Counsellor job description
Where we source our data
Let’s get real. Job information online can often be overly optimistic — conveniently glossing over the raw bits. But when you’re making decisions about your future, you need all the facts.
That’s why we anonymously surveyed counsellors about their job, with hopes of getting an honest insight into what it’s really like.
While we did our best to ensure respondents were Australians and verified their job titles with proof of employment, we can’t guarantee complete accuracy — or that your experiences in the field will reflect theirs. So, we suggest that you take these insights as a guide only and try to talk to people in the field before making an important decision.
Where we source our data
Let’s get real. Job information online can often be overly optimistic — conveniently glossing over the raw bits. But when you’re making decisions about your future, you need all the facts.
That’s why we anonymously surveyed counsellors about their job, with hopes of getting an honest insight into what it’s really like.
While we did our best to ensure respondents were Australians and verified their job titles with proof of employment, we can’t guarantee complete accuracy — or that your experiences in the field will reflect theirs. So, we suggest that you take these insights as a guide only and try to talk to people in the field before making an important decision.
Cooperative
Based on our career survey data, these are the words that workers would use to describe their jobs.
Intellectual
Based on our career survey data, these are the words that workers would use to describe their jobs.
Imaginative
Based on our career survey data, these are the words that workers would use to describe their jobs.
Tasks and responsibilities for a counsellor
A professional counsellor works directly with people and families to address life problems. They use various techniques to guide their clients to achieve set goals.
A counsellors job description can include:
- Listening to, empathising with, and helping clients work through emotional issues and other problems using various techniques
- Providing counselling in person, over the phone or via telehealth
- Working with a variety of clients from a range of backgrounds, from individuals to groups and families
- Keeping and maintaining thorough and confidential client records
- Working collaboratively with other counsellors in an organisation
- Creating rehabilitation plans for clients
- Facilitating conflict resolution
Reasons to choose this job
Based on our career survey data, these are the factors that workers said were most important to them when choosing this job.
Makes a difference
As an essential role in the community, your skills as a counsellor in supporting individuals with their problems can be life-changing.
Respected
Mental health is considered a crucial facet of overall health and wellbeing. Because of this, counsellors are highly respected in society. The work they do to support people in their lowest moments is so important.
Enjoyable
Working alongside people to overcome various challenges is an enriching experience, largely unmatched by any other job. Watching your clients have breakthroughs, regain happiness and create a greater quality of life for themselves isn’t something you’ll ever want to give up.
Job satisfaction
Overall job satisfaction
This overall score combines the critical factors in job satisfaction. It includes fulfilment, stress levels, and opportunities for advancement, based on our career survey data.
Stress level
How stressful workers feel their job is, based on our career survey data.
Fulfilment
How personally rewarding workers feel their job is, based on our career survey data.
Skill level
The skill level required to do this job is based on both our career survey data and official data from the Labour Market Information Portal.
Job market trends for a counsellor
Australia needs a strengthened workforce of counsellors and mental health professionals in the coming years.
Australia’s burgeoning mental health epidemic demands more qualified counsellors to step into this essential part of mental health services in Australia. Even before the increase in demand for mental health services due to the global pandemic, Job Outlook expected a strong employment growth of almost 15% in the counselling industry.
Median salary
Where this data comes from
Median salary
We use the median salary over the average because it’s more realistic — unusually high or low salaries don’t skew the median. It shows the true middle point, which is what your typical worker in this job earns.
This figure is from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It’s the official median full-time adult salary for non-managers, before tax. (Includes salary sacrifice.)
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (cat. no. 6306.0), Customised Report
Projected job growth
Job growth projections, using data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. These calculations were made before COVID-19 and may not accurately reflect the labour market. Use these numbers as a general guide only.
Where this data comes from
Median salary
We use the median salary over the average because it’s more realistic — unusually high or low salaries don’t skew the median. It shows the true middle point, which is what your typical worker in this job earns.
This figure is from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It’s the official median full-time adult salary for non-managers, before tax. (Includes salary sacrifice.)
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (cat. no. 6306.0), Customised Report
Projected job growth
Job growth projections, using data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. These calculations were made before COVID-19 and may not accurately reflect the labour market. Use these numbers as a general guide only.
Projected job growth
Where this data comes from
Median salary
We use the median salary over the average because it’s more realistic — unusually high or low salaries don’t skew the median. It shows the true middle point, which is what your typical worker in this job earns.
This figure is from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It’s the official median full-time adult salary for non-managers, before tax. (Includes salary sacrifice.)
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (cat. no. 6306.0), Customised Report
Projected job growth
Job growth projections, using data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. These calculations were made before COVID-19 and may not accurately reflect the labour market. Use these numbers as a general guide only.
Where this data comes from
Median salary
We use the median salary over the average because it’s more realistic — unusually high or low salaries don’t skew the median. It shows the true middle point, which is what your typical worker in this job earns.
This figure is from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It’s the official median full-time adult salary for non-managers, before tax. (Includes salary sacrifice.)
