How to Write a Counsellor CV: Tips + Examples for 2026

Start your counsellor CV with a straightforward header

The CV header is simple but crucial. That’s why it must be impeccable. Remember that a single typo here can make it impossible for the recruiter to contact you. 

Include:

• Full name and professional title: e.g. Leanne Tegg – Counsellor. Using your job title in the header immediately signals your profession.
• Phone number: Use a number you check often and format it for easy reading (e.g. +44 7912 345 678).
• Professional email address: Use a concise, professional email (firstname.lastname@email.com). Avoid unprofessional addresses.
• Location: Just your town/city and country (e.g. Leeds, UK). A full street address isn’t necessary.
• LinkedIn URL: If you have a LinkedIn profile with additional details or recommendations, include the link (ensure your profile is up to date).
  

Counsellor CV example: header

Create an engaging personal profile for your counselling CV

The personal statement is a concise, impactful introduction at the top of your CV. It should explicitly specify the changes you have implemented as a counsellor. Show your greatest achievements and personalise it to the job offer–the recruiter will read on.

Here’s how to create a counsellor CV profile:

• Start by stating who you are–job title and years of experience. 
• Emphasise areas of expertise, such as trauma counselling, youth mental health, substance abuse recovery, or the types of environments you’ve worked in.
• Prove your impact with numbers or concrete outcomes. That way, you’ll easily grab attention and show you’re results-oriented.
• Conclude with how you’ll help the employer going forward. This aligns your goals with the employer’s needs.

Counsellor CV personal profile example

Describe your experience on a counsellor CV

The experience section is the core of your CV. It demonstrates how you’ve applied your skills to make a difference in previous roles. 

A compelling work history not only details what you did but also highlights how well you performed. Emphasise achievements and impacts – these are the indicators that hiring managers value most.

For each position, use a clear layout and tailor the details to the job you’re applying for. Include:

• Job title, employer, and location: e.g. Counsellor – City College, Leeds. This should be on one line, along with the dates you worked there (month and year). If the role is current, write something like “2018–Present.”
• Dates of employment: List both the start and end date (month/year). Consistent formatting here (like Jan 2020 – Sep 2025) makes it easy to follow your timeline.
• 3–6 bullet points of achievements and responsibilities: In each bullet, start with a strong action verb (“Led…,” “Implemented…,” “Increased…”) and then describe your accomplishment or duty. Wherever possible, quantify the result or provide a concrete outcome.
• Study the job description and mirror its priorities. Highlight relevant experience with specific client groups or methods. 
• Keep bullets focused and avoid repetition; use one to demonstrate expertise in an area (e.g., cognitive therapy) and another for a different strength (e.g., crisis management). This shows a broad range of capabilities.

Also, don’t feel obliged to list every job you’ve ever had. It’s usually better to omit very old or irrelevant roles (for example, a past career in retail) and concentrate on what makes you a strong counsellor. You can always address career changes or gaps in your cover letter if necessary.

Sample work experience entry for a counselling CV

Follow this with your earlier roles, such as any trainee placements or other counselling positions, in the same format.

Showcase education on your CV for a counsellor

Your education should clearly demonstrate the foundation of knowledge you bring to your practice, especially if you’re writing a trainee counsellor CV. List your most relevant and highest qualifications first. For many, this could be a diploma or degree in counselling or psychology. In the UK, counsellors often hold qualifications such as a Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling, a bachelor’s or master’s degree in a related field, or other recognised training.

Include the following details for each entry of your CV education section:

• Degree or Certification Name and Level: e.g. BA (Hons) Counselling, MSc Psychology, or Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Skills. If your course had a specific focus or accreditation (such as BACP accreditation), you can note that in parentheses.
• Institution and location: e.g. University of Manchester, Manchester. This helps establish the credibility (especially if it’s a well-known institution).
• Dates or Year of completion: You can list the years (e.g. 2019–2021) or simply the graduation year (e.g. Completed 2021). Consistency is key; use the same format for all entries.

If you are a newly qualified counsellor or switching careers, you might include more details under your education, such as relevant modules, academic achievements, research, or projects. For example, mention a dissertation title like “Research Project: Impact of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy on Adolescent Anxiety” if it is directly relevant to the role. However, if you have extensive work experience, you can keep the education section concise.

