Career Counselling in London and Online

What is Career Counselling?

Career counselling is a form of therapy that provides support and direction for those wanting to reach their full potential and heighten their career satisfaction. Nowadays, changing jobs multiple times throughout one’s career is very common. You might wish to have a better-paid position, decrease the number of hours spent working or find a healthier working environment. Nevertheless, such transitions can be difficult. 

Our qualified therapists understand the ever-rising pressures and struggles of demanding positions. Working with them presents an opportunity to:

• Discuss your current issues, like burnout, work-related stress or a problematic boss 
• Better understand your personal needs and values,
• Develop strategies to overcome any obstacles,
• Learn techniques to boost your motivation, confidence or assertiveness,
• Explore alternative career paths that align with your skills and preferences,
• Make informed decisions and set realistic goals regarding your career,
• Go through this transition smoothly and comfortably,
• Increase life satisfaction and the quality of your relationships resulting from work fulfilment. 

Does Career Counselling Work?

Research shows the effectiveness of career counselling in producing positive change (1), decreasing career indecision and stabilising clients’ satisfaction over time (2). 

Career counselling works because it brings together processes, methods, and techniques from career assessment and development as well as various aspects of psychology such as CBT (Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy), coaching, goal-setting and decision-making in order to gain insight into each specific issue you’re facing in your working life. This unique therapeutic approach aims to support you throughout the entire process so that you can make long-term positive changes in your working life, where your goals align with your values. 

With the assistance of a qualified therapist, you can:

• take a closer look at your specific situation,
• gain clarity on what you want to achieve,
• address any internal issues that cause dissatisfaction in your professional life, such as performance anxiety, unhelpful thoughts or difficulty being assertive,
• discuss problematic external factors like heavy workloads or bullying at your workplace. 
• learn how to use tools and techniques to cope with these difficulties, 
• gain the confidence you need to make positive changes.

Is Career Counselling worth it?

What happens in Career Counselling?

Career counselling aims to help you get the career you want and enjoy. To achieve that, our therapists utilise techniques from different approaches like CBT (Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy), Person-Centred Therapy, Solution-Focussed Therapy and more, so that you gain clarity on your goals understand your situation better. The role of your counsellor is to be your guide, assist, encourage and support you on your journey in an empathetic and non-judgmental way.

Throughout the entire process, you will work with a qualified therapist to attain different objectives, such as:

• Exploring your strengths, skills, experience and areas of expertise,
• Identifying your unique needs, expectations and aspirations regarding your career,
• Finding a career direction that aligns with your values,
• Setting specific long-term goals that are realistic and adequate, e.g. the amount of time spent looking for other jobs, decreasing the current workload,
• Learning useful interpersonal skills, e.g. assertiveness training needed to ask for a promotion or anger management,

Resolving any personal obstacles or work issues, e.g. stopping the vicious cycle of negative thoughts that lead to self-sabotage, using self-soothing techniques to cope with the fear of public speaking.

What issues can benefit from Career Counselling?

An average person living in the UK with a full-time job spends around 36 hours weekly working. One in three employees is dissatisfied with their current position. Since we spend such a significant portion of our life working, any issues within that area will inevitably impact our wellbeing. 

Career counselling offers a wealth of assistance for those who feel lost, unmotivated or confused in their careers. It helps clients find their path, redefine their goals, and overcome obstacles. Additionally, it addresses a wide range of work-related mental health issues, such as:

• Burnout syndrome
• Work and career stress
• Performance anxiety 
• Bullying at work
• Anger management issues
• Communication and assertiveness issues
• Relational issues 
• low self-esteem and lack of confidence
• depression.

Some clients also struggle with imposter syndrome, which leads to discomfort, self-doubt, fear of failure and unrealistic expectations. This self-imposed pressure effects in perfectionism, overworking yourself and belittling your abilities. 

Exploring these issues in the safety of your career counselling sessions can help you understand your obstacles and unhelpful behavioural patterns and lear to adopt healthier coping mechanisms. With the assistance of a qualified therapist, you can set realistic goals and devise a concrete action plan to improve your quality of life.

When to consider Career Counselling?

Consider career counselling if your current job or career is negatively affecting the quality of your life and is detrimental to your mental well-being, e.g. the workload is causing chronic stress, low mood, insomnia or relationship issues. At Therapy Central, our career counsellors offer confidential space within which you can discuss your work-related issues. It can be a good fit if you:

• Feel overwhelmed, confused, stuck in a rut, unhappy and unmotivated,
• Don’t know how to cope with negative thoughts and emotions around work,
• Work in a toxic environment, e.g., controlling boss, bullying
• Don’t feel aligned with your goals
• Want to ask for promotion/negotiate different terms but don’t know how,
• Seek a different job that would fill you with a sense of meaning and purpose,
• Wish to gain clarity on your long-term career plans. 
• your life outside of work (e.g., relationships, hobbies) is affected by work stress

What to expect from Career Counselling?

In career counselling, the biggest priority is placed on understanding your unique situation and helping you achieve a more satisfying and rewarding experience of your job and career. To achieve that, your therapist will need your active participation in and out of your sessions. In your initial meetings, you can expect to:

• Be asked different questions regarding your values, aspirations, detailed description of your current issue, past experiences and plans for the future,
• Research alternative career paths with your therapist,
• Work with your therapist on identifying your triggers and overcoming difficulties.

It’s important to remember that your career counsellor is here to support and assist you, but you are the one to make final decisions about your work life.

How long does Career Counselling Take?

The length of the therapeutic process varies from one client to another. It can be as short as 6 weeks or last for more than 6 months. It all depends on your unique situation, the severity of your issues and expectations. Our therapists, who use an integrative approach, take various factors into consideration and will tailor the treatment to your unique subjective circumstances.

How to prepare for your first Career Counselling session?

Before coming to your first Career Counselling session, you can reflect on your expectations and the goal you’d like to achieve. Keep in mind that the main focus is directed at helping you find ways to improve your current situation. It means you will be the one taking decisions, not the therapist. You can also prepare to play an active part in each session, researching various topics and planning your career. The therapist will equip you with the tools necessary to overcome difficulties and help you reach your full potential, first with assistance and professional guidance, and eventually on your own.