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How to start learning about a career path?

I finished my BA in Psychology and I'm interested in counseling, yet I don't have any experience or know anyone in the field. How do I get started learning about it? Or for that matter any career path I'm interested in? #career #career-path #careers #career-choice #learning #start #psychology #psychology-education #counseling

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Marilyn’s Answer

Hi Garima,
With a BA in Psychology you can go several ways. One direction is to get your teaching certificate and teach for the required amount of time (about 3 years) and then become a school counselor with the proper certification. You could also work in a psychiatric facility or assist other psychologists by doing counseling with them. Speak with a counselor on the graduate level and obtain current information for your area of interest. Best of luck.
Marilyn Lowry
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Debra’s Answer

As others have stated, a counseling career can take several paths including K-12 school counseling, personal counseling, marriage & family counseling, guidance & career counseling (college/univ., private, etc.) and mental health counseling. One thing you will want to do is research certification/licensure to be a professional counselor. In Canada, this means reading and researching how to obtain certification. To be a certified counselor in Canada as well as the U.S, the most traditional route is to complete a Master's program in Counseling. A Master's program will include not only coursework but practicums where you practice counseling and facilitate counseling in group settings under the supervision of a licensed counselor. Your Master's program will include practicum hours in different settings from marriage & family counseling to substance abuse counseling and personal counseling... to help educate you in a variety of counseling fields and to help you decide on which setting/field is right for you. To be a School Counselor in a K-12 setting, you first need to become a teacher...so you will need to obtain a teaching certificate. You can learn more about becoming a school counselor and educational requirements via the Canadian Counseling & Psychotherapy Association as well - see below. You can also visit the career center at your college - as an alumni - you can still utilize your college's services - and discuss possible options for further education and working in the field. Best of luck to you on your journey!

Debra recommends the following next steps:

Review info regarding certification via the Canadian Counseling & Psychotherapy Association. https://www.ccpa-accp.ca/membership/certification/
Regulations for School Counsellors by Province: https://www.ccpa-accp.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/RegulationSchoolCounsellors_en.pdf
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James’s Answer

Speaking from my own experience in counseling (School) in Texas in order to become a counselor in any field of counseling, you must earn at least a Master's degree in counseling plus a certification (state exam). So if you are in Texas, you could begin by taking a couple of beginning classes in counseling. This would also give you a broader look at the many fields of counseling that you could choose from. When I started my pathway to counseling, I took a few courses in my Master's degree and I chose the field of school counseling. Hope this helps a little?
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