents, suicide attempts, rape, and abuse. |
| Average Salary | INR 5.00 LPA |
Marriage Counselors
| Description | Marriage Counselors are professionals who guide married people when they face any troubles in their marriage and try to help them overcome those troubles. |
| Average Salary | INR 5.50 LPA |
Rehabilitation Counselors
| Description | Rehabilitation Counselors are responsible for looking after patients dealing with drugs, substance abuse, alcoholism, etc., and helping them get over it. |
| Average Salary | INR 3.61 LPA |
Admission Counselors
| Description | Admission Counselors are responsible for guiding parents about school admissions and college admissions of students that would benefit them the most according to their preferences and choices. |
| Average Salary | INR 4.50 LPA |
How to Become a Counselor in India
To pursue a career as a Counselor in India, candidates are required to start their preparations right from school. After completing class 12th in any discipline, candidates can opt to pursue various undergraduate degrees in Psychology such as Counseling Psychology, Clinical Psychology, etc. Candidates can pursue courses such as BA in Psychology or B.Sc in Psychology from top Psychology colleges across the country. In addition to this, candidates will also be required to complete various certification or diploma courses followed by post graduation degree. Candidates can also pursue a doctorate degree in advanced psychology.
School Level Preparation: In order to be a Counselor the steps that are to be followed are mentioned below,
- Candidates must have completed class 12th with a minimum aggregate of 50% or above from a recognized university
- Candidates must choose to pursue specialization such as clinical psychology, marriage Counseling, mental health Counseling, rehabilitation Counseling, etc
- Candidates must start preparing for entrance exams to get admission to top colleges nationwide. The candidates can appear in the following entrance exams such as NEET, UPSEE and IPU CET.
How to Become a Counselor After 12th
Undergraduate Preparations: Some of the crucial steps that are to be followed to become a Counselor after completing Class 12th board exams are mentioned below for your reference,
- Candidates aspiring to become a Counselor must prepare for clearing the entrance exam in order to get admission to top colleges in India.
- Candidates must choose to pursue an undergraduate degree in any of the psychology courses such as a BA in Psychology or B.Sc in Psychology or BA (Hons) in Psychology etc.
- Candidates must also pursue advanced courses such as certification or diploma courses in psychology according to their specialization.
- An undergraduate program in psychology will help the candidates to focus on developing an understanding of different subjects such as Psychology, behavioural patterns, etc.
Post-Graduation Preparation: The key steps to be followed to become a Counselor after completing Undergraduate courses are,
- Post-completion of a bachelor’s degree, candidates must start preparing for entrance exams to pursue a master’s degree.
- Candidates can pursue a master’s in psychology such as MA in psychology, MSc in Psychology, etc.
- They can choose their specialization according to their interests.
- They can also opt to pursue a doctorate degree in their relevant specialization to gain advanced knowledge and degree.
Psychology Courses
Some of the top psychology courses are tabulated below with all the relevant information to help the candidates choose their desired course. Apart from this, several other courses such as certification or diploma Psychology courses can be pursued to gain relevant skills and certifications.
| Parameters | Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology | BSc in Psychology | Master of Arts (MA) in Psychology |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration | 3 years | 3 years | 2 years |
| Eligibility | Candidate must have completed 10+2 examinations with English as a compulsory subject from a recognized institute with a minimum aggregate of 50% or above | Candidates must have completed 10+2 examination with English as a compulsory subject from a recognized institute with a minimum aggregate of 50% or above Candidates must have completed class 12th in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics |
Candidates must have completed graduation in any discipline from a recognized university Minimum aggregate of 55% or above in graduation |
| Top Colleges | Banaras Hindu University Delhi University Jawaharlal Nehru University Osmania University |
Delhi University Banaras Hindu University Aligarh Muslim University |
Banaras Hindu University Delhi University Christ University Jawaharlal Nehru University |
| Entrance Exams | CUET JNUEE |
CUET JNUEE |
CUET UPSEE |
| Average course fees | INR 4000- 50,000 | INR 5600 - 70,000 | INR 3500 - 60,000 |
| Average Salary | INR 2.96 LPA – 3.20 LPA | INR 4.12 LPA - 6.20 LPA | INR 4.68 LPA - 7 LPA |
Best Psychology Colleges
There are more than 1116 psychology colleges in India out of which 366 are private, 285 are deemed colleges and the rest are government colleges.
