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Counsellors therefore, must be
well equipped and be able to source adequate
supervision to cover the spectrum of possible client’s
needs. If counsellors encounter client’s issues that
are beyond their training and expertise, they are
professionally required to refer to someone else who
is trained and capable of providing such a service.
Counsellors should never continue in a counselling
relationship to deal with issues that they have no
training in and when they do not have a certified
supervisor. This can be classified as counselling
beyond the “scope of practice.” This is one of the
most common ways to encourage counsellor burnout or to
misdiagnose or mistreat or mismanage a client!
Counsellor Training
Counselling although being widely used in Singapore is
not available as a University degree course. Most
trained Counsellors have receive training through
courses that provide them with a certificate or a
diploma, or through on the job training. Although a
growing number of practitioners and degree holders
have Specialist Diplomas, post-graduate diplomas,
Masters Degrees, and Doctorates today! While there is
no governing body that establishes benchmarks and
monitors these training courses, it is up to the
interested person to make conscientious enquiry about
the curriculum, practicum, supervision, and
employment/private practice potential before embarking
on any of these courses. Before embarking on any
training in counselling or making a mid-career switch,
look through the following list for qualities that you
may have and for the kind of commitment you may have
to make.
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