A Guide To Getting Your Master’s in Counselling: Everything You Need To Know

Does making a difference in the lives of others drive you? Humans are complex creatures, and everything from socioeconomic circumstances to nutrition to relationships contributes to how people relate and adapt to the world around them. If you’re the kind of person who wants to understand the way others think and guide them to being the best version of themselves, then you’re probably already pursuing a career in psychology or counselling, right? 

For anyone who is planning on pursuing a career as a counsellor, getting your master’s degree in counselling is the step that will make your dream job a reality. Before you embark on your journey of earning your master’s degree in counselling, you need to come to terms with what this degree actually entails. 

What is a Master’s in Counselling?

Professionals in the mental healthcare industry and individuals with counselling skills are in demand, and a master’s in counselling serves to prepare individuals seeking careers in mental healthcare. Completing your master’s in counselling helps to develop your capabilities in working with communities and individuals by emphasising cultural awareness and person-centred approaches. 

A good master’s course will help you as a professional learn to translate and deliver counselling across different modalities and develop key practices. 

How long does it take to complete a master’s in counselling?

The duration of a master’s in counselling generally takes between two to three years to complete. However, this varies depending on your enrollment status, course and concentration throughout the course. 

Does a master’s course in counselling include doing a placement?

Many master’s degrees include an internship as part of their curriculums. Students will benefit from the opportunity to gain practical experience and put learned skills into practice on placement. Your internship experience often applies to the supervised clinical experience hours required for counselling licensure.

Most students are required to undergo 220 hours of professional placement with an approved organisation. This includes a minimum of 60 hours of client contact, 16 hours of which is under the supervision of a licensed professional. 

During your placement, you may be involved in individual, group, or couple counselling sessions, which could be face-to-face or remote. You may feel nervous and excited about your placement, but ultimately, this is a critical part of your course that will provide you with the opportunity to apply theory in a supervised setting.

Admission requirements for a Master’s in Counseling

Admission to do your master’s in counselling varies slightly depending on the course you apply to. However, being a postgraduate degree, your requirements for a master's in counselling include the following: 

• A valid bachelor's degree from a country specified in the Admission Policy or Equivalent prior learning with a minimum of five years of relevant professional experience

• Band 4 English Language requirements

• Academic transcript, two referee reports and an interview

• A personal statement regarding motivations to complete the course

Which students excel in a Master’s in Counseling Program? 

Pursuing a career in counselling should be a calling because it’s definitely not for everyone. Those who qualify and take a job in counselling of some sort need to be prepared to spend most of their typical day hearing stories of trauma and suffering in a lot of cases. To be able to cope with this, you need to have a thick skin, strong self-care skills and a lot of empathy. 

Taking a master’s degree will test you on many levels, but the students who excel in this field have the following characteristics and skills: 

• Creativity

• Curiosity

• Open-mindedness

• AuthenticitySelf-awareness

• Responsibility

• Fearlessness

What types of jobs can you get with a Master’s in Counselling? 

When students pursue a master's degree in counselling, many do it in the hopes of becoming a counsellor or therapist with their own practice. However, getting your master’s degree equips you for many other roles: 

• Mental health researcher

• Community mental health worker

• Teachers or lecturers

• School counsellor

• Hotline assistant and virtual support

Final Thoughts

Doing a master’s in counselling is for professionals who are passionate about mental health care and seeing individuals overcome their difficulties to thrive in life. Many brilliant master’s courses are available to students, both online and in-person, that are geared towards preparing students with the necessary knowledge and skills to deliver high-quality counselling to individuals and communities. 

When doing a master's in counselling through ECU, you not only develop all the necessary skills like developing a person-centred approach, examine your role as a counsellor at the cultural interface, and understand counselling in the digital age, but you will also have the freedom and flexibility to complete your degree at your own pace.