What Are the Different Types of Counsellors and Their Salaries?

The counselling profession is diverse, with over a dozen specialisms each focusing on unique client needs, from mental health to career guidance. Salaries for counsellors in the UK vary significantly, with figures ranging from approximately £21,000 for admissions counsellors to over £36,700 for speech therapists, based on data from recruitment websites. Understanding these roles is the first step to identifying the career path that aligns with your skills and passions.

What Does a Counsellor Do?

A counsellor is a trained professional who provides support and guidance to individuals, groups, or families, helping them navigate personal, social, or psychological challenges. Using various structured therapeutic modalities—a term for evidence-based counselling techniques—they assist clients in expressing emotions, solving problems, and achieving personal goals. While specific duties vary by specialism, most counsellors follow a similar process: assessing client needs, setting collaborative goals, and monitoring progress to determine the next steps.

What Are the Most Common Types of Counsellors?

The field of counselling is broad, catering to specific life areas and populations. Here are 14 prominent types of counsellors, their primary duties, and their average annual salary in the UK.

Other key roles include:

• Marriage and Family Counsellor: Works with couples and families to improve communication and resolve conflicts (£31,338).
• Trauma Counsellor: Supports clients who have experienced deeply distressing events (£31,338).
• Vocational Counsellor: Helps individuals select a suitable career path through interviews and assessments (£31,441).
• Youth Counsellor: Guides teenagers and young adults dealing with issues like bullying, trauma, or behavioural problems (£25,348).

How Do You Choose the Right Counselling Specialism?

Selecting a specialism is a personal decision that should be based on your interests, strengths, and desired work environment. Based on our assessment experience, consider the following:

• Population: Do you want to work with children (Youth Counsellor), students (Guidance Counsellor), or adults (Mental Health Counsellor)?
• Issue Area: Are you passionate about relationships (Marriage Counsellor), career success (Vocational Counsellor), or physical health (Nutritional Counsellor)?
• Setting: Do you prefer a school, hospital, private practice, or corporate environment?

Gaining exposure through volunteer work or informational interviews with practicing counsellors can provide invaluable insight into the day-to-day realities of each role.

To build a successful counselling career, first identify the client population and issues you are most drawn to, then pursue the specific qualifications and supervised experience required for that specialism. Salary should be one factor among many, as passion for the work is a critical component of job satisfaction and talent retention in this demanding field. The most effective counsellors are those whose personal interests align closely with their professional focus.