Please note that I am not a mental health expert and do not provide professional legal or clinical advice. The following points are just some thoughts and suggestions for your reference: 1. Understand industry standards and legal requirements • In many countries and regions, becoming a legal counselor (or psychotherapist) usually requires formal academic education, completion of required clinical internships, and obtaining relevant licenses or certificates. • If you do not have a systematic formal education, you may not be able to obtain legally recognized professional qualifications, which may face legal, ethical and professional responsibility issues in actual work. 2. Consider informal or alternative paths • There are other roles in the field of mental health that are different from traditional psychological counseling, such as life coaches or mental health counselors. Although these positions also have requirements, sometimes the training methods are less dependent on traditional higher education. However, even for these roles, it is recommended to receive relevant professional training and certification to ensure service quality and client safety. • Scientific self-study: You can read a lot of classic works and the latest research in psychology, behavioral science, interpersonal communication, emotion regulation, etc., and use free online courses (such as open courses on MOOC platforms) for systematic learning. However, self-study cannot completely replace experienced mentorship and systematic training. 3. Seek practical opportunities and supervision • Volunteering or working as an assistant in relevant organizations can provide you with opportunities to come into contact with real cases. This practical experience can help you better understand the ethical and methodological issues in professional practice. • Despite the lack of formal academic background, it is very important to find an experienced mentor for informal guidance and supervision, which can help you identify your blind spots and correct mistakes in a timely manner. 4. Respect ethical and professional boundaries • There is a high risk of directly providing psychological counseling services without formal training. The ability to understand topics, methods, and evaluate the client's condition may be limited, which can easily have a negative impact on both parties. • If you choose to help others, please clearly state your role (such as "friend", "supporter" or "non-professional counseling") to avoid being mistaken for holding professional qualifications. • Understand and comply with the relevant laws and regulations in your area, especially those related to psychological counseling and treatment, to ensure that the services you provide do not violate ethical and legal requirements. 5. Consider obtaining formal certification later • If you are passionate about helping others and the field of mental health, and hope to work in this field for a long time, it is recommended that you eventually try to obtain the necessary academic qualifications and certifications through formal channels. • Some countries have adult education, on-the-job training or distance learning programs that allow you to obtain the required professional background in a more flexible way. In summary: It is very challenging to become a widely recognized psychological counselor without a formal education background, and there are legal and ethical risks. You can gradually improve your theoretical and practical abilities through self-study, participating in relevant training, volunteering, and seeking guidance from mentors; but if you want to help others in this field for a long time and formally, obtaining formal academic and clinical training will be an essential step.