Counselling training – Iain Douglas Stewart

Progress

By Iain 19 December 2022Reflections, The MissionNo Comments

I'm coming to the end of my knee's recovery period, and I've made quite a bit of progress since first being off work. I put up a bookcase upstairs, sorted out a bunch of old clothes and bits and bobs I don't need anymore, and sorted out my bookcase downstairs somewhat - it's still a work in progress but I'm…

Taking another year off

By Iain 16 September 2020Reflections, The MissionNo Comments

I'm finding myself in that situation again this academic year, mainly thanks to coronavirus this time around rather than financial worries. But this time, I can see it coming, and I won't lose focus. I won't waste this year. I've got things I need to do to be ready for starting the level 4 counselling course next September. See, after…

L3CiCS Reflective Diary – 29th May 2020

By Iain 29 May 2020Qualifications courseworkNo Comments

This week we are looking at limits of proficiency, and my reflections on them. There are many ethical considerations to take into account when considering your own limits of proficiency. The type of client is one, for example, as a child would require a different approach to an adult seeking therapy. Personally, I would like to gain experience with as…

L3CiCS Learning Log – 29th May 2020

By Iain 8 May 2020Qualifications courseworkNo Comments

Limits of proficiency are, as they sound, the limits to which a counsellor can work. Once again, boundaries are important. People come to counselling for an incredibly wide range of reasons, and not all counsellors are fully trained in all aspects of counselling. A counsellor’s initial training is the foundation which can be built upon as they gain professional experience…

Self-isolation, quarantine, whatever this limbo is; week seven

By Iain 6 May 2020Creativity, Physicality, Reflections, Site Related, The MissionNo Comments

Time is strange at the moment. It goes fast, but feels slow. Days take ages, but are over before you know it. This strange coronavirus limbo is warping things. It's so quiet outside, it's unreal. Eerie. Spooky. It feels like the entire world has been paused. I didn't get a rowