Like many people, life has thrown me curveballs. One major curveball was the death of my mum in 2013. I was devastated and needed someone to talk to, so I reached out to a counsellor. Reaching out was the best decision I made because my counsellor helped me to understand my grief. I felt that I had to connect with others, so I became a volunteer support worker at a women's mental health charity. Service users would often say that counselling had changed their life and I knew this to be true from my own experience. I would admire the counsellors and the work they did; I never thought that one day I could be a counsellor! Since then, there have been many times when I have had the privilege to be with a client when they have experienced a life-changing moment.
I really like Integrative therapy because it allows a counsellor to practice more than one model of counselling. I believe it's effective because the counsellor has a good understanding of different theories and how they can be applied to the client's situation. That way, the client can understand why they may feel the way they do and explore strategies to help them move forward in life.
My counselling sessions are never the same because the client very much guides them. However, I believe that our core beliefs impact self-esteem and the way we view ourselves and the world around us, so it's a good idea to get to know the client and their experiences that way, I can help the client get back on track. I think psycho-education is definitely the way to go; helping the client understand why they might feel a certain way and giving them the tools empowers the client and helps them grow through self-awareness.
1) I have recently achieved a Bachelor of Science Degree with Honours in Counselling with a First Class. 2)I have achieved a Foundation Degree of Science in Counselling with a Distinction. 3) I have been a volunteer at a charitable organisation for seven years working with women with mental health issues and those who are in a domestic abuse relationship, both current or historical. During that time I have been both a support worker, a counsellor and I have co-facilitated a CBT course and grief and bereavement course.