When I began my counselling diploma at Sheffield Hallam University in 2003, I did not realise how much it would change me, not only in my work, but in my personal life too. I became more self-aware, more thoughtful, and more curious about how I relate to other people. I still remember the first time […]
Motivations to being a counsellor Read More »
Positive Supervisee Relationship A positive relationship between supervisor and supervisee is important. Millar, Holloway and Henderson (2014) say that encouragement is at the heart of a counselling supervisory relationship. They emphasise the need to build an equal relationship. So how is a positive relationship between supervisor and supervisee achieved? Maintaining ethics A contract between the counsellor and supervisor
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This morning I was running late with Radio 2 playing in my car. Right Said Fred were playing Johnny Cash’s version of Ring of Fire live but unfortunately the lead singer, Fred, forgot the words. Not once but twice! As a listener it didn’t matter to me. However, I did wonder how Fred felt. He
Learning from our mistakes Read More »
Putting off writing a clinical will Creating and writing a clinical will has been something I’ve always intended to write but never got round to doing it. Every week, I’m guilty of always transferring ‘writing my clinical will’ onto my weekly ‘to do’ list. However, a colleague, Roslyn Byfield, has been actively encouraging all counsellors
Writing Clinical Will as a Counsellor Read More »
Broken resolutions I’m sure we can all think about New Year’s resolutions that we have made and broken. I know that I can think of some! Making new resolutions is often about changing our bad habits or becoming fitter. For example I often hear New Year resolutions of people stopping smoking or drinking
New Year… Positive Changes rather than Resolutions Read More »
Today on the Chris Evans show, Chris was joined by Rev. Richard Coles and Jimmy Somerville. The two former ‘’Communards’ Band members were there for separate reasons. Jimmy was there to share his music while Richard was there to lead ‘Pause for Thought’. Richard Coles talked about friendships that have crashed and burned and how
Never say ‘the end’ to friendships Read More »
No shame in Depression I recently put up on my Facebook page a quote from JK Rowling ‘ I have never been remotely ashamed of having been depressed. Never. What’s to be ashamed of? I went through a really rough time and I am quite proud that I got out of that’. It was very
No shame in depression Read More »
Self-awareness grows over a period of time and with exploration. My self-awareness has been shaped by my life experiences, through the help of counselling and through self-reflection. This has helped me to learn to understand myself, my reactions and understand my own values. In my early twenties I experienced a traumatic bereavement and I will
Life experience shaping a counsellor Read More »
Being Assertive does not mean you have to change your personality and become aggressive, passive or manipulative. Assertiveness is about learning how to be you and expressing yourself in a confident manner. To be able to do this you have to increase your self-awareness by getting to know yourself, learn how to like yourself and
Assertiveness – Improving your self-awareness Read More »
When my previous counselling supervisor retired, it took a long time for me to find a new one. I finally found a new counselling supervisor that I did connect with and one I was able to be myself. I’ve had a great couple of years with her so I was therefore disappointed to hear that
Counselling Supervision Read More »