Why I became a Counsellor

As this is my first blog post from my Counselling practice website, I thought I'd introduce myself and talk a little about my background. One of the most important parts of finding the right Counsellor is ensuring that they are someone you feel comfortable being with and someone you can trust. Trust happens by being open and authentic. So here's a bit about me that I trust will give you a bit of insight into who I am and why I do what I do.

I was born and raised in Australia, although I have many friends and colleagues from many and varied nations. I love the concept that we are a big, wide, interconnected world. In fact, straight out of high school, I obtained a Travel degree and entered the Travel Industry, which I remained in until I had my four awesome kids! They are my best achievement yet!

I have worked in many sectors over the past 3 decades, but the most rewarding moments I have had, have been those where I have the opportunity to come alongside people and support them in some way. And when I say "support", I mean during the hard stuff of life. Like, when friends have had family members pass away or accidents or the unexpected things of life have happened. I enjoy supporting people, too, when they are at cross-roads in their lives - you know, when it's just too hard to make the right decision and overwhelm sets in big time!

The reason I have the capacity and understanding of what is needed in the hard times of life is because I have lived many, many hard seasons in my own life - and come through healthy. I have lived through the tragic and unexpected loss of my sister (who was my best friend) when I was pregnant with my first child. I have also been through a very bettering season where I lost 12 people, who were significant to me, over a period of just 3 and a half years.

Processing the grief of these losses set me on a trajectory of learning about grief and loss and all it entails. I've been on that journey ever since. The journey of grief and loss has enriched my lived experience and also taught me a lot about myself and how I respond to tumultuous and confusing times.

As well as bereavement, I have also had a series of significant betrayals, survived abuse, supported suicidal friends, been singled out and bullied in the workplace, had geographical relocations and medical scares to navigate. I know what it is like to have the figurative rug pulled out from under me, and to have the door - figuratively and literally - slammed in my face, due to no fault of my own, but failed systems and others' poor choices.

So I chose to learn - and am still learning! I learned resilience and how to pivot. I learned how to face things head on, and how to respond and grow through the process. I have learned keys through these experiences that I can now pass on to others, to help them process, navigate and journey through to a more healthy, integrated and enriched existence.

And, it turns out I love learning so much that I chose to dive in head first and actually embark on my Master of Counselling Practice and pursue a professional Counselling career. Now I have the academic, theoretical backbone added to my personal experiences and I get to support people in a richer, more informed way. Having been through the process of a post-grad degree, my support for the people I get to help is more rewarding than ever - and I love it!

I couldn't be where I am today without those who I have reached out to and let support me and guide me along my journey. I know how beneficial it is to get help and support in order to best navigate through dark, uncertain seasons. And now I, in turn, have a passion to partner with people and walk beside them.

Because I like metaphors, I liken some days to being a guide, of sorts, pointing out the road ahead, or options for the next track we take. I can highlight elements of the track that need extra care and attention navigating as we are move through together.

Although everyone's life journey is their own, we all need support to get through the tough bits, out the other side, stronger and healthier and more whole. I have learned that the process of getting support and encouragement in life has brought me - and my clients - a lot more joy and a brighter hope for the future!

What a journey! What an honour and a privilege I get to do what I do!