So you want to become a marriage counsellor in Nigeria and you don’t know how to go about it, or you don’t want to violate any legal procedure in the process, you are in the right place.
In this article I have outlined the step by step process you need to take in order to become a practicing and legal marriage or relationship counsellor in Nigeria.
Before we continue, let’s get things straightened…
Who is a marriage/ relationship counsellor in Nigeria?
A marriage counsellor is a trained, objective professional with whom you can build a healing and trusting relationship in order to avoid or overcome issues pertaining your marriage, family and relationships. They are trained to offer different types of assistance; most frequently talk-based styles of therapy.
What does a marriage counsellor do?
There are 3 phases of marriage counselling: premarital counseling (for singles about to get married), marital counselling (for married couples) and post marital counselling (for divorcees).
Now, here’s the answer to the big question on your mind…
What professional qualifications do I need to become a marriage/family counsellor in Nigeria?
On the other hand, if you look around, especially in religious institutions, you will realise that there are several marriage counsellors who do not go through this route and are still practising. What is really needed is that you have the skills to actually match up to what you call yourself.
But to get the skills and expertise to practice, and to position yourself as a person of repute, it is ideal that you get some form of organized training and certification.
There is a term for people who practice as counsellors but aren’t trained or certified. They are called quasi counsellors. While there are no legal laws stopping you, it is morally wrong to call yourself a counsellor without training or certification.
There are a whole lot of professional ethics you cannot know on your own until you go through some organised training.
To get the skills and certification to practice as a marriage counsellor or therapist in Nigeria, there are two routes you can take. The first is to get a degree in Guidance and counselling or psychology from any higher institution; and the second is to take professional courses physically or online.
I have explained how to go about the two routes below:
How To Apply for A Counselling Degree in Nigeria
In some Nigerian universities, Guidance and Counselling is called Counsellor Education or Educational Guidance and Counselling so you should check any of these names to know if the institution offers the course or not.
O’Level Requirements
Even if the prerequisites for studying guidance and counselling in Nigerian institutions vary, there are some standards that you must meet. Passing at least 5 WAEC subjects, including English Language and Mathematics, is one of the most important requirements for studying guidance and counselling.
JAMB Requirements
You must also enrol for the JAMB examination and pass any three subjects from the art or science departments. It is important to remember that English Language is the fourth subject and is a required course for the JAMB examination.
Most universities will admit you with 180 and above because guidance and counselling is not a competitive course. Only few people apply for it.
Requirements for Direct Entry Candidates
To apply for Guidance and Counseling as a Direct Entry candidate, you require: ‘A’ level passes or NCE in two subjects plus UTME requirements.
How To Apply for A Psychology Degree in Nigeria
O’Level Requirements
5 ‘O’ Level Credits including English Language, Biology and Mathematics and at least two other Social Science subjects from any of the following: Government, Economics, Geography, Civic Education and Social Studies.
JAMB Requirements
UTME Subjects: English Language and at least two subjects from Government, Economics, Geography, and any other one subject from Arts/Social Science/Science subject. Psychology is more competitive than guidance and counselling so the higher your JAMB score, the better your chance.
Requirements for Direct Entry Candidates
At least two ‘A’ Level passes to include not less than two Social Science subjects such as Economics, Geography, Sociology, Business Management and Government in GCE/IJMBE or equivalent with the exception of NABTEB A-Level and NCE.
How long does it take to become a marriage counsellor or therapist in Nigeria?
Typically it takes four years to become a certified marriage counsellor or therapist in Nigeria. This is if you choose to study guidance and counselling or psychology in the university. It can also take as short as one month if you decide to take online courses and certifications.
Which association can I join to become a marriage/family counsellor or therapist in Nigeria?
The two major associations for counsellors in Nigeria are the Counselling Association of Nigeria (CASSON) and Association of Professional Counsellors in Nigeria (APROCON). They are supposed to be in charge of registration, licensing and regulation of counsellors in Nigeria but they are not really functional. While you can still visit their website and register, they have very skeletal structural activities.
That being said, the organisation that is specifically for marriage and family counsellors in Nigeria is AMFCN. They are very functional and their activities and guidelines are clearly stated on their website. You can also register as a member with just a token.
Do I need any license to practice as a marriage and family counsellor or therapist in Nigeria?
No, you do not need any license to practice as a counsellor or therapist in Nigeria. Although AMFCN, CASSON and APROCON are associations that give license to counsellors, there is no law to sanction any person that practices as a marriage counsellor or therapist in Nigeria without license (as of now).
How To Become A Marriage/Family Counsellor in Nigeria Without A University Degree
Like I’ve said right from the beginning of this article, you can become a practicing marriage counsellor in Nigeria, one who will even be respected by graduates of counselling, without getting a university degree in counselling.
All you need is the necessary skills to actually help clients overcome their challenges.
Truth be told, you can get these skills by reading books on counselling and therapy, watching YouTube videos and listening to podcasts that teach about marriage and relationships.
But if you still want to get an organized form of training, which I advise you to do, there is only one institution in Nigeria I have found that offer counsellor training and certification and that is the Institute of Counselling in Nigeria.
Institute of Counselling in Nigeria
They offer certification and diploma courses in a wide range of counselling fields including Sex Therapy, Family, Couple & Relationship Counselling, Child & Adolescent Counselling, Substance Abuse & Addiction Counselling, Crisis Counselling and several others .
They also give you certification that is recognized by the Counselling Association of Nigeria (CASSON). If you want to experience a school environment where you interact with fellow students and lecturers, this is the option you should choose.
I have not witnessed any of their lectures but the fact that they have the backing of the professional body of counsellors in Nigeria, is a kind of assurance that you will get great return for your investment.
Online Course for Marriage Counsellors and Therapist in Nigeria
On the other hand, if you only care about getting the skills and being effective, the best option to choose is to go for an online course. Online courses are quicker, cheaper and more intensive in their teaching.
I have examined a number of online courses and I have found these three to be the best. They are focused on actually drilling you with the skills and not theories:
In fact, even if you study guidance and counselling in the university or take any course from the Institute of Counselling in Nigeria, you should still take these courses to increase your effectiveness. Only few of the subjects covered in this courses are taught in the university.
You will get certification after completing the course and the bigger news is that you can get all the courses for less than ₦20,000 (the cost of one semester handouts if you went the University route. lol). The most expensive of the courses is ₦7,500.
Which should I choose: University or online courses?
You should study guidance and counselling or psychology in the University if you haven’t already gone to the University. That’s the best choice to practice as a marriage counsellor. But if you are a graduate already and want to switch career paths, you should consider a master’s degree in counselling. On the other hand, if you cannot afford a master’s degree, as we have seen, you can still practice with any of the other courses.
However, although you can practice, to work as a counsellor in an organisation or school, you might need a stronger certification than these online courses offer. For strong certification, choose the University route; but the non-university courses are the best means to get applicable expertise and skills.
There you have it! How to become a practicing marriage/family/relationship counsellor or therapist in Nigeria.
If you are someone who is passionate about helping people navigate their lives’ challenges and live happy and satisfying lives, choosing to become a marriage counsellor or therapist is a great choice especially in Nigeria where counselling is just gaining acceptance. You will become one of the early adopters.
No matter your age, economic status or location, you can still start since you don’t necessarily have to go to the University to practice as a counsellor in Nigeria.
Olusegun Iyejare is a career coach and certified counselor. He helps individuals discover and maximize their potential to live satisfying lives regardless of obvious limitations holding them back.
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