There’s no quick formula for becoming a Counselling Psychologist in India. You need to finish your graduation just like any other student. But if you ask what faster ways are to become a counselling psychologist in India or make a career early, then yes, we can surely guide you for this. In our previous blog, we have already discussed why becoming a counselling psychologist is an excellent career choice.
In India, mental health has already become a priority, and most people in all metro cities are seeking professional counselling for everyday stress, daily world pressures, and adjustment issues. Apart from this, there’s a massive shortage of experienced counsellors who can reach out to the current population in India. With this, we do need more counsellors in the coming years, also ones who are more equipped with practical skills. Opting for practical counselling courses like those provided by Indian Counselling Services is going to offer you real-world skills required to become a counsellor in 2026.
What is Counselling Psychology?
According to the American Psychological Association (APA), Counselling Psychology plays its crucial role in addressing emotional, social, work, school, and physical health concerns people might face in different stages of life. A counsellor focuses on well-being, prevention, and remediation, working with individuals in multiple contexts like families, organizations, and communities.
As a Counselling Psychologist, you conduct assessments, psychometric testing, and observe clients in a collaborative and trusting relationship. This therapeutic relationship helps counsellors explore their thoughts, feelings, behaviours, and relationships. Once a counsellor observes their clients, they create a treatment plan using therapies like CBT, solution-focused therapy, and help clients in positive behavioural changes.
What makes a Counselling Psychologist different from a Clinical Psychologist? The difference lies in the severity of mental health problems and treatment plans. Where a counsellor focuses on less severe mental health issues like development issues or daily life stresses, a Clinical Psychologist works with severe mental disorders like schizophrenia and bipolar disorders.
The journey of becoming a Counselling Psychologist is relatively faster than that of a Clinical Psychologist. After finishing your school, you require a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree in Psychology with specialization in counselling, and an optional counselling diploma course to develop theoretical and practical skills.
5 Hacks To Become A Counselling Psychologist Faster
As we mentioned before, there is no shortcut to finishing your counselling course faster, but there are a few innovative ways students can opt to begin their career early. Here’s the list:
1. Make Sure You Are Choosing the Right Academic Path
I have seen many students who are not sure which psychology field they are supposed to choose. They keep switching from clinical to counselling or vice versa. But if you are someone who knows clearly that counselling psychology is your ideal path, this very thing will be a huge benefit in your journey. So make sure to align counselling psychology as early as possible and study all the fundamentals to master your skills.
2. Pursue Value-Added Counselling Diploma Courses Alongside Studies
One of the best hacks is to begin a diploma course in counselling psychology alongside your bachelor’s or master’s. If you are getting an online diploma course just like one provided by Indian Counselling Services, you can build practical skills that blend perfectly with your theoretical knowledge. With this, you can not only make your resume, but also practically work in clinics or start practising early under supervision.
3. Enroll For Internships And Practical Training Programs
Many students are beginning internships in colleges, and I feel it’s one of the much-needed steps to become a skilled mental health professional expert in both knowledge and field work. If you are still thinking that you will begin your internship after graduation, you are surely wasting a lot of time. Because today, you can easily get practical counselling internships both online and offline from reputed organizations.
4. Start Practicing Under Supervision Early
One of the most crucial steps to becoming a professional Counselling Psychologist is practical training. And most of the students begin their training part after their graduation. But if you are smart and could find yourself a practising psychologist who could show you how to build rapport, communicate with clients, and provide the right therapies, your training starts earlier than others. This step could be done if you can build networks on LinkedIn, talk to your professors for training, or just email directly to showcase your interests.
5. Apply Counselling Skills In Diverse Settings
Counselling is not just limited to clinics. You can start taking early sessions at school, corporate firms, NGO’s, and online platforms. This will not only give you real-world exposure but also give you an idea of where you fit best for counselling roles. In this way, you can earn faster than others in the counselling field.
Career Benefits As A Counselling Psychologist In India
Now, since we have discussed some innovative ways to begin your career as a Counselling Psychologist faster, here are some benefits of choosing this field in 2026:
- Potential To Earn And Expand Your Salary: As a Counselling Psychologist, expect a decent salary package starting from 2.8 lakhs per year. But this does not limit you. Suppose you are working as a counsellor in various settings, for instance, as a school counsellor in the morning, taking one-on-one sessions in the evening, and taking counselling sessions too, trust me. In that case, you can double your income in this field. Your salary also depends on your skills. So make sure to enhance your practical skills as much as possible.
- Start Your Career Early: Counselling Psychology is one of the fields in which you can start earning early. With internships and diplomas, you can expect to practise sooner than traditional routes. This early start in your counselling career will help you build a bigger client base than others.
- Work In Different Settings: As a counselling psychologist, one of the most significant benefits is the ability to work in different fields because we need counsellors today in other places. Imagine taking online sessions, group therapies, in school and educational institutions, or simply taking workshops and guiding young minds to build their career in counselling, just like you did.
- Flexible Job Role: As a counselling psychologist, you are never restricted to fixed working hours. You can work as a freelancer, work part-time or full-time, establish your own practice and set your own timings accordingly, and enjoy life with work.
- Growing Demand And Recognition:
With the growing demand for accessible mental health, people are recognizing the value of taking counselling from time to time. As a counselling psychologist, you are not just earning a good salary, but also creating a positive impact by contributing to this field. It’s a promising field and is likely to be required in both rural and urban areas.
How Indian Counselling Can Help You?
Planning to work as a Counselling Psychologist in India, but unsure how to get started? Indian Counselling Services is an award-winning organization contributing to this field since the time of the pandemic. From providing highly rated Counselling Diploma courses in India to giving personalized guidance, we are here to support students, teachers, and working professionals to step into the field of psychology.
Connect with us and kickstart your journey in Counselling Psychology today!
