Newbie here

[amanda_123]

Hello to all - I won't say Happy New Year as I know how difficult this time of year can be. I am reading posts and feeling sad that so many of us struggle with just being alive. I am in the middle of counsellor training and know that I will find this work rewarding but also know that I will never be free of bouts of extreme anxiety and depression. Just wanted to say I am finding a way forward which is helping me cope with my life and use my experiences to be of use in this world of chaotic existence. Keep strong all of you - I know how hard it can be.

[Stilltrying_]

Welcome Amanda and thank you for your kind words.

Gemma

[amanda_123 in reply to Stilltrying_]

Hi Gemma, Nice of you to leave me a comment.

[Photogeek]

Hi Amanda and welcome.

Hannah

[amanda_123 in reply to Photogeek]

Thank you - appreciate the welcome.

[Suzie40]

I didn't know you could train as a counsellor if you were being treated for depression ....

[amanda_123 in reply to Suzie40]

Hi Lucy - I think everyone is considered for training on their own merits. I understand that having your own therapy is essential to counsellor training. I'm not an expert but I think my own difficulties with depression over the years and the things I have experienced have made me very suitable for this. Thanks for leaving a comment though.

[Hidden in reply to amanda_123]

Good morning Amanda

It is very interesting to hear that you are training to be a counsellor having had experience of depression & anxiety. I am now at a crossroads in my career as I have had persistent bouts of depression arising from work stress and am thinking it would help me to look at other areas. I saw a careers guidance professional recently who did a number of personality profile exercises and one of the careers she recommended for me was counsellor. My intention is to do an introduction to counselling 8 week course to see if this is something I would like to take further. Is this how you started? What stage are you at now?

Best wishes

Pete

[amanda_123 in reply to Hidden]

Hello Pete

I was interested to read your reply as I, too, reached a point in my life where I needed to make choices and realised I was in control of any future I wanted to make for myself. It seems that the majority of counsellors and trainees come to this career choice through their own experiences of mental health problems and its treatment.

I think your idea of doing an introduction to the subject is a great way to begin - I started at my local college of FE with 2 levels of learning counselling skills. I am now in the middle of a Level 3 counselling studies course which will be followed by a Level 4, after that I will be a qualified counsellor.

There are many ways to study this but I wanted to use the BACP approved route which seems to be the most thorough and professionally approved qualification. You can check this out on their website.

Good luck with this and please let me know how you get on.

Best wishes

Amanda

[amateurwriter]

Hi and welcome Amanda,

I'm getting seen by a pscychologist and she said that I can become what ever I want to be, which I would love to be a doctor or nurse in the future, I love helping people and I helped my nan as much as I could before she passed away the same with my grandma, she wasn't my blood grandma but a friend of my nan who my nan would go around and help as much as she could and I would go around and help as much as I could during the weekends with my nan, to even if it was just chatting to her about how school was going, it made her smile and that was what made it all the more worth while for going even though I was only a young child,

I'm rambling again, I don't mean to just manage to get a thought stuck in my head and then fingers just go wild, thank you for your kind words, and I wish you all the best for the future and I'm sure you'll become a great counselor

Take care,

Siobhan x

[amanda_123 in reply to amateurwriter]

Hello Siobhan and thanks for getting in touch.

Yes, you can become whatever you want to be and you sound like a very caring sort of person so the careers you mentioned would probably suit you well. The caring professions can be very rewarding and your empathy with your nan and grandma comes across strongly in what you've written, so I expect this is something you'd enjoy.

Glad to hear your psychologist is giving you positive encouragement. I hope that continues to go well.

Keep in touch as I'd be pleased to hear how you are getting on.

Best wishes

Amanda

[jue1]

Good luck

[amanda_123 in reply to jue1]

Thanks jue! Very kind.