dESIGNATIONS!
Student Counsellor!
Student Counsellor: An applicant in training must submit an application together with a Letter of Acceptance from the educational institution where they are enrolled.
Counsellors employed by institutions must be overseen by a person or organization to which they must provide frequent reports. A fundamental counselling qualification is the bare minimum training.
This counsellor has at least a two-year (or equivalent) degree in counselling. As a licensed counsellor or practitioner, such a counsellor may operate in a group context or independently.
Specialist Counsellor!
This counsellor possesses at least a master’s degree in counselling (or an equivalent qualification). Once a master’s degree, doctorate, or PhD in counselling, or other professional training closely connected to counselling, has been earned, an application for registration as a specialist counsellor may be submitted.
GBV Counsellor!
GBV (Gender-Based Violence) counsellors must have the following core competencies:
Understand and apply a survivor-centred approach, including GBV Guiding Principles (Safety, Confidentiality, Respect, Non-discrimination).
Demonstrate commitment to gender equality.
Promote and integrate gender analysis and mainstreaming into humanitarian programming.
To become a GBV counselor in South Africa, you typically need to:
- 1. Complete an introductory counselling course.
- 2. Earn a certificate in counselling skills.
- 3. Undergo core practitioner training (minimum Level 4 Diploma).
LGBTQIA+ Counsellor!
A certificate or diploma can be acceptable qualifications for becoming an LGBTQAI+ counsellor in South Africa. A minimum of five years’ full-time formal education in psychology, including a three-year Bachelor’s degree majoring in psychology and an Honours degree in psychology.
Lay Counsellor!
- Lay counsellor involves non-ordained, trained volunteers who guide and support others under supervision. Lay counsellors maintain strict confidentiality, keep notes and files on their cases, and regularly receive supervision from higher qualified counsellors. This first line of counselling immediately creates two benefits. Firstly, it makes more counsellors available to more people. Secondly, it alleviates the burden on pastors, friends and the professional medical fraternity to focus on their core competencies.
- In South Africa, lay counsellors form the first line of contact for most people who “just need someone to talk to”. A Short Learning course that focuses on counselling services with a specific focus on HIV and AIDS or Trauma support. The duration of the course is 6 months (full-time) or 1 year (part-time).