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (cat. no. 6306.0), Customised Report
Projected job growth
Job growth projections, using data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. These calculations were made before COVID-19 and may not accurately reflect the labour market. Use these numbers as a general guide only.
Pathway options
Job pathways are drawn from the Australian Apprenticeships Pathways site.
Counselling is a wonderful and rewarding job. It also provides you with many opportunities for progression through different career paths.
Some pathways could be:
Junior
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Support worker
Most common qualification: Certificate IV in Mental Health (CHC43315)
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Counsellor
Most common qualification: Diploma of Counselling (CHC51015) + Supervision
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Youth case worker
Most common qualification: Certificate IV in Youth Work (CHC40413)
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Social worker
Most common qualification: Diploma of Community Services (CHC52015)
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Youth counsellor
Most common qualification: Diploma of Youth Work (CHC50413)
Mid
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Child counsellor
Most common qualification: Diploma of Counselling (CHC51015) + Supervision
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Family counsellor
Most common qualification: Diploma of Counselling (CHC51015) + Supervision
Senior
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Psychotherapist
Most common qualification: Graduate Diploma of Trauma-Informed Processwork Psychotherapy (10779NAT)
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Family dispute resolution practitioner
Most common qualification: Graduate Diploma of Family Dispute Resolution (CHC81115)
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Rehab counsellor
Most common qualification: Master of Rehabilitation Counselling
Skills you might already have
Based on our career survey data, the soft skills that workers said were most needed to do their job well.
Interpersonal skills are as critical as any practical counselling skills you bring to your role as a counsellor. These natural abilities and skills developed through prior life experiences are often the difference between being a good counsellor and an amazing one.
Attentiveness
Being an attentive counsellor means giving your client your full physical attention and focus. Attentiveness results in clients feeling comfortable and allows you to draw out the most critical information to help them in the best way.
Openness
In counselling, your clients have unique situations to discuss, differing life opinions and perspectives. Being open as a counsellor allows you to help clients most effectively. These situations even offer you learning opportunities for future clients.
Empathy
In this role, you’re working directly with people, discussing personal problems, emotions, and supporting them to reach their goals. It is essential that you are compassionate and can put yourselves in their shoes. This way, you can provide the best care for your clients.
Knowing when to offer guidance and opinions
Counselling is a delicate balance of listening and advising. There are times your input may not be appropriate, and just being a supportive ear is the best approach. There are other times you are required to teach and assist in how to improve a situation.
Self-care
As a counsellor, you can easily take on too much emotional load — especially if you are naturally empathetic.
Veteran counsellor Jo Woods knows this first-hand.
“When I started as a counsellor, I went so fast and packed a lot in, and I didn’t really know how to manage my emotions. Very soon after I started practicing — probably towards the end of my first year — I just started to feel really fatigued and I wasn’t trusting myself. I was second-guessing and feeling anxious,” says Jo.
Skills in setting your emotional boundaries, a good work/life balance is key to self-care and are essential for longevity in a counselling career.
Hard skills
The job-specific skills that workers said were most important, supplemented with data from JobOutlook and online job advertisements.
You need specific training to provide you with high-level skills in counselling to ensure you provide the best service to your clients.
Technical counselling skills:
Reflecting and paraphrasing
A type of listening and communication that ensures that the client knows their story is being heard.
The use of open-ended questions
An effective way to clarify how a client is thinking or feeling.
Immediacy
This means a counsellor focuses on the ‘here and now’ relationship with their client — often to diffuse defensiveness.
Building rapport
Building rapport with the person you are counselling allows for open discussion and trust.
Summarising
This cements the interaction or conversations in a counselling session to outline the main themes emerging.
Focusing
A skill in concentrating on the central issues of concern.
Supportive decision making
A way of assisting a person to take stock of their situation and make a decision on their own.
Cognitive-behavioural therapy
A treatment used for a range of mental and emotional health issues, including anxiety and depression.
Work in an area that you understand deeply, and keep deepening your understanding of the area that you're working in," she says, "if you've had life experience with someone who's alcohol affected, has a disability, or any particular part of life you have a lot of experience in, I really encourage you to consider specialising.
Jo Woods, Relationship Counsellor and Coach
How to become a counsellor
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Study
You are required to have a formal qualification to enter a role as a counsellor. Often, experienced counsellors have a bachelor’s degree, which can take three years or more to complete. Another option is to start with a vocational qualification like a Diploma of Counselling (CHC51015), which usually takes a year to study.
A diploma introduces you to the role and provides you with the core counselling skills you need to gain an entry-level position. Having the opportunity to get a job sooner can also provide on-the-ground experience and allow you to study further when ready.
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Volunteer
Offering your time at a counselling helpline or community services provider gives you valuable work experience. Volunteering may also open you up to job opportunities or enhance your resume when applying for a counselling job.
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Apply to the ACA
Once you have completed your formal training, you can apply for a membership to the Australian Counselling Association. A membership gives you access to many professional development events, support staff, national and local representation, and much more.
Explore related qualifications
Diploma of Counselling
This counselling qualification teaches the skills needed to work as an entry-level counsellor and support clients in overcoming personal and psychological challenges.
