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Who is a Counsellor?
Be an informed advocate and support ~ Asa Don Brown
A counsellor is often the first point of contact for someone facing mental health challenges. Whether in hospitals, schools, or community centres, counsellors play a key role in guiding individuals through personal, emotional, or career-related struggles.
They are trained to listen without judgement, help people understand their problems, and work with them to find solutions. Counsellors may specialise in areas like career counselling, health counselling, or school counselling. They often collaborate with other mental health professionals to ensure clients receive well-rounded care.
If you are passionate about helping others and want to support mental well-being, a career as a counsellor could be your calling.
Counsellor in a Nutshell
A counsellor supports individuals facing emotional, personal, or career-related challenges. They assess client needs, offer guidance, and help develop coping strategies. Working in schools, hospitals, or private settings, they require empathy, communication skills, and ethical integrity. Typically, a bachelor's in psychology or social work followed by a master's in counselling is needed, along with relevant certifications.
Quick Facts for Counsellor
-
Industry
Healthcare
-
Average Salary in India
₹31250
-
Suitable for
Male, Female, Others
Individuals can take up a career as counsellors, it is not gender-specific. Males, women, and others can choose a career as a counsellor. Counselling is a gender-independent career and is apt for any gender type. Gender bias is non-existent in terms of education or salary as gender type is deemed insignificant for the career path.
-
Any special needs
Yes
A career as a counsellor is well suited to everyone, even those with special needs. If the disability is not disrupting the efficiency of the counselling task, then counselling could be an apt career choice for people with special needs as it does not involve any physical activities that require strength or stamina.
Table of Contents for Counsellor
What is the role of Counsellor?
Counsellors are trained to assist people in working through their personal and emotional issues. Counsellors provide a safe and confidential environment in which clients can learn to work through their issues and develop strategies to address and resolve problems on their own.
They assist clients in coping with issues on a conscious level, which is more easily resolved through short-term treatment.
counsellors involve working with individuals, groups, families, and communities to improve mental health.
They encourage their clients to share their feelings and emotions.
They also address people with problems such as conflicts or choices in their lives.
Counsellors also conduct therapy sessions for people. They gave directions to their clients about goals.
Types of a Counsellor
The term "counsellor" is more than just school guidance. There are various types of counsellors, highlighting their diverse roles in various settings, from supporting students' academic journeys to contributing to comprehensive healthcare. Below are the ways in which they support individuals and communities.
Educator: School counsellors or children's counsellors assist students at all levels, from elementary school to college. Listen to students' concerns about academic, emotional, or social problems. Student counsellor job description includes helping students process their problems and plan goals and actions. Mediate conflict between students and teachers. One could work in schools, colleges, and universities, helping to support students with study and personal issues.
Healthcare professional: Healthcare professional's jobs are to work in different hospital settings and are an important part of a patient's treatment team. Therefore the counsellor's primary role is case management, meaning to help the family find important resources the patient needs after they are discharged. They could find work in hospitals, GP surgeries, community, and occupational healthcare teams helping clients with a range of problems. The voluntary sector also provides an array of job options.
Social Worker: Another option is to use your knowledge and counselling skills to move into settings such as teaching and social work. In the role of counsellor, the social worker helps client systems articulate their needs, clarify their problems, explore resolution strategies, and apply intervention strategies to develop and expand the capacities of client systems to deal with their problems more effectively.
Clinical psychologist: A clinical psychologist or therapist would benefit from clinical supervision in order to monitor their work with clients and also to guarantee the best possible way forward in their professional and personal development. The key to great supervision is a collaborative and interactive process that monitors the quality of client care, improves clinical skills, and facilitates personal and professional growth.
What is the workplace/work environment of Counsellor like?
Individuals who opt for a career as counsellors work with designated personnel as a thinking partner, revealing mirrors, and a facilitator among others. The diverse settings and client experiences can offer a range of challenges and learning opportunities.
Does Counsellor require travelling?
Not Likely
Not all counsellors require travel, the need for travel can vary depending on their specific work environment, area of practice, and individual circumstances. Some counsellors may choose to travel for professional development opportunities, such as attending seminars or workshops.
Time Pressure
Likely
Individuals who opt for a career as counsellors work on weekends as well as in the evening hours. A lot of counsellors also do part-time work. Most counsellors operate approximately forty-five hours a week while counsellors who are self-employed work more than this per week. So the time pressure for counsellors is more when working independently.
How to become a Counsellor?