Apart from this, there are several colleges abroad that offer psychology courses and have become the top choice of candidates to pursue psychology courses.
India
| Name of the Colleges | Location | Average Course Fees (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Lady Shri Ram College for Women | Delhi | 17,890 |
| St. Xavier’s College | Mumbai | 6,537 |
| Parul University | Vadodara | 20,000 |
| Christ University | Bangalore | 50,000 |
| Presidency College | Chennai | 1,250 |
| Fergusson College | Pune | 9,355 |
| Jesus and Mary College | Delhi | 15,610 |
| Jai Hind College | Mumbai | 5,730 |
| Gargi College | Delhi | 13,195 |
| Kamla Nehru College for Women | Kapurthala, Punjab | 12,530 |
Abroad
| Name of the Colleges | Location | Average Annual Fees (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| University of Oxford | UK | 9,35,000 |
| University of Sussex | UK | 7,10,000 |
| Cardiff University | UK | 12,22,000 |
| Stanford University | USA | 9,50,000 |
| Yale University | USA | 17,94,000 |
| Princeton University | USA | 8,19,000 |
| University of New South Wales | Australia | 5,40,000 |
| The University of Queensland | Australia | 5,70,000 |
| McGill University | Canada | 19,02,000 |
| University of Toronto | Canada | 13,87,000 |
Skills Required to Pursue a Career as a Counselor
Some of the essential skill sets that are required for becoming a successful Counselor are tabulated below for your reference.
| Communication Skills | Interpersonal Skills | Understanding of Ethics |
| Patience | Compassion | Emotional Stability |
| Knowledge of Laws and Regulations | Open-mindedness | Trustworthiness |
| Research Skills | Problem-Solving Skills | Observational Skills |
Advantages and Disadvantages of a Career as a Counselor
The job of a Counselor is very promising since it offers many job opportunities and a very stable career. The salary is also very lucrative in this profession. Therefore, the job of a Counselor is reliable. However, there are some benefits to the job as well. They have been mentioned below:
Advantages
Some of the advantages of being a Counselor are as follows:
- Job satisfaction- Being a Counselor is not only demanded in hospitals or private clinics but also in schools for career Counseling or child counselinglping them realize that the problems they face are normal when they are in a position of absolute self-doubt. This gives a lot of satisfaction to a person.
- Interaction with different people- The job of a Counselor gives people the opportunity to interact with different types of people facing different situations and circumstances which in itself is an experience. This offers an opportunity for personal growth.
- Financial security- This profession offers financial security since people Counselors who set up their own practice set their own rates. This in turn helps them earn a lot of income.
- Flexibility- Counselors who have their own private practice can set their own hours and work schedule and keep it flexible therefore maintaining a work-life balance.
- Multiple job opportunities- The life people live nowadays often leaves them with certain serious or non-serious psychological issues and stress. Therefore the demand for Counselors has increased manifold. They not only are demanded in hospitals or private clinics but also in schools for career Counseling or child Counseling.
Disadvantages
Some of the disadvantages of being a Counselor are:
- Can be overwhelming at times- The job of a Counselor can be overwhelming at times since they often listen to the issues of other people. This can be too much to take in sometimes.
- Irregular hours- There are times when the clients might cancel sessions at the last moment with little notice. Therefore, the Counselor might have to make some readjustments to that.
- Self-employment problems- Counselors who set up their own practice might face the problem of a lack of clients due to insufficient experience. It might take time for some to establish. Therefore it can lead to many financial problems like renting the available space, paying the hired staff, etc.
- Difficult patients- There might be some patients the Counselor encounters who might be difficult to deal with. They can get fussy and sensitive with issues which makes it difficult to open up.
- Financial liability- The practice of a Counselor until established can prove to be a liability since the Counselor has to pay for the rent of the available space, and the salary of the hired staff.
Counselor Job
Counselors are in charge of helping their clients resolve their emotional and personal problems. People who choose to work as Counselors offer their clients a secure and private setting where they can learn to work through their difficulties and build their own problem-solving techniques. The role of a Counselor is to help clients deal with issues that are easier to resolve with short-term therapy on a conscious level.
Listed below are some of the essential duties that are performed by a Counselor on a regular basis.
- Working on Betterment of Mental Health: Counselors working with people, groups, families, and communities to promote mental health is part of their job. They urge their clients to express their thoughts and sentiments. People who choose to pursue careers as Counselors also deal with problems such as stress, bullying, relationships, abuse, despair, and anger. If necessary, they will occasionally recommend the clients to psychiatrists.