This course enhances your interpersonal communication skills, provides counselling techniques and the knowledge required to work with various clients in the community.
You work in a defined role at this qualification level, supported by senior employees in an established agency rather than an independent private practice.
The average duration for this course is one year full-time but can vary between course providers. There are various study options, and you can study part-time and self-paced if required.
Course fees can vary, and many RTOs offer payment plans and assistance. Government-funded subsidies may apply to eligible learners.
Check with course providers for entry requirements.
3 providers offer this course
Related subjects
Jobs that exercise your natural desire to care for and support others are not limited to one as a counsellor. Other supportive roles in the community and healthcare are plentiful and will always require workers with compassion and a desire to help others.
Some other subjects to explore:
Reviews
How we collect reviews
Reviews are from Australian workers with this job title or a very closely related one.
Is this your job title?
Share your thoughts and help people decide if this job is right for them.
How we collect reviews
Reviews are from Australian workers with this job title or a very closely related one.
Is this your job title?
Share your thoughts and help people decide if this job is right for them.
- All
- Positive
- Negative
Dr Jill
Sep 05 2021A rewarding role where I can support others and also be supported by my colleagues.
What are the best parts of the job?
Counselling can be challenging at times but when your client has a breakthrough or experiences growth, that is the real reward. Working as a counsellor provides the opportunity to be flexible with hours particularly if you work for yourself. Counselling is a growth industry as more people seek support for their mental health. The support as a registered counsellor from your supervisor and fellow counsellors ensures you never feel alone and can continue to hone your skills.
What's the most challenging part?
Starting out is the hardest, whether it’s working for someone or running your own business. If in private practice, you will need to quickly learn marketing, social media strategies, and accounting. Counsellors are not yet Medicare eligible.
Karen
Sep 04 2021Flexiible and rewarding role where I'm helping people who have experienced hardship.
What are the best parts of the job?
I love the flexibility of setting my own diary to see clients when I wish. It allows me to fit my career in with my life.
What's the most challenging part?
Listening to the continual stress, anxiety, abuse, and hardship people have experienced within their life can often be a really difficult part of the job. Yet seeing positive changes within clients as they work with you is so rewarding.
Olivia
Sep 05 2021A career where you get to help people positively change their lives.
What are the best parts of the job?
Seeing people make long term changes in their life. It doesn't happen everyday, but there's no better feeling when you get to see it.
What's the most challenging part?
You're often not able to see a client's outcomes or end results. It's also tough not being able to help everyone.
Job cluster: The Carer
What are job clusters?
The seven job clusters are sets of closely related jobs that share skills, making it easy to apply skills learned in one career to another.
The idea of the seven job clusters first appeared in a 2016 research report by the Foundation for Young Australians, titled “The New Work Mindset”. Researchers analysed thousands of online job advertisements and found that jobs are more similar than commonly thought — and the skills you gain in one position are easy to bring to another. In fact, they can help you get 13 other closely related jobs.
This model is a great way to think about 21st-century careers, where the average person changes career five times. We’ve used this framework (along with the much-loved Holland Codes model) to build a career quiz.
Why not take it and find out which job cluster feels like home?
What are job clusters?
The seven job clusters are sets of closely related jobs that share skills, making it easy to apply skills learned in one career to another.
The idea of the seven job clusters first appeared in a 2016 research report by the Foundation for Young Australians, titled “The New Work Mindset”. Researchers analysed thousands of online job advertisements and found that jobs are more similar than commonly thought — and the skills you gain in one position are easy to bring to another. In fact, they can help you get 13 other closely related jobs.
This model is a great way to think about 21st-century careers, where the average person changes career five times. We’ve used this framework (along with the much-loved Holland Codes model) to build a career quiz.
Why not take it and find out which job cluster feels like home?
Working in a role that listens to, supports and advises people with emotional difficulties in living their best lives is suited to the career personality of The Carer.
The Carer has a personality that uses empathy and understanding to draw out the best in people and thrives in environments that support others in achieving goals.
Take the Career Quiz to discover what jobs are a great fit for you.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a counsellor earn in Australia?
In Australia, salaries for counsellors vary and can be anywhere from $82K per year.
What makes a good counsellor?
Natural skills in active listening and empathy, a desire to help others in need and high-level skills in counselling are essential to become a good counsellor.
What is the role of a counsellor?
Counsellors work with clients facing emotional or life challenges. They help to address a client’s problems and implement changes to improve their situation.
How long does it take to become a counsellor?
To gain an entry-level position in counselling, completing an accreditation like Diploma in Counselling takes, on average, one year full-time. A bachelor’s degree takes longer.
What are the three types of counselling?
The three types of counselling explained:
Psychodynamic: This is the idea that our past (from childhood perhaps) has a strong bearing on current feelings and relationships and possibly affects later life. Therapists use trust to help a client work through these difficulties.
Person-centred: This type of counselling exercises a counsellor’s empathy and compassion to develop healing and change.
Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT): This therapy technique aims to change negative behaviours by altering thinking. A counsellor often gives a client tasks to continue between sessions.