Counsellor CV education example

If you have further certifications or short courses (such as a Certificate in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy or a Mental Health First Aid course), consider listing them in a separate Certifications section instead of under formal Education.

Highlight the right counsellor CV skills

Employers want someone who not only understands therapeutic techniques and ethics but also can connect with people. That’s why your CV skills section must balance technical and soft skills. 

When selecting skills to include, tailor them to match the job description. Aim for about 6–10 key skills in total, because you don’t need to list everything you know, just focus on the areas where you excel that are relevant to the role. It’s often helpful to combine both hard and soft skills. Remember, the skills section usually appears as a bullet-point list that highlights your core competencies at a glance.

When listing skills, you can simply separate them with commas or list each on its own line (bulleted). For example: Active Listening, CBT, Group Therapy, Risk Assessment, Empathy, or Report Writing. This section should be easy to scan. Avoid listing every skill you can think of. Focus on the skills that make you a strong match for the specific counselling job.

Include extra sections in your counsellor CV

Your CV is ready, and any extra sections are optional. However, they can give you an advantage by showcasing additional achievements and interests. Plus, you can easily show your passion, commitment to ongoing learning and professional involvement. This might separate you from other candidates and make your CV more memorable.

Here are some additional CV sections you might include:

• Awards and recognition: Any formal recognition validates your accomplishments to an employer. For example, you might have received an “Employee of the Year” award, a scholarship, or been honoured by a community organisation. 
• Certifications: If you have certifications beyond your basic qualifications, list them. For example, being a Certified Addiction Counsellor, having a CBT certification, or completing a Mental Health First Aid course are all worth mentioning. These show you’ve sought extra training.
• Languages: Speaking multiple languages is a big plus in counselling. Offering services in languages like Polish, Urdu, or British Sign Language broadens your client base and is worth mentioning.
• Professional memberships: Membership or accreditation with bodies like the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP), or National Counselling Society (NCS) is highly valued. It tells employers you adhere to professional standards and are committed to ethics and development. Example: “Registered Member (MBACP) of BACP.”
• Publications and presentations: If you’ve written articles, contributed to a mental health blog, or presented at workshops/conferences, include these. Sharing knowledge positions you as an expert and shows engagement with the broader field.
• Volunteer work and projects: Experience such as volunteering at a crisis hotline, running a support group in your community, or any pro bono counselling can be included here. It showcases passion and initiative. For example, “Volunteer Grief Counsellor at local hospice, 2022”.

Sample bonus sections on a counsellor’s CV

You can format bonus sections either like Work Experience or Education entries, or simply list them as shown. Prioritise the most relevant ones to the job you’re applying for.

Format your counsellor CV correctly

Sloppy or confusing formatting can give the impression of disorganisation. And that’s not a good look for a counselling professional. 

Here are some formatting tips to ensure your CV looks clean and professional:

• Stick to simple, legible fonts such as Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman. These fonts are easy on the eyes and ATS-friendly. Avoid cursive or “fun” fonts in a professional CV.
• Set the main body font size to 10–11 pt. Use slightly larger (12–14 pt) or bold text for section headings. Make your name at the top the largest to ensure it stands out.
• Use 1.15 or 1.2 line spacing for readability. Add a blank line between sections and between jobs to clearly separate them. 
• Keep margins roughly between 1.5 cm and 2.5 cm. Standard margins ensure the page isn’t too cluttered and that there’s some white space around the print area.
• Ensure each section heading is formatted consistently (e.g., all caps or bold, with a specific font size). Consistency in date formats and spelling also reflects attention to detail.
• Add bullet points for lists (work duties, skills) to make the information bite-sized. Avoid long paragraphs, because recruiters prefer quick, scannable snippets.
• Aim for two pages. This is the standard length for a CV in the UK unless you’re very senior with decades of experience. It’s usually enough to cover your key points without overwhelming the reader. 
• Save and send your CV as a PDF. This preserves your formatting across devices. However, if a recruiter asks explicitly for a Word document or an ATS system requires a .doc upload, follow those instructions.
• Name your CV correctly. Having your full name, your job title, and your CV will always do the trick.

By carefully formatting your CV, you ensure nothing distracts from your content. The goal is for a recruiter to be able to pick up your CV and immediately locate the information they’re seeking, whether it’s your degree or your experience in a specific type of counselling, without any distractions or hassle.