A survey of advertised Australian counsellors

Abstract

As counselling is a developing profession without statutory regulation in Australia, anyone can engage in counselling practice and use “counsellor” as a professional title. Not much is known about those who call themselves counsellors in Australia. This survey research in a field setting aimed to describe Australian Yellow Pages Advertised Counsellors, thus providing a snapshot of advertised counsellors in Australia. This research was thus designed to describe those who are engaging in advertised counselling practice in Australia. Data was collected using a multiple mailing survey method and resulted in a 62.2% return rate. The counsellors' (1) demographic characteristics, (2) counselling training and development, (3) provision of counselling services, and (4) professional involvement were assessed. Advertised Australian counsellors tend to be female, mature, Caucasian, married or partnered, heterosexual, have families, and hold Christian beliefs. The majority of counsellors live in urban areas. The field could arguably benefit from increasing the diversity of its members. Nevertheless, advertised Australian counsellors are qualified professionals who tend to hold university qualifications and are likely to have received their training in counselling from a university provider. They are experienced service providers and engage in ongoing supervision as a supervisee. Moreover, these counsellors are involved in a variety of professional organizations. Advertised Australian counsellors, however, often struggle with issues related to burnout. They demonstrate their belief in the power of counselling by engaging in personal counselling. Advertised Australian counsellors actively engage in professional development, read professional journals, and report wanting further training regarding cognitive behaviour therapy, family therapy, EMDR, hypnosis, and trauma‐related difficulties. The majority of counsellors indicate making $40,000 or less per year. Survey results clearly indicate that the professionalisation of counselling is underway.

Advertised Australian counselling psychologists: A descriptive survey of their practice details and self perceived competence in six counselling psychology practice areas

“…Thus, the description of the method used and basic demographic data presented echo the material in Pelling, Brear and Lau (2006). Similarly, some of the literature review presented echoes a portion of the literature review in an examination of Australian Counselling Association members conducted in 2004.…”

Advertised psychologists and counsellors in Hong Kong and Singapore

“…The survey questions used to obtain the results that are the material for, and the format used in this manuscript, were informed by work published previously on Australian counsellors and psychologists by Pelling, N., Brear, P., & Lau, M. (2006). A survey of advertised Australian counsellors.…”

Counselling in rural Scotland: care, proximity and trust

“…However, the relationship between feminism and counselling is far from straightforward, with commentators emphasising tensions and ambiguities as well as potential common ground (Bondi 2006b;Proctor and Napier 2004). Less ambiguous is the marked preponderance of women among counselling practitioners, rendering it a highly feminine occupation (Coldridge and Mickleborough 2003;Pelling, Brear, and Lau 2006;Philipson 1993). This it shares with many other forms of care associated with modern urban societies (Sevenhuisen 1998;Tronto 1993).…”