Steps to become a Counsellor
If you are someone interested in giving advice to people and can solve their problems by guiding them to the right path, then a career as a Counsellor is the best career option for you. If you are looking for the details of how to become a Counsellor in India then we have mentioned below the steps for how to become a Counsellor in India or how to become a Counsellor after 12th.
What are the skills and qualities required to become a/an Counsellor?
Here we have described the steps to know how to become a counsellor. Here we will be discussing all the basic counselling skills.
Listening: Effective listening ability in counselling increases trust, allows the clients to open up and reveal their emotions, and encourages them to share their feelings and thoughts. It also supports the collection of important patient information which helps the counselling process in the future.
Unbiased: Being bias-free includes a real assessment of the policy objectives and practices in the organisation to guarantee employers are honest to applicants, staff, and shareholders. The main benefit is that workers feel that their working conditions are secure, free of poor treatment, and also free from any kind of harassment and discrimination.
Professionalism: Professionalism embraces the behaviour and attitude, appearance, and ethical standards of a worker's place of work. Counsellors ought to specifically consider confidential matters. Everything mentioned in client meetings should only be forwarded on to third parties in exceptional cases other than the clinical supervisor of the counsellor.
Patience: The work of a counsellor can be very intense and demanding. He or she supports clients through emotional issues on a daily basis, which can lead to burnout. A counsellor should have patience to work effectively.
Empathy: Compassion, understanding, and genuineness are critical in the career of counselling. It provides hope in the counselling session. Individuals who opt for a career as counsellors need to remain curious and committed to improving their clients' emotional well-being for a lasting and gratifying career.
Which certifications and internships can be helpful in becoming Counsellor?
We have mentioned below various certifications that counsellors can opt to upgrade their skills. These courses are not mandatory but equips individuals with knowledge and skills required to become a counsellor.
Internship Availability
Aspiring counsellors in India have many internship opportunities to explore. Online platforms like Manastha and Counsel India offer internship opportunities, while one can explore LinkedIn and Indeed positions. Universities with counselling programs often provide internships, and NGOs offer specialised experiences. Early searching and networking are key to securing the most suitable internship.
Most accredited master’s degrees in counselling include a practicum, or internship, as part of the core curriculum. This usually involves up to 600 hours of supervised fieldwork in schools and other professional settings. Licensure or certification is often contingent on completing an internship or practicum.
Counsellor Jobs and Salaries
Junior Counsellor
- Average Salary 19000
Job Description
The Junior Counsellor job description includes diagnosing the patient's mental and emotional disorders and providing effective treatment plans. A Junior Counsellor counsels and works with the patient to improve their mental health.
Salary Description
An entry-level Junior Counsellor salary in India ranges between Rs 0.6 Lakhs to Rs 4.0 Lakhs with an average annual salary of Rs 2.3 Lakhs per annum. Junior Counsellor in India may vary depending on the various job factors like the skills and experience of the candidates, job location, and others.
Salary Source: AmbitionBox
Senior Counsellor
- Average Salary 43500
Job Description
The Senior Counsellor job description includes educating and bringing awareness to the patients and their families and helping them to recover from their tough situations. A Senior Counsellor records the patient’s progress and makes treatment plans for them.
Salary Description
The estimated Senior Counsellor salary in India ranges from Rs 2.0 Lakhs to Rs 7.7 Lakhs with an average annual salary of Rs 11.7 Lakhs per annum. Senior Counsellor salary may vary depending on the various job factors.
Salary Source: AmbitionBox
What is the job outlook for Counsellor?
The job outlook for counsellors in India is very promising. As indian has a large number of student population but along this it has shortage in terms of qualified counsellors. The global career education counselling market is anticipated to rise between 2024 and 2030.
There are many other specialisations in counselling which are in huge demand such as mental health counselling, Relationship and Family Counselling, Rehabilitation counselling. There is a growing need for counsellors in schools to address mental health concerns, as well as in workplaces and private practice settings.
Frequently Asked Questions for Counsellor
Que. I have a Comedk rank of 16663. Can someone please tell me in which colleges I can get BTech CSE or BTech CSE with Specialization? A fellow student counsellor told me I could get into RNSIT but now I think my chances are extremely low. I have already messed up round 1 and 2, I need some guidance.
Ans.Hi there,
Hope you are doing fine.
Getting admission in any college at this rank in comedk is a little bit difficult but completely not impossible.
