Helping people
What does a
counsellor do?
Listens to people and helps them work through problems.
A career guide for curious students · Grades 3–12
A day in the life
Meets people one-to-one, listens carefully, and helps them find their own ways forward.
Skills to practise
Listening, empathy, trustworthiness.
How to explore this path
Psychology study plus supervised training.
Training, qualifications and professional rules vary by country. Check current local requirements with a teacher or careers counsellor.
School subjects & interests
Counsellor connects with Languages, Social Science. You may enjoy this work if you like with people.
TRY A LITTLE OF THIS CAREER
A hands-on activity
Practise listening to a friend for 3 minutes without interrupting.
Ask an adult to help. Follow the safety notes in the activity. Printable activities are currently in English.
For younger explorers: a simpler explanation
What do they do?
Counsellors listen to people who feel worried or sad and help them find ways to feel better.
What helps?
Listening well and being kind and trustworthy.
Learning about the path
You study psychology, then train with experts.
Questions to explore next
- Which part of this work sounds most interesting to me?
- What did I enjoy when I tried the activity?
- What could I ask someone who works in this field?