When it comes to counselling, there are a number of different routes you can take. If you are keen to make a career out of it, it may be a good idea to take a specialist counselling course to put you in good stead for the future. Of course, even if you do take a course, you still have a lot of different options.

Traditional classroom

There are counselling courses available to you that involve a traditional classroom type of set up. These courses will mean that you'd have to make your way to wherever the course was being held and will probably have to attend on a regular basis. If you are busy or have a job, this can be quite difficult. You may also have to rely on public transport to get you to the classes as well, adding to your overall stress.

Flexible study

This type of studying is becoming increasingly popular because it offers up so much freedom to the students. If you are working, have children, or just a busy lifestyle, being able to work flexibly is often the deciding factor as to whether you enrol on the course or not. These types of courses can come in a number of different formats. Some of them involve you attending a face to face meeting or lecture infrequently, around once a month. Some of them don't actually need you to leave the house at all for the whole course.

If you are opting for a self-study course, you can usually do everything from your home, as long as you have access to a computer and the internet. Lectures can take place via video link and work can be submitted via email or sent using a shared server. For counselling, providers like Chrysalis Courses provide several options to fit around your life. 

Money saver

This type of self-study means you can save yourself a considerable amount of money. If you have to travel to a course regularly, the little costs can soon add up. You will need to pay out for either public transport or fuel for your car. There may not be free parking on offer so you could need to subsidise this as well. If you have children, it could be the case that you have to arrange childcare which can often work out to be very expensive. Working from home removes all of these costs and can make you feel more positive about doing the work.

Motivation

It's worth noting that if you do decide to opt for a self-study course, you will need a serious amount of motivation. Working from home is not for everyone and you will have to ensure you are not subjected to lots of distractions. Some people actually find themselves to be more motivated at home because they are away from external distractions like fellow students and they can choose the time they work. A classroom environment is normally quite structured but if the course takes place early in the morning and you function better in the afternoon, a self-study approach may be much more effective for you.