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Are you a qualified counsellor who is having a career break (of any length), and gearing up for a return to professional practice?
Perhaps you're dipping your toe back in the water already, and it feels like A LOT.
You are in the right place!
(And if this isn't you, feel free to navigate to my Counselling and general Clinical Supervision pages instead.)
Why is this a thing in its own right?
It's my view that returning to a counselling role after a career break has a very unique quality to it, and generic practitioner guidance/support often misses the mark. When I was in this position some years ago, my Google searches unearthed one brief podcast episode on this theme... and that was pretty much it!
If you're a counsellor looking at re-entering professional practice, you might be:
Feeling out of the loop and unsure, in terms of navigating the requirements of membership bodies, insurers, legal compliance and so forth
Noticing an absence of peers and networks that you feel aligned with
Wondering whether your skills have gone rusty, and questioning your capabilities - "am I good enough to sit in that seat again?". The imposter syndrome can be loud, when you're comparing yourself to other counsellors long immersed in the field
Fearing the impact that resuming practice might have on your mental wellbeing or other commitments, especially if your break followed a period of burnout, physical illness or changing personal circumstances.
Why am I in a good place to support counsellors with this?
I'm able to bring:
Personal experience of having taken a career break from counselling in the past (for a few years, I sidestepped into other non-counselling roles in the helping professions, as well as taking a few years out for family reasons)
My experience as a manager in the charity sector, which included supporting staff and volunteers returning after a career break
My understanding as a certified Clinical Supervisor, having supported counsellors through changes in their practice
My interest in working with burnout and life's transitions, and seeing how important self-care and connection with others can be when you're stepping back into counselling work.
Like to chat about where you're at with it all? You can contact me here.
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