Steps To Becoming A Counselor In New Brunswick

To become a counsellor in New Brunswick, you must obtain a bachelor's or master's degree in counselling, career development, education, or social sciences. A teacher's certificate and some teaching experience are also required for counsellors in school settings. The College of Licensed Counselling Therapists of New Brunswick regulates the practice of counselling therapists, ensuring ethical services and protecting the public. Counselling and therapy undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate certificates and degrees are available at various universities in New Brunswick.

Qualifications: A bachelor's or master's degree in counselling, psychology or a related field

To become a counsellor in New Brunswick, you will need to obtain a bachelor's or master's degree in counselling, psychology, or a related field.

Undergraduate Degrees

In New Brunswick, you can pursue a Bachelor of Health Sciences at the University of New Brunswick in Saint John, which offers an undergraduate program in counselling and therapy. This degree will provide you with a solid foundation in the field and is a great starting point for a career in counselling.

Graduate Degrees

If you are interested in graduate studies, both the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton and Yorkville University offer master's programs in counselling.

The University of New Brunswick's Faculty of Education offers a Master of Education (MEd) in Counselling. This program is tailored for future master's-level practitioners aiming to work as school counsellors or counselling therapists. It offers a combined research and practice-based degree option, which can be beneficial if you plan to pursue a doctoral degree in counselling psychology.

Yorkville University, on the other hand, provides an online Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology (MACP) program. This graduate program is an accredited pathway to licensure, allowing you to practice as a qualified counsellor in Canada. The MACP offers flexible study options and an extensive practicum, ensuring you gain hands-on experience in group counselling and working with couples and families.

Doctoral Degrees

For those aspiring for further education, pursuing a doctorate (PhD) in Counselling and Therapy is also an option in New Brunswick.

Obtaining a degree in counselling, psychology, or a related field is a crucial step towards becoming a counsellor in New Brunswick. These programs will equip you with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively serve individuals, groups, and communities in need of counselling services.

Specialisations: Academic specialisation may be required for certain roles

While it is possible to work as a general counsellor, many professionals opt to specialise in a certain area. Specialising in a particular field can help breed a sense of intimacy and familiarity with the topic and issues at hand, which can boost a counsellor's confidence in their ability to provide the best care to their clients.

There are many different areas of counselling, and some of the most common specialisations include:

• Marriage, couples and family counselling: Marriage, couples and family therapists work with families and couples to help them navigate issues that can impact intimate and loving relationships. This can include mental illness, as well as individuals recovering from traumatic or abusive situations. Marriage and family counsellors may also work with clients experiencing common family and marriage-based problems such as infidelity, divorce, and grief.
• Substance abuse counselling: Substance abuse counsellors assist clients struggling with addictions to drugs, alcohol, gambling or eating disorders. They help clients assess their behaviours, determine the kinds of behaviour they want to change, and develop strategies to achieve lives of recovery and sobriety.
• Grief counselling: Grief counsellors help clients cope with grief and mourning following the death of a loved one, or with major life changes that trigger feelings of grief, such as divorce. Grief therapy involves the use of clinical tools for traumatic or complicated grief reactions, such as when a grief reaction is prolonged or manifests through bodily or behavioural symptoms.
• Art therapy: Art therapists work in a variety of settings to help people address their health and well-being through the art-making process or the psychotherapeutic transference process between the therapist and the client. Art-based assessments are used to evaluate emotional, cognitive, and developmental conditions.
• Music therapy: Music therapists use music within a therapeutic relationship to address an individual's physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs. Qualified music therapists assess the strengths and needs of each client and then provide the appropriate treatment, which could include creating, singing, moving to, and/or listening to music.
• Financial counselling: Also known as debt counselling, credit counselling, or financial advising, financial counsellors may deal with financial troubles or provide advice on investments, asset allocation, and portfolio diversification.

In addition to the above, counsellors may also choose to specialise in fields such as education, mental health, or rehabilitation counselling.

Licensing: Membership of a regulatory body may be compulsory for practice

To practice as a counsellor in New Brunswick, you must be licensed. The regulatory body for counsellors in the province is The College of Licensed Counselling Therapists of New Brunswick. This body ensures ethical services and protects the public. It also provides guidelines, standards, and events to enhance your skills, increase your visibility, and give you access to services and educational resources.

