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How To Become A Counselor or Therapist In Nigeria
A counselor is a trained, objective professional with whom you
can build a healing and trusting relationship. They are trained
to offer different types of assistance; mostly talk-based styles
of therapy.
What professional qualifications do I need to become a counselor
or therapist in Nigeria?
You do not need any professional qualifications to become a
counselor in Nigeria. There is no law stating that you need any
specific qualification to practice as a counselor or therapist
in Nigeria.
Yes! You can just decide any day to call yourself a counselor or
therapist and if you can get people to believe you, that’s it,
you are a counselor already.
There is a term for people who practice as counselors but aren’t
trained or certified. They are called quasi-counselors. While no
legal laws are stopping you, it is morally wrong to call
yourself a counselor without training or certification.
To get the skills and certification to practice as a counselor
or therapist in Nigeria, there are two routes you can take. The
first is to get a degree in Guidance and counseling, psychology,
or psychiatry from any higher institution; and the second is to
take professional courses physically or online.
In some Nigerian universities, Guidance and Counseling is called
Counselor Education or Educational Guidance and Counseling so
you should check any of these names to know if the institution
offers the course or not.
Typically it takes four years to become a certified counselor or
therapist in Nigeria. This is if you choose to study guidance
and counseling or psychology at the university. But it can take
as long as 7 years if you choose the psychiatry route. It can
also take as short as one month if you decide to take online
courses and certifications.
Which association can I join to become a counselor or therapist
in Nigeria?
The two major associations for counselors in Nigeria are the
Counseling Association of Nigeria (CASSON) and the Association
of Professional Counselors in Nigeria (APROCON). They are
supposed to be in charge of the registration, licensing, and
regulation of counselors in Nigeria but they are not functional.
While you can still visit their website and register, they have
very skeletal structural activities.
Do I need any license to practice as a counselor or therapist in
Nigeria?
No, you do not need any license to practice as a counselor or
therapist in Nigeria. Although CASSON and APROCON are
associations that give licenses to counselors, there is no law
to sanction any person who practices as a counselor or therapist
in Nigeria without a license.
How To Become A Counselor or Therapist in Nigeria Without A
University Degree
Like I’ve said right from the beginning of this article, you can
become a practicing counselor in Nigeria, one who will even be
respected by graduates of counseling, without getting a
university degree in counseling.
All you need is the necessary skills to actually help clients
overcome their problems.
Truth be told, you can get these skills by reading books on
counseling and therapy, watching YouTube videos, and listening
to podcasts that teach about therapy.
But if you still want to get an organized form of training,
which I advise you to do, there is only one institution in
Nigeria I have found that offers counselor training and
certification and that is the Institute of Counseling in
Nigeria.
Institute of Counseling in Nigeria
They offer certification and diploma courses in a wide range of
counseling fields including Sex Therapy, Family, Couple &
Relationship Counseling, Child & Adolescent Counseling,
Substance Abuse & Addiction Counseling, Crisis Counseling, and
several others.
They also give you a certification that is recognized by the
Counseling Association of Nigeria (CASSON). If you want to
experience a school environment where you interact with fellow
students and lecturers, this is the option you should choose.
I have not witnessed any of their lectures but the fact that
they have the backing of the professional body of counselors in
Nigeria is a kind of assurance that you will get a great return
for your investment.
How Does Marriage Counseling Help Couples
It helps to create more trust or lost trust between couples as
trust is a major component in the foundation of a healthy
marriage.
It improves better communication in marriage. With the help of
marriage counseling, couples will get to understand that
everyone has different styles of communicating, and what mode of
communication best suites them.
One of the most phenomenal benefits of marriage counseling is it
helps to prevent future problems. There is no way to ensure
you’ll never argue again, of course, but it goes a long in
mitigating its occurrence too often.
Marriage counseling gives couples the problem-solving tools to
resolve conflict. In this regard, a counselor will help couples
understand some of the deeper reasons why they’re having
conflicts so that even when they’ve determined their immediate
current source of conflict, they’re empowered to solve future
problems healthily.
Online Course for Counselors and Therapists in Nigeria
On the other hand, if you only care about getting the skills and
being effective, the best option to choose is to go for an
online course. Online courses are quick, cheaper, and more
intensive in their teaching.
I have examined several online courses and I have found these
three to be the best. They are focused on actually drilling you
with the skills and not theories:
Counseling Skills Certificate Course (Beginner to Advanced)
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) Practitioner Course
Specialized Certificate Course in Psychological Counseling
In fact, even if you study guidance and counseling at the
university or take any course from the Institute of Counseling
in Nigeria, you should still take these courses to increase your
effectiveness. Only a few of the subjects covered in these
courses are taught at the university.
You will get certification after completing the course and the
bigger news is that you can get all the courses for less than
₦20,000. The most expensive of the courses is ₦75,000.
If you are passionate about helping people navigate their life
challenges and live happy and satisfying lives, choosing to
become a counselor or therapist is a great choice, especially in
Nigeria where counseling is just gaining acceptance. You will
become one of the early adopters.
No matter your age, economic status, or location, you can still
start since you don’t necessarily have to go to the university
to practice as a counselor in Nigeria.
Get our Practical Guide on How be a Counselor in Nigeria in
Nigeria. This guide, we'll walk you through the journey of
turning your Counseling Service
dream into a thriving business. From honing your skills
to setting up a professional business website, we'll cover
everything you need to know to successfully start a business as
Counseling Service
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