Any counsellors out there?

[wildcat45]

I am about to start a Counselling Skills Certficate Level 2 course at my local community school. It will be a night a week.

I am doing it because it interests me, I would like to help people, do some good and it could lead me down an interesting career path now that I am 45. I now feel "grown up" like I'm at a new phase of my life. I love my job, I have had an amazing career and now work freelance and from home. It's given me time to reflect.

It will give me a skill which could be helpful, and add a bit of depth to my capabilities.

I've been inspired by a chat with an old friend who like me having no debts/mortgage etc decided to completely change his career and take a chance. He too wanted to do something that mattered, that would make a difference after years as a business advisor and an advertising sales executive. He's training to be an ambulance technician.

I know there aren't many jobs in counselling and although I am going into this with an open mind I do have an area in mind in which I would like to specialise - working with ex-service personnel.

So are there any PH counsellors out there? I've some pretty broad questions.

What's it like being a counsellor?

How do you cope with what must be huge emotional demands?

Is it about remaining detached? How do you do this without appearing not to care?

How do you keep your personal views in check?

I'll probably have lots more questions.

Thanks in advance.

[Negative Creep]

I've just finished the Level 2 course and will be starting the Level 3 in November. Remarkably there's no single regulatory body for Counselling, and in theory anyone could set themselves up as one, but you want to find a course that's accredited by the BACP. I've found it really interesting so far and have learned a lot about myself and others, but still have a very long way to go. At this stage it's more about taking in what someone says to you and repeating it back in a manner where they can hear their own thoughts from someone else's mouth. It isn't about providing fixes or solutions, so you have to suppress the natural instinct to tell someone what to do or give advice. Even if the intentions are good it may no be correct, and what works for one won't work for another. As an example, saying something like "oh I know how you feel, my wife cheated on me too" would take the focus from them and perhaps play down the importance of what they're saying The aim is to provide a safe environment where the client can talk openly and find out how they can change themselves.

At this stage we're reminded about limits of ability, i.e. do not talk about anything too intense sit it wouldn't be fair on your or the other people on the course, although I've certainly heard things that stay with me after I drive home. We've also explored personal prejudices, and from my understanding you can't just get rid of them, but it's more about setting them aside and keeping the focus on the client. We've been told the importance of treated everyone in an ethical and equal manner so if their views were completely incompatible with yours you'd have to advise you wouldn't be able to assist them.

Can't answer about remaining detached, although I would imagine a Carer, Nurse or Policeman would have to develop a similar mechanism. It's about showing you are listening and trustworthy without getting involved or overly friendly. This is only my understanding at this stage and stand to be corrected, but hope it's of some help.

[wildcat45]

Quite an insight and what I was hoping to hear. Thank you.

Good luck with the course.