The cutoff for the various colleges generally varies depending on a lot of factors like the number of applicants, the difficulty level of the exam and many more. Some of the colleges which are available at this rank are:
- New Horizon College of Engineering
- MVJ College of Engineering
- East Point College of Engineering and Technology
- Acharya Institute of Technology
- BMS Institute of Technology and Management
You can visit the official website of comedk and then check previous year cutoff and opening and closing rank to know about the colleges in which you can get the admission.
Also, you can take help from our official college predictor which is especially designed by our experts to give you an idea about the colleges which are possible at this rank. The link of the predictor is mentioned below:
https://engineering.careers360.com/comedk-college-predictor?utm_source=qna&utm_medium=ini-cet_cp
Hope this resolves your query.
Que. i want to talk to a counsellor
Ans.Hello,
If you need to talk to a counselor for academic advice, career guidance, or personal issues, here are some options:
School or College Counselor: If you are studying in school or college, you can contact the counseling office of your institution. They can offer academic and personal counseling.
Online Counseling Platforms:
- YourDOST and iDreamCareer: Professional counseling for students and career guidance.
- Counselling Cell by NIRF and Government Agencies: They might have dedicated helplines.
Local Career Counseling Centers: Identify the local entities within your reach which might offer you direct guidance counseling related to your academics as well as your career aspirations.
Helpline: They have also issued some phone number in which several students want the answers of the query in the Board of Examination as well as in Boards of Education and the entrance examinations.
Do you require any specific contact number or a few more recommendations based on the sort of counseling required?
Que. Hello, I wanted to speak to a counsellor regarding colleges and my profile.
Ans.Hello Poonam,
If you want to speak to a counselor about colleges and your profile, you can contact career counseling services or educational platforms that offer personalized guidance. Here are steps you can follow:
-
University or College Websites
: Many universities have admission counselors available to help with queries.
-
Educational Platforms
: Websites like Career360 provide counseling services for college admissions.
-
Professional Counselors
: You can look for professional career counseling services in your area or online platforms like Mindler and iDreamCareer.
-
School or Coaching Institutes
: If you are a student, your school or coaching institute might provide counseling services or references.
- Government Initiatives : Some state and national-level educational departments also offer career guidance programs.
Book an appointment online or via phone with any of these services to discuss your academic profile and college options.
I hope this answer helps you. If you have more queries then feel free to share your questions with us we will be happy to assist you.
Thank you and wishing you all the best for your bright future.
Que. Hello Team, Do we provide any training to aspirant willing to start his or her own business as education counsellor or career counsellor. Training I am looking is from scratch to end for all type of on campus courses for bachelors
Ans.Hello,
Careers360 and others like it usually provides access to resources, training, and certifications for educational or career counselors. This training package usually includes
- Understanding educational pathways: It caters to bachelor's programs across streams such as engineering, medical, arts, and management.
- Career guidance techniques: Concentrates on skills such as communication, aptitude analysis, and psychometric assessment
- Admissions Counseling: Training on entrance exam procedures, eligibility criteria, application procedure of institutions in the country as well as abroad.
- Building a Counseling Business : Steps to establishing a counseling business, marketing, networking, and the operational logistics involved.
To find specific training programs conducted by Careers360, contact their support team or refer to their website to access counselor certification programs. Otherwise, Edumilestones, Counsel India, and Global Career Counsellor by Univariety have training programs at different levels from beginner to advanced levels.
If interested in joining or partnering with Careers360 , you are recommended to visit their official website or corporate support team.
Que. i need to talk with counsellor regarding my higher education
Ans.Hello Priyanka,
You can speak with a career counselor through various options:
-
College/University Counselors
– Check if your current or target institution offers counseling services.
-
Government Helplines
– Services like the
NCERT career helpline (1800-11-8002)
can guide you.
-
Online Counseling Platforms
– Websites like
Careers360
provide expert guidance.
-
Private Career Counselors
– You can book a session with professionals via LinkedIn or local career centers.
Here is the Whatsapp number of a Careers Counselor: +916005956597
Contact him on Whatsapp and discuss about your career and higher education.
I hope this answer helps you. If you have more queries then feel free to share your questions with us we will be happy to assist you.
Thank you and wishing you all the best for your bright future.
Que. How can I register for services of paid counsellor from career360
Ans.Hi, kindly write to us at info@careers360.com . Our team will connect with you.
