I started my own training with little idea of what to expect. A few tips covering both the emotional and practical aspects would have been incredibly helpful. Drawing on my experience as a trainee, counsellor and supervisor, I have compiled some suggestions.
1. Take good care of yourself
Counselling training is often a powerful experience. It can be rewarding, intense, exhausting, exciting, emotional, deep, challenging, stressful and life changing. Attending to your own well-being is therefore essential.
Make time to pause, and to be aware of your needs. Pay attention to what nurtures, relaxes, and brings you peace, and what replenishes and energises you. With good self-care you are well equipped to meet the course demands and to be grounded and present as a counsellor.
2. Be prepared to experience the emotional effects of counselling training
Counselling training provides many opportunities for deep-self exploration and reflection. Discovering more about yourself can evoke a range of feelings and emotions.
Many people learn to give and to receive constructive feedback as part of their training. Whilst this can be a source of valuable learning, you might feel vulnerable both giving and receiving sensitive insights.
3. Be prepared for changes in your relationships
As you develop personally and professionally your perceptions, attitudes and interests can change. You may become more self-aware and self-accepting, more confident and self-sufficient. These changes can affect your relationships with family and friends.
4. Find a counsellor
Most but not all training courses require that you have counselling sessions. Whether or not personal counselling is stipulated I would recommend it for the following reasons:
Whilst training there are various situations where your own material can be triggered. Counselling can support you emotionally which is important for self-care as well as enabling you to be inwardly steady and solid whilst working with clients.
As a counsellor it is important to have sat in the client’s chair. To have experienced being in a therapeutic relationship from a client’s perspective, and to have worked at depth with your own issues.
5. Considerations when choosing a counsellor and supervisor
First, a brief explanation of supervision, which is a professional requirement for trainee and qualified counsellors in the UK. During sessions, client work is explored and discussed including any ethical issues that arise. There is also space for supervisees to attend to their personal and professional development.
Whilst the emphasis in personal counselling and clinical supervision differs, both are supportive relationships. I recommend arranging a meeting by phone, online or face to face with prospective counsellors and supervisors. It is open to see if this is a person with whom you can form a bond, and speak with openly.
There are practical matters to discuss such as their prices and availability. Do make sure that your counsellor and supervisor are approved by your college or university. This avoids forming a bond with a practitioner, only to discover that you must end the relationship and start again with somebody new. Many trainings have a list of approved counsellors and supervisors.
6. Find out about college or university assistance
There might be extra support available if you have special needs such as physical disabilities and learning differences. If you inform course directors and tutors of your needs from the start, there is more clarity about what is required and what is available.
7. Look into time commitments and financial costs. This will give you more options for planning ahead.
As you check fees and course dates look out for extras such as residential training.
Set aside adequate time for completing work that needs to be submitted. Be prepared for plenty of reading.
Having your own regular therapy is usually a course requirement that will add to your expenses.
Counselling practice is often at a placement that offers clients free or low-cost therapy. Most placement counsellors work voluntarily and are provided with free group supervision. You will probably also need to have individual supervision adding to your time and cost commitments.
8. Keep written records of everything
Receipts and payment records help if there are any administrative queries.
To avoid misunderstandings keep records of communications that relate to your course, for example time extensions for handing in assignments.
Keeping information about course details and areas of study can save you time in the future, for example when approaching placements and applying for jobs.
Keep records of time spent in personal counselling, your hours of voluntary counselling, and individual and group supervision. This information will be needed to complete your course, and probably later if you apply for Accreditation with a professional body. Many, but not all courses have forms and procedures for this.
9. Consider looking for a placement at the earliest opportunity
Counselling clients is likely to be a central part of your training. Once you have reached this stage in your training, and feel ready enough, I recommend applying to placements as there are a limited number of places available. Some trainings will not let you continue into the next year without a placement.
10. Invite fellow trainees to form a peer group
As you approach the end of your training it is a good idea to think about future supports. Courses include opportunities for learning, discussing, sharing and attending to personal and professional development. Following graduation, meeting fellow trainees regularly can be mutually helpful and supportive.
I am reminded of these words by Carl Rogers when I reflect upon my own experiences as a trainee:
If I am to facilitate the personal growth of others in relation to me, then I must grow, and while that is often painful it is also enriching.
Carl Rogers (1995) On Becoming a Person: A Therapist's View of Psychotherapy