To think being a counsellor is harder than I thought. Any others training/practicing?

[Trivialhirsute]

I started training as a counsellor 4 years ago and should finish training this year. I've done 60 hours of voluntary work with a low cost counselling service over the last year, the courses have cost 7k so far. I've had 35 hours of personal therapy at 45 a time. So I've invested most of my savings in this, which was supposed to be a realistic career change. I'm in my late 50s.

I've had two recent clients who have made me start thinking whether I am cut out for this. I've suddenly realised how vulnerable counsellors are. I'm going through some tough times in my own life and feeling really down about it all.

I think I need a break, but I have current clients and don't want to let them down. This has been so hard! I loved it for years but suddenly I feel as though I've hit a wall. I've recently had covid, so wondering if I'm just hugely fatigued.

I qualified about a year ago and now I'm in private practice alongside a day job. I go through ups and downs with it. Emotionally it's pretty draining and keeping up with the admin is a killer but I do enjoy it. If I think about how much I've sunk into training, supervision during training and private counselling I wince - it'll be a long time before I make that money back but I hope it'll give me more freedom in the future to work flexibly.

Have you spoken to your supervisor about why those clients have had such an impact on you? If you're practicing through an agency or a charity on placement you should speak to your placement supervisor too - if you don't feel safe they need to know about it.

I've recently had a couple of unsolicited nude photos because my number is on the directories and it's been really unpleasant. I've reported them to the police but it looks like I might have to take my number down if I don't want it to happen in future, which seems like a shame.

Honestly, my best advice is to take this to supervision and see what comes out of it. If you haven't got a good supervisor at your placement then could you find somewhere else to do your last 40 hours? Do you need online or face-to-face hours?

Thanks so much for replying. I have a great supervisor who I am seeing later this week.

I was left on my own late last week - normally there are other counsellors there but for some reason everyone else was off and the practice manager was ill. I had a difficult client and felt quite vulnerable. I have emailed to say this and to double check there will be people there.

Actually I've just realised that now I've done 60 hours I can work online OR with young people so I might try and find another placement.

Following with interest OP as considering training when I retire.

Have a look at these guys, I did some hours with them online and even took some of my clients into private practice once I'd qualified. They provide free group supervision and I rated my supervisor and although I found group supervision irritating at first I did learn from it. headstrongcounselling.co.uk/

Your current agency should at least have a lone workers policy which tells you what to do if you're worried about your safety and you're there alone. If not, they shouldn't have let you be alone in the building. I'd argue they shouldn't have let you be alone in the building anyway, but that's a moot point!

I only see clients online now - I don't want to see clients face to face for lots of reasons. Obviously that does limit the number of clients who want to see me but because this is a side hustle for me rather than a full-time venture that hasn't impacted me.

Thank you. They are not accepting new applications but I have made a note to contact them in the new year. That's been so helpful, thanks.