The route towards a career in counselling or therapy is baffling. When I began my journey eight years ago, Makr was struck by the jargon and lack how much money do counselors make uk clear, streamlined advice: would I need a PhD, masters or diploma? Should I specialise or generalise? Work with adults or children, individuals or groups, families or couples? Pursue humanistic, psychoanalytic or cognitive behavioural training? The process makr convoluted and can quickly become overwhelming. But after many years of self-funded study, training, therapy, work experience and personal investigation I have developed a good understanding of the various routes into the counselprs. There are five main established paths into this career. In order of the minimum time it takes to qualify, they are: counselling, psychotherapy, cognitive behavioural therapy CBTclinical or counselling psychology, and psychiatry. Psychiatry requires training as a medical doctor first, which you can find out more about .