If you’re after a career in counselling, you’ve got to write a CV that clearly defines the experience, skills, and qualifications required for the role. That’s not all, you’ve got to do this with 15 seconds, as that’s all a recruiter initially gives each job application.
Counsellors work in a variety of places such as mental health facilities, hospitals, and schools. They assist service users to overcome mental health problems and overcome emotional issues.
Because the role covers such as wide field, a one size fits all CV will not work. Instead for the best results you’ve got to submit a document that is aimed at the exact role you are applying for.
On this page, we’ll not only describe in detail how to write an outstanding Counsellor CV, but also provide pre-written examples you can use as guides.
By: Iejaz Uddin – 23 April 2024
Counsellor CV example
Maxine Corry
Address
T: 0044 123 456 7890
E: info@dayjob.com
PERSONAL SUMMARY
A compassionate, easy to talk to and courageous counsellor who has a track record of making a real positive difference to people’s lives. Maxine has experience of helping clients explore their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. She is fully accredited and has knowledge of using the very latest counselling monitoring and evaluation systems.
An expert at developing personalised plans based on a clients’ goals and objectives. A superb communicator who can listen carefully to people, ask questions, and then check to ensure that she properly understands a situation. A true professional who is committed to staying updated on the latest research, techniques, and best practices in counselling.
In her current role she has had a meaningful impact on the lives of individuals seeking support. At work she has a reputation for maintaining accurate and confidential client records in compliance with strict legal and ethical standards.
As part of her duties, she has created a confidential environment where service users can feel comfortable and relaxed. Through her career she has gained extensive knowledge of a wide range of approaches, activities and exercises designed to promote personal wellbeing.
On a personal level she has strong communication skills along with the ability to guide and motivate clients towards positive change. Right now, she is eager to be part of an organisation that prides itself on helping vulnerable people and where she will get endless job satisfaction.
CAREER HISTORY
COUNSELLOR – Start Date – Present
Employers name – Location
Responsible for working with people who are experiencing a wide range of emotional and psychological problems such as such as depression, anxiety, stress and relationship breakdowns.
Duties;
- Providing counselling to service users face to face, over the telephone, or online.
- Communicating effectively with clients to assess their needs and progress.
- Providing targeted counselling and emotional support to both individuals and couples in need of assistance.
- Keeping up to date and accurate administrative records of client interactions and appointments.
- Ensuring the confidentiality of sensitive records relating to service users.
- Liaising with backroom admin staff over new clients, and other administrative issues.
- Referring clients to appropriate third party external partners.
- Delivering counselling assessments to identify the individual’s support needs.
- Attending team meetings and making contributions to any discussions taking place.
- Assisting people who have drug addiction or alcohol related problems.
- Working with clients who have mild to moderate mental health problems.
- Monitoring client progress and adjusting their treatment plans accordingly.
- Helping people to deal with challenges and make positive changes to their lives.
- Passing on and referring clients to other sources of help, as and when is appropriate.
- Can establish rapport with people from all backgrounds and to gain their trust.
- Have experience of working as part of a multidisciplinary team.
- Liaising with other healthcare providers, agencies, and community resources to put together client care plans.
- Assess clients for their suitability for counselling.
- Attending multi-disciplinary meetings relating to clients’ referrals.
- Keeping accurate and coherent records of all clinical activity in line with service protocols.
JOB TITLE – Start Date – End Date
Employers name – Location
KEY SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES
Professional
- Delivering high quality therapeutic support to substance misusing clients.
- Familiar with specialist counselling software and data management systems.
- Experience of working in partnership with a range of statutory and non-statutory agencies.
- Ability to develop plans tailored to individual needs and goals.
- Helping clients to talk about issues they feel they are not able to normally share with others.
- Working with children and young people both on an individual level and as part of a group.
- Empathetic, non-judgmental, and willing to listen to all sides before making a decision.
- Keeping up to date with advances in evidence based psychological therapies and mental health.
- Ability to manage own caseload and time.
- Experience of writing clear reports and letters to referrers, authority figures and regulatory bodies.
Personal
- Ability to read a situation and then adapt my communication style to suit a wide range of people or circumstances.
- Delivering counselling services in a responsive, efficient, ethical, and professional manner.
- Good communication and inter-personal skills.
- Superb social skills and able to build relationships with people from all backgrounds.
- Maintaining a non-judgemental, congruent, and respectful approach towards clients.
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Administrative records
Mental health
Trauma
Empowering individuals
Listening skills
Reporting tools
Depression
Interpersonal Psychotherapy
ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS
University name – Degree details Study Dates
College name – Qualifications Study Dates
School name – Subjects / Grades Study Dates
REFERENCES
Available on request.
Counsellor CV layout
Guide to writing a Counsellor CV
If you enjoy helping people with psychological or emotional problems, then counselling could be the ideal job for you.
What’s more, you could find employment opportunities across a variety of sectors such as social services, education, human resource departments and charities. Meaning that with the right counsellor CV, you can literally get a job anywhere.
Counsellors are tasked with resolving the personal issues of service users experiencing difficult and distressing events in their lives. They must meet with people to identify their problems and then through a series of formal sessions talk about the issues and feeling their facing. Putting all of this down on a piece of paper is no easy feat!
Wouldn’t it be fantastic if you could? Well, you can, read on to find out how.
Areas to focus on when writing a counsellor CV:
- How you can establish a relationship of trust with clients.
- Help clients to make decisions about their circumstances.
- Keeping accurate administrative records.
- Your ability to empathize with your clients.
- Your listening skills.
- Ability to cope with emotional situations.
- Show your patient and calm manner
- How you can identify behavioural issues and provides solutions to tackle them.
- Your communication skills.
Counsellor cover letter examples
Counsellor cover letter example
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