How I ended up being a therapist!

I’ve read quite a few blogs recently and I’ve found them really interesting and informative, so I thought I’d give it a go!

So, I’m married with 3 teenagers and while chatting with friends the other day (a lot of my friends are also the parents of teens) we were saying how hard it is to make big life choices about what we want to do, or what we want to be, at such a young age (especially when some routes of study lead to huge amounts of debt). It made me reflect on my own teenage self and what my aspirations were. When I was still at school, I thought I wanted to be a dentist but academically that was always going to be unreachable and even if I had got the grades to follow that path, I don’t know what I was thinking! I ended up doing a science degree with no real direction in mind, I found it challenging but got there in the end. My four years at university were rich in life experiences, and friendships for life were forged, so I don’t regret a minute of it (and in those day we got grants so we didn’t leave with big debts). I really struggled to get a science related job (I was either lacking experience or overqualified). After trying different career paths (none of which really related to my degree; pub management, chocolatier and market trader were amongst these) I ended up working in the electronics industry for a number of years. It didn’t really feel like a career, it was just a job, but I met my husband there and then I went on to be a full-time mom for about 8 years.

I did not set out to be a counsellor, it was all very accidental. When my youngest was a baby, I was thinking about getting back into work and thought I might do a couple of short courses to get the ‘grey matter’ moving again. A prospectus came through my door, and I just picked something out that sounded useful but not too lengthy or expensive. Something up to date to put on my CV. This 10-week course (Listening and Helping Skills) lead straight into a longer course (Basic Counselling Skills). By the end of all this I was hooked. Helping people to put their metaphorical jigsaws together, helping someone to unravel events and make sense of relationships, bearing witness to someone’s distress to help them move forward in their lives. It felt magical to me, and I wanted more of it and I still feel like that today, always learning and evolving.

It wasn’t without financial stress, but I embarked on a Level 5 Counselling Diploma in 2011. On my course, in addition to the classroom hours there was a requirement for 40 hours of personal therapy, 50 hours of work-based learning and 150 supervised counselling hours in a placement. I eventually secured a placement with the NHS in Sandwell (now called Sandwell Talking Therapies). I graduated in 2013 and continued to volunteer as an NHS counsellor for another year. I gained employment in 2015, and I’ve been there ever since. I won’t lie, I found it terrifying at first, I really felt the weight of responsibility to be an ethical and effective therapist but slowly over time I gained confidence in my skills and now I can’t see myself doing anything else.

I set up my own private practice in 2014 and slowly built this up (I’m now pretty much 40:60 between my 2 roles). I like the balance of private practice alongside my NHS work. As well as seeing my own private clients I also work for some EAP companies, and I’m also registered to work with BUPA clients through private healthcare. Following my diploma, I’ve continued learning in lots of different ways and I’ve completed many courses and certificates most notably my trauma qualification and most recently a loss and grief course earlier this year.

Two hands hold matching puzzle pieces against a backdrop of blurred trees, symbolizing connection and harmony.

When I reflect on my journey, I can’t believe how far I have come. I’m proud of my achievements both as a young person and also as a more mature student. It’s funny to look back on life’s twists and turns and the pathways that have led us to now. I wonder what the future might hold.

If you got to the end, thanks for reading my first blog!