Que. Can I speak to any counsellor This is for my daughter
Ans.Hello,
If you want to talk to a counsellor, you can register for our offline counselling connect. It will be in various cities all over India, you can register for it to get counselling session with our experts in your city.
You can know more about it from this link : Offline Counselling Connect 2025
Hope it helps !
Que. How to connect though a College counsellor?
Ans.Hello Achintya,
Connecting with a college counselor is actually pretty simple! Here's how you can do it:
1. Through Your School or College
If you are currently studying in a school or junior college, ask your class teacher or principal.
Many schools have their own
career counseling department
or they can guide you to someone.
2. Visit the College Campus
If you are applying to a specific college (like NM, HR College, etc.), visit their
admission office
.
They usually have counselors or admission advisors you can meet directly and ask your doubts.
3. Official College Website
Almost every college has a
"Contact Us"
or
"Counseling Services"
section on their website.
You will find email IDs or phone numbers there — you can send them a mail or call to book an appointment.
4. Education Fairs and Seminars
Many colleges participate in
career fairs
,
education expos
, and
seminars
.
If you attend these, you can meet college representatives and counselors in person.
5. Online Counseling Platforms
You can also connect with counselors online through platforms like
Careers360
,
Shiksha
,
CollegeDunia
, etc.
Some colleges even offer
virtual counseling sessions
nowadays.
6. Social Media and Helplines
Some colleges are active on
Instagram
,
LinkedIn
, and
Facebook
.
You can DM them, and they will usually guide you to the right counselor or office.
Important Tip:
When you connect, always be clear about what you want to ask:
-
Admission process
-
Courses
-
Cut-off marks
-
Career guidance
-
Scholarships
It saves both your and their time!
Que. Where isy counsellor.I am not getting any call
Ans.Que. NOWADAYS IT IS REALLY TOUGH FOR STUDENTS TO CHOOSE A DECENT ACCORDING TO THEIR INTEREST ESPECIALLY WHN THEY ARE REALLY CONFUSED WHICH COURSE THEY WANT TO PURSUE IF THERE WAS A GUIDE OR CAREER COUNSELLOR THEN IT COULD'VE RESOLVE THERE ISSUES ACCORDING TO MY BELIEFS
Ans.Que. I want a counsellor so what's the process
Ans.Que. i need a career counsellor who can tell me about colleges through my cuet result
Ans.Que. How can I register for services of paid counsellor from career360
Ans.Que. How can I register for services of paid counsellor from career360
Ans.Que. how to enroll for getting a counsellor for college selection for B Tech 2025 admissions
Ans.Que. I need free counsellor to chat
Ans.Que. Is being a counsellor a good job?
Ans.A job with a low-stress level, good work-life balance, and solid prospects to improve, get promoted, and earn a higher salary would make many employees happy. Here's how Mental Health Counsellors’ job satisfaction is rated in terms of upward mobility, stress level and flexibility.
Que. Why is Counselling important?
Ans.The Importance of Counselling. Counselling provided by trained professionals can make a profound impact on the lives of individuals, families, and communities. This service helps people navigate difficult life situations, such as the death of a loved one, divorce, natural disasters, school stress and the loss of a job.
Que. Describe HR counsellor job description.
Ans.The appointment process for qualified applicants is coordinated by a human resource counsellor. He or she negotiates work terms and conditions for workers. HR counsellor job description includes providing guidance and playing a major role in performance appraisal and processes of improvement, reviewing and managing data from the HR information system.
Que. How to become a counsellor without a psychology degree?
Ans.To become a counsellor without a psychology degree, you are required to complete a counselling certification program to gain the required knowledge and skills.
Que. How to become a counsellor without a psychology degree in India?
Ans.To become a counsellor without a psychology degree in India is that you must have strong skills and networking and you must also pursue a certification program to have the subject knowledge.
Que. How do I become a counselor without a degree?
Ans.If you want to know how you can be a counsellor without a college degree, you may want to look into addiction counselling. Some states allow people with a high school diploma and a combination of field experience or certification to become licensed to work as a counsellor with alcohol and drug abuse.
Que. Does Counselling really work?
Ans.Counselling really does work. Counselling can be tough and feel extremely distressing at times, especially at the beginning. It can be difficult to trust a stranger with your deepest, darkest feelings, emotions and experiences
You might also be interested in
Questions related to Counsellor
How to connect though a College counsellor?
Hello Achintya,
Connecting with a college counselor is actually pretty simple! Here's how you can do it:
1. Through Your School or College
If you are currently studying in a school or junior college, ask your class teacher or principal.
Many schools have their own
career counseling department
or they can guide you to someone.
2. Visit the College Campus
If you are applying to a specific college (like NM, HR College, etc.), visit their
admission office
.
They usually have counselors or admission advisors you can meet directly and ask your doubts.
3. Official College Website
Almost every college has a
"Contact Us"
or
"Counseling Services"
section on their website.
You will find email IDs or phone numbers there — you can send them a mail or call to book an appointment.
4. Education Fairs and Seminars
Many colleges participate in
career fairs
,
education expos
, and
seminars
.
If you attend these, you can meet college representatives and counselors in person.
5. Online Counseling Platforms
You can also connect with counselors online through platforms like
Careers360
,
Shiksha
,
CollegeDunia
, etc.
Some colleges even offer
virtual counseling sessions
nowadays.
6. Social Media and Helplines
Some colleges are active on
Instagram
,
LinkedIn
, and
Facebook
.
You can DM them, and they will usually guide you to the right counselor or office.
Important Tip:
When you connect, always be clear about what you want to ask:
-
Admission process
-
Courses
-
Cut-off marks
-
Career guidance
-
Scholarships
It saves both your and their time!
Answer laterCan I speak to any counsellor This is for my daughter
Here's how you can typically get in touch with a counselor at Careers360:
1. A common method is to reach out via email. You can send your inquiries to: [email address removed]. Their team will then connect with you and provide guidance.
2. Careers360 has online platforms where users can ask questions. It appears that within their Q&A sections, they do have counselors that respond to user questions. So engaging within the question and answer section of the careers360 web pages, is a way to communicate with their counselors.
3. While they offer counseling, they also provide many self-service tools to help you make informed decisions.
Therefore, emailing careers360, and engaging within their online platforms, are good ways to try to contact their counselors.
Attention Engineering/Medical Aspirants!!
Careers360 is coming to your city for an Offline Counselling Tour!
Get all your doubts cleared about the admission process.
Come and join us.
Limited slots available.
Know More: https://www.careers360.com/campaign/counseling-tour-2025?utm_source=CA
See You There..
How can I register for services of paid counsellor from career360
Hi, kindly write to us at info@careers360.com . Our team will connect with you.
i need to talk with counsellor regarding my higher education
Hello Priyanka,
You can speak with a career counselor through various options:
-
College/University Counselors
– Check if your current or target institution offers counseling services.
-
Government Helplines
– Services like the
NCERT career helpline (1800-11-8002)
can guide you.
-
Online Counseling Platforms
– Websites like
Careers360
provide expert guidance.
-
Private Career Counselors
– You can book a session with professionals via LinkedIn or local career centers.
Here is the Whatsapp number of a Careers Counselor: +916005956597
Contact him on Whatsapp and discuss about your career and higher education.
I hope this answer helps you. If you have more queries then feel free to share your questions with us we will be happy to assist you.
Thank you and wishing you all the best for your bright future.
Hello Team, Do we provide any training to aspirant willing to start his or her own business as education counsellor or career counsellor. Training I am looking is from scratch to end for all type of on campus courses for bachelors
Hello,
Careers360 and others like it usually provides access to resources, training, and certifications for educational or career counselors. This training package usually includes
- Understanding educational pathways: It caters to bachelor's programs across streams such as engineering, medical, arts, and management.
- Career guidance techniques: Concentrates on skills such as communication, aptitude analysis, and psychometric assessment
- Admissions Counseling: Training on entrance exam procedures, eligibility criteria, application procedure of institutions in the country as well as abroad.
- Building a Counseling Business : Steps to establishing a counseling business, marketing, networking, and the operational logistics involved.
To find specific training programs conducted by Careers360, contact their support team or refer to their website to access counselor certification programs. Otherwise, Edumilestones, Counsel India, and Global Career Counsellor by Univariety have training programs at different levels from beginner to advanced levels.
If interested in joining or partnering with Careers360 , you are recommended to visit their official website or corporate support team.
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Did you know?
Fact 1
Counselling emerged in the early 20th century, influenced by Frank Parsons, the father of vocational guidance.
Fact 2
Over 300,000 professional counsellors work across various fields in the U.S.
Fact 3
Counselling gained prominence in India in the 1950s with government career guidance services.
Fact 4
Over 50,000 career counsellors are registered with India’s National Career Service.
Fact 5
The first career guidance centre in India was established at the University of Madras in the early 1900s.