- Address the Main Issue: Counselors encourage their clients to discuss their feelings and emotions in detail. Counselors look at issues like abuse, aging, bullying, anger control, careers, depression, relationships, self-image, LGBTQ concerns, stress, and suicide. They also deal with those whose lives are plagued by conflicts or difficult decisions. They provided goals-related instructions to their clientele.
Tabulated below are the various jobs of different types of Counselors based on their work area of work for your reference.
| Job Profiles | Job Description |
| Career Counselor | A career Counselor or a career coach guides candidates as they choose their career path. Professionals may refer to themselves as either of these categories and explain their services in very precise ways, despite the fact that both terms are frequently used interchangeably |
| Marriage Counselor | Marriage counseling is a type of psychotherapy that helps couples work out their differences and strengthens their bond. Marriage Counselors help couples decide whether to mend their relationship or go their separate ways |
| Mental Health Counselor | A mental health Counselor evaluates and treats conditions affecting the mind and emotions, as well as problems in relationships and obstacles in life. Mental Health Counselors work with patients to create significant behavioral changes using a variety of therapeutic techniques. They also provide coping mechanisms for overcoming obstacles in life |
| Adoption Counselor | An adoption Counselor is a specialist who supports adoptions by offering guidance and counseling to kids, expectant parents, parents contemplating adoption as a pregnancy option, and adoption organizations |
| Rehabilitation Counselor | Rehabilitation Counselors deal with individuals in an effort to assess their patient's strengths and limitations. They may coordinate medical care, offer training, aid in job placement, assess medical records, and assist the patient in acquiring job skills so they can work and live on their own |
| Trauma Counselor | Trauma Counselors are experts in counseling and rehabilitation for those who have experienced physical or mental trauma and are having emotional issues coping with it |
| Substance Abuse Counselor | Substance Abuse Counselors create objectives and treatment programs after identifying problems by providing clients with coping skills and assisting them in re-establishing their careers or finding work by leading group therapy sessions. |
Counselor Salary
The average salary of a Counselor usually ranges from INR 2.55 LPA - 4 LPA. Candidates with no prior experience can expect to get an average compensation of INR 1.80 LPA. However, with gradual experience and skill development, Counselors can earn around INR 9.11 LPA - 13 LPA.
Tabulated below is the average salary of a Counselor based on their specializations.
| Types of Counselors | Average Annual Salary (INR) |
|---|---|
| Career Counselor | 2.47 L |
| Marriage Counselor | 9.34 L |
| Substance Abuse Counselor | 5.34 L |
| Trauma Counselor | 8.11 L |
| Rehabilitation Counselor | 2.13 L |
| Adoption Counselor | 2.85 L |
| Mental Health Counselor | 3.58 L |
Career as a Counselor: FAQs
Ques. Is Counselor a good career?
Ans. Yes, Counseling good career option for candidates with good communication skills and a positive outlook toward life.
Ques. What type of Counselor gets paid the most?
Ans. Mental Health, Marriage, and family Counselors are among the highest paid Counselors in India.
Ques. What does a Counselor do?
Ans. Counselors are professionals who help and guide clients and solve their issues.
Ques. What degree do I need to become a Counselor?
Ans. candidates can pursue either a diploma degree or an undergraduate or postgraduate degree in order to become a Counselor.
Ques. Can I become a Counselor without a degree?
Ans. Yes, one can become a Counselor without a degree but it will be advisable to read the mind of people and provide proper guidance to clients, candidates must pursue a degree in psychology.
Ques. How much does a Counselor earn in India?
Ans. According to Ambitionbox, the average salary of a Counselor in India is INR 2.40 LPA.
Ques. What are the course fees for psychology courses?
Ans. The average course fee for psychology courses is INR 3000 - 50,000.
Ques. What is the most demanded course in psychology?
Ans. BA psychology is one of the most demanded courses in India.
Ques. What is the starting salary of a Counselor?
Ans. The starting salary of a Counselor is INR 1.96 LPA.
Ques. What is the highest salary of a Counselor?
Ans. The highest salary of a Counselor in India is INR 15 LPA.
Ques. Can I become a Career Counselor?
Ans. Yes, Of course, if candidates have proper communication skills as well as patience, good hearing skills, and knowledge about various careers they can become career Counselors.
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