Ensure your CV format is structured to best highlight your unique experience and life situation.

Counsellor CV Template (Text Format)

PERSONAL STATEMENT

Licenced counsellor with 6 years of experience helping clients overcome diverse needs. Skilled using client-centred approaches to effect change and enhance wellbeing. Excellent communicator with a history of success in behaviour medication, drug abuse counselling, PTSD counselling, crisis intervention, and group counselling. Seeking to leverage skills and experience to help clients resolve psychological, emotional, and relationship issues.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Counsellor
Mark Centre Counsellors
Aug 2019–present, London

  • Provide case-by-case assessments and tailored treatment approaches for over 20+ cases monthly
  • Manage 180+ clients through all stages of counselling, including client assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, therapy, and discharge
  • Facilitate group therapy sessions for individuals struggling with substance abuse, including body and nutrition, yoga therapy, and relapse-prevention
  • Led a group of 10 veterans through PTSD and trauma treatment, helping facilitate transitions back into society
  • Maintain 100% compliance with professional standards of client privacy

Counsellor
Lenton Community Centre
Aug 2017–Aug 2019, London

  • Assessed clients, developed treatment plans, and implemented approaches to overcome diverse counselling needs
  • Performed marriage and family counselling for couples to improve communication and strengthen relationships, leading +30 couples patients to report improved wellbeing after beginning treatment
  • Managed group counselling of 15 vulnerable teenagers, supporting their transition to an independent life over 18 months
  • Carried out 15 diagnoses weekly and formulated treatment plans for various counselling needs, including stress, addiction, and relationship guidance
  • Adhered to all regulations on ethical and professional counselling practices established by the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)

Workplace Counsellor
Lesley Counselling Centre
Aug 2015–July 2017, London

  • Provided client-centred support to over 150 clients to empower them to overcome emotional and psychological difficulties as well as assist them in making informed decisions
  • Mediated conflicts between 100+ staff and company management, improving workplace culture and employee wellbeing
  • Coordinated weekly counselling sessions to assist clients in overcoming psychological and emotional issues impeding workplace productivity and potential maximisation
  • Listened attentively to 10+ clients weekly to provide comprehensive assessments and solutions for varied counselling needs
  • Assisted clients in handling crises by providing them with coping mechanisms for needs such as grief, sickness, and disabilities

EDUCATION

MSc Counselling (Merit)
University of Derby
2013–2015, Derby

Bachelor (Hons), Psychology (II.i)
University of Manchester
2010–2013, Manchester

KEY SKILLS

  • Group counselling
  • Treatment planning
  • Person-centred therapy
  • Customer service skills
  • Excellent people skills
  • Strong observation skills
  • Conflict resolution
  • Time management

HOBBIES & INTERESTS

  • Organising charity events
  • Watching movies and TV series
  • Painting
  • Reading non-fiction books
  • Solving puzzles
  • Fishing

Skills and qualifications to list on your counsellor CV

Before you begin writing, make sure you know how to write a CV in a way that best emphasises your strengths.

As a counsellor, your main responsibilities include providing emotional and mental support to clients in need, as well as helping them navigate difficult life situations.

You’ll need to establish a relationship of trust with individual and group clients. You’ll also encourage your clients to talk about uncomfortable personal issues while helping them towards a deeper understanding of themselves.

While there aren’t specific education requirements for working as a counsellor, employers will expect you to have undergone proper training with a recognised professional body.

In the UK, professional qualifications for counsellors are recognized by the following organisations:

Counselling jobs require many soft skills (abilities linked to your personality that will allow you to connect with clients). These include interpersonal skills, verbal and written communication, empathy, and analytical skills like critical thinking.

Here’s a full list of valuable skills and qualities for a counsellor CV:

  • Critical thinking
  • Active listening
  • The ability to remain calm under pressure
  • Empathy and sensitivity towards others
  • Analytical skills
  • Critical thinking
  • Problem-solving
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Active listening
  • Organisational skills
  • Time management
  • Compassion
  • Observation and listening skills
  • A non-judgemental attitude
  • Self-awareness
  • Verbal and written communication
  • The ability to establish rapport
  • Sensitivity to equality and diversity issues
Need more ideas?

Our library of CV examples has hundreds of tailored CVs you can use to fine-tune your job application and stand out from other applicants.

Counsellor job outlook in 2024 — things to know

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), counsellors in the UK earn an average annual salary of £21,634.

Additionally, there are similar pay levels for both men and women in this type of role.

Data source: The Office for National Statistics, an agency of His Majesty’s Government. The information contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 and reflects the ONS’s most recent salary (1/11/2023), gender pay gap (4/2023), and skills shortage data (6/2022).

Samuel Johns
Written by

Samuel Johns

Samuel Johns is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and senior career counsellor on the CV Genius team, with almost 5 years of experience in the career space. He has helped countless job hunters craft high-quality CVs and cover letters, exceed expectations at interviews, and obtain their dream jobs. Born and raised in County Durham in the beautiful North East of England, he graduated with a BA (Hons) in French Language and Literature from the University of Bristol in 2013 and has worked in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, London, Paris, and Taipei as a French–English translator. He’s determined to use his native English and fluent French skills to help UK and French candidates get the jobs they deserve. In addition to the British and French versions of CV Genius, Samuel’s job-hunt advice has been published on numerous websites, including Careers.org, the University of Warwick, the Enterprisers Project, and HR.com. If you’d like to collaborate, please reach out to Samuel through LinkedIn. Please note, we don’t accept guest posts and won’t reply to such requests.