Registered Counsellors and Professional Work in South African Psychology

Abstract

All registered counsellors on the database of the Professional Board for Psychology of the Health Professions Council of South Africa were surveyed to establish their demographic characteristics and the nature of their employment. A relatively low number of counsellors (N = 256) have registered since the creation of the category “registered counsellor”, and not many register each year. Responses were from 82 counsellors (response rate 32.8%). Of the sample, only 46% are actually working as registered counsellors. The majority are white women who work in urban areas. Results also indicate that only 12 of them are working as full-time registered counsellors, while the rest work in some part-time capacity. The majority are quite negative about their chosen profession and about the role of the Professional Board. These results cast serious doubt on the likelihood that the category will live up to initial expectations.