Helping individuals overcome emotional, mental, and psychological obstacles is the fulfilling work of counseling. There are various measures you may take to reach your objective if you have a passion for helping others and are interested in pursuing a career in counseling. We’ll outline how to begin a career in counseling in this post and address a number of related issues, including how to become a counselor without a degree, how BetterHelp pays its counselors, how much BetterHelp costs per month, and which online therapy platform pays the most.
First and foremost, you must earn a degree in counseling or a closely related discipline if you want to work as a counselor. A Bachelor’s degree in psychology, social work, or a similar discipline is typically required for counseling programs. You can enrol in a counseling master’s degree program after receiving your bachelor’s degree. You will acquire the knowledge and abilities necessary to comprehend the human mind and behavior, master good client communication skills, and enhance your capacity to deliver successful counseling during your degree program.
There are other options to think about if you want to work as a counselor but lack a degree. Without requiring a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree, some jurisdictions provide certification programs that offer training and certification in counseling. For certification in these programs, a predetermined number of training hours and supervised practice are often necessary.
When you have the required education and experience, you can start looking for counseling jobs. Numerous counseling positions are open in educational institutions, medical facilities, community centers, and private practices. It’s crucial to obtain experience in your industry; to do this, you can think about volunteering or doing an internship. Online counseling services like BetterHelp provide its counselors with a variety of payment methods. Depending on the counselor’s expertise and credentials, BetterHelp pays their counselors a set rate for each therapy session, which can range from $30 to $60. Additionally, the platform offers bonuses to counselors who routinely get good feedback from their patients.
Additionally, BetterHelp provides customers with a variety of subscription packages, with prices ranging from $60 to $80 each week, depending on the plan. The subscription fee covers limitless chatting and online counseling sessions.
Last but not least, there are numerous online counseling platforms that charge varied fees to their counselors. Talkspace, BetterHelp, and Amwell are a few of the sites that offer the highest payouts. The salary amount, however, could differ based on the qualifications and expertise of the counselor.
In summary, it takes commitment, effort, and a desire to serve others to become a counselor. The first step in beginning a career in counseling is earning a degree in counseling or a similar subject. Alternative routes, such certification programs, may be open to you if you lack a degree. A crucial component of developing your qualifications is gaining experience through voluntary work or internships. BetterHelp and other online therapy platforms provide a practical and adaptable way to practice counseling and make a career.
Depending on the amount of schooling and training needed, it might take anywhere from one to several years to become a counselor. Typically, it takes between two and seven years to become a counselor. The typical length of time to earn a bachelor’s degree in counseling or a closely similar discipline is four years. A doctoral degree in counseling can need up to 7 years of school and training, while counseling master’s degree programs typically last two to three years to finish. In addition, in order to practice, counselors must complete supervised clinical experience and pass licensing exams.