The College of Licensed Counselling Therapists of New Brunswick was established following the passing of the Licensed Counselling Therapy Act (Bill 64) in 2017. The Act received Royal Assent on May 5, 2017, and the College was proclaimed on June 1, 2017. The College now has almost 200 members.

To become a licensed counselling therapist in New Brunswick, you must meet the education and training requirements, which are set by the College. These requirements include completing a master's or doctoral degree in counselling or a related field, as well as supervised clinical experience. You must also pass a standardized examination, such as the one provided by COMPASS.

It is important to note that there are different types of licenses and protected titles for counsellors in New Brunswick. These include Licensed Counselling Therapist, Licensed Career Counsellor, Registered Counselling Therapist, and Registered Career Counsellor. Each of these titles has specific requirements and scope of practice that you should be aware of.

Teaching: A teaching certificate and experience are required for school counsellor roles

To become a school counsellor in New Brunswick, you will need a teacher's certificate from the province and some teaching experience. This requirement is in addition to the academic qualifications needed to become a counsellor in a school setting, which include a bachelor's degree in counselling, career development, education, or social sciences, and a master's degree in counselling psychology or a related field.

The academic requirements for a teacher's certificate in New Brunswick include an approved bachelor's degree in education from a New Brunswick university and a minimum of 120 to 168 university credit hours. The number of required credit hours depends on the level of the teacher's certificate. For a teacher's certificate 4, 120 to 138 credit hours are needed, including 30 credits in pedagogical training and 18 credits (or 18 weeks) of approved practice teaching. For a teacher's certificate 5, 168 credit hours are required, including 45 credits in pedagogical training and 15 credits (or 15 weeks) of approved practice teaching. To obtain a teacher's certificate 6, you must meet the requirements for a teacher's certificate 5 and complete either an approved Master of Education degree or a Master's degree in a teachable subject with 30 credit hours at the 6000 level. Alternatively, you can complete a non-degree program with 30 credit hours at the 6000 level that leads to an additional major or two additional minors.

The approved bachelor's degree in education should include a major (30 credits) in a teachable subject or a combination of a major (24 credits) and a minor (18 credits) in two teachable subjects. The teachable subjects can be chosen from a variety of fields, depending on your interests and the requirements of the specific school or district.

It is important to note that the requirements for a teacher's certificate may vary slightly depending on the province or territory in which you intend to teach. If you already have a teaching certificate from another province or territory, you may need to meet additional requirements to obtain a New Brunswick teacher's certificate.

Professional development: Membership of professional bodies can enhance skills and provide resources

Membership of professional bodies is an important step in the career of any aspiring counsellor in New Brunswick. These organisations are vital to upskilling individuals and preparing them for the world of work. They possess specific knowledge, skills and experience related to their members' professions, supporting their professional development and advancement.

Professional bodies in the counselling industry provide advice and support to professionals and service users, regulate the industry, and work with other organisations to ensure therapeutic services are working well for their clients. Some bodies focus on a specific type of therapy or modality, while others cover a wider range of therapy and counselling types.

The College of Licensed Counselling Therapists of New Brunswick, for example, regulates the practice of counselling therapists by ensuring ethical services that protect the public. They are committed to providing the highest level of counselling therapy to individuals, couples, families and groups. Membership of this body will enhance your skills, increase your visibility, and give you access to services and educational resources.

Joining a professional body offers many benefits, including access to information and resources, relevant certifications and qualifications, and professional advice. It also provides an opportunity to connect with like-minded professionals, gain recognition in the industry, and access work experience and job opportunities.

For example, members of the Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE) gain access to their journal, "Building Engineer", which provides valuable insights into career progression. CABE also provides accreditation to courses, ensuring that educational standards meet industry needs, and offers access to academic and company partners, providing a link between students, institutions, and employers for work placements and career opportunities.

Professional bodies offer a range of membership categories and require members to undertake regular Continuing Professional Development (CPD) to ensure skills remain up-to-date and that members are informed about new developments and best practices in the industry.

Membership of a professional body is a valuable step for any aspiring counsellor in New Brunswick, providing a wealth of resources and support to enhance skills and further career development.

Frequently asked questions