10 Signs You’re Meant to Be a Counsellor

Have you ever felt completely lost staring at job boards, wondering if there’s something more meaningful out there for you? You’re not alone. Recent surveys show that 67% of Canadian workers report feeling disconnected from their work, while 42% are actively seeking career changes that offer greater purpose and fulfillment.

As the job market continues to shift and countless professionals feel devastated by layoffs, downsizing, and economic uncertainty, many people are overlooking one of the most rewarding and stable career paths available: professional counselling.

While everyone’s scrambling for the same corporate positions, the mental health field is experiencing unprecedented growth. Canada faces a critical shortage of mental health professionals, with demand far outpacing supply. Yet somehow, counselling remains one of the best-kept secrets in career planning.

If you’ve been searching for work that truly matters—work that pays well, offers job security, and makes a real difference—it might be time to consider whether you’re meant to be a counsellor.

The 10 Signs You’re Meant to Be a Counsellor

1. People Naturally Open Up to You

You’ve always been the friend everyone calls during a crisis. Strangers share their life stories with you in grocery store lineups. There’s something about your presence that makes people feel safe to be vulnerable. This isn’t just a personality trait—it’s a professional asset worth approximately $65,000-$85,000 annually in Canada.

2. You’re Genuinely Curious About Human Behaviour

You find yourself wondering why people do what they do. You read psychology articles for fun, binge-watch documentaries about the human mind, and genuinely want to understand what makes people tick. The mental health field values this curiosity—licensed counsellors in Canada earn between $55,000-$95,000 per year, with private practice potential reaching $120,000+.

3. You’ve Overcome Your Own Challenges

Many exceptional counsellors have walked through their own darkness and emerged stronger. Your personal struggles with anxiety, depression, addiction, or trauma don’t disqualify you—they often make you more effective. Studies show that 73% of mental health professionals report their personal experiences enhance their clinical work.

4. You’re Not Easily Shocked or Judgmental

When friends share their deepest secrets, you don’t flinch. You understand that everyone has a story, and you naturally respond with curiosity rather than judgment. This emotional stability is crucial in a field where 1 in 5 Canadians experience mental health challenges annually.

5. You Can Sit with Discomfort

While others try to “fix” crying friends or change uncomfortable topics, you can simply be present with someone’s pain. You understand that healing often happens in the space between problem and solution. This skill is invaluable in a profession where the average counselling session rate in Canada is $120-$200.

6. You’re Drawn to Continuous Learning

The idea of studying human psychology, learning new therapeutic techniques, and growing professionally excites rather than exhausts you. The counselling field requires ongoing education, but rewards it with job security—employment for counsellors is projected to grow 23% by 2031, much faster than average.

7. You Value Work-Life Balance

You want meaningful work that doesn’t consume your entire life. Many counsellors enjoy flexible schedules, with 40% working part-time or maintaining private practices that allow them to set their own hours. The average work week for counsellors is 37 hours compared to 42 hours in other professions.

8. You’re Comfortable with Emotional Intensity

Other people’s strong emotions don’t overwhelm you. You can remain calm when others are in crisis, and you actually find deep conversations energizing rather than draining. This emotional resilience is essential in a field where burnout rates are high, but job satisfaction among counsellors remains at 85%.

9. You Believe in People’s Capacity to Change

Even when someone has hit rock bottom, you still see their potential. You naturally focus on strengths rather than deficits, and you believe that with the right support, people can transform their lives. This optimism is crucial—research shows that therapist belief in client potential significantly impacts treatment outcomes.

10. You Want Work That Matters Beyond a Paycheck

While money matters (and counselling can be financially rewarding), you’re ultimately seeking work that creates positive change in the world. Mental health professionals report the highest levels of meaning in their work compared to other professions, with 91% saying their job makes a positive impact on others’ lives.

The Bottom Line

If you recognized yourself in most of these signs, you might be meant for a career in counselling. The mental health field offers both personal fulfillment and financial stability—Canadian counsellors enjoy median salaries of $71,000, excellent job security, and the deep satisfaction that comes from truly helping others.

While others compete for dwindling corporate positions, you could be building a recession-proof career in one of the fastest-growing fields in Canada. The question isn’t whether there’s demand for skilled counsellors—there absolutely is. The question is whether you’re ready to step into work that could transform both your life and the lives of countless others.

Frequently Asked Questions