Typical Salary

pastorbarrett

For the past couple of years, I've been strongly considering undertaking training in psychotherapy/ counseling, a path that is typically 4 years consecutive study as well as practice.

While this area and career are of great interest to me, pragmatically speaking I'm considering the financial cost (which is considerable) versus potential future earnings, career trajectory, cost re: ongoing training etc.

I suppose I should enter a disclaimer at this point: yes, I do understand the role can be varied and salaries accordingly different depending on actual position held, and also that perhaps I shouldn't be unnecessarily colouring my view of this role solely on potential earnings if it's something I really want to pursue.

However, I can't deny it's of concern to me. Can anyone who's in this position shed light on how things went or are going for them post qualification? Granted, I know things are difficult with climate etc, but any insight would be appreciated. I'm not wishing for people to divulge actual pay; I suppose what got me to thinking was an article in the Guardian or similar interviewing a recent grad of 4 year psychotherapy training saying he was lucky to be making 20k sterling and that his prospects didn't exactly seem plentiful in respect of a 'career trajectory'. If I recall correctly, he was a clinician in private practice.

I should probably add that I aspire to be a clinician, although I would not be at all adverse to other types of work related to the profession.

Many thanks in advance.

bisset

As far as I know it takes a long time to build up a practise. I know a number of people who are qualified as psychotherapists and many of them work part time in a related field in the public sector, e.g. as a nurse or teacher when they hold such a qualification.

Mindful

If financial gain is a big consideration for you in making this decision I don't think I would be recommending that you puruse psychotherapy as a career.

I don't say this to be cruel, nor do I mean that to be a therapist/ counsellor you should not care about the money. What I do mean is that for the amount of work that goes in to getting a qualification, the remuneration for professionals is quite poor. Gaining employment might prove difficult, and building a private practise takes time and quite a bit of effort. Most employers will look for accreditation which will take you a further 2 years (and 45 hours of supervision, a.k.a €2,000) to achieve. For many counsellors/psychotherapists it may take a long time to recoup the cost of their training, never mind the ongoing costs associated with memberships, supervision, CPD, etc. It could be years (after qualification) before you get to balance the books. I know some who never did.

It has been said by some that the majority of trainee counsellors are just cash cows for the colleges/ institutions. I think this was even raised in one of the more recent editions of the IACP quarterly publication.

I qualified myself last year and am working in private practise now. I am happy with how things are going for me but I am fully aware that it will take some time before I see an overall profit. Of the sixty people who finished their studies with me (two classes), I know of just one who managed to get employment so far, and it is more of a partnership arrangement than direct employment.

That said, I don't want to put you off the profession if you are keen. To be honest there is no type of work I would rather be doing. I absolutely love it. Just be aware of future prospects and likelyhoods before you start, and don't be counting on making a decent living from it as soon as you qualify