A counsellor is above all a carer. You must enjoy helping people.

You should be good with people. You need to be interested in the client’s life and work. The client will not be interested in you as a person. Don’t expect to tell the client your life story. As a supplier, your job is to help the client solve their problems.

You must respond quickly to a client’s call; and you must arrange a meeting within the client’s time frame.

You should also be a constant marketer. A counsellor’s income could cease tomorrow, so you need to be regularly looking for work.

You must be mobile, capable of getting to a client’s house.

A counsellor should also be orderly. Counsellors must keep proper client records, and organise their work. Keeping control over the diary is essential, especially if you have other family or work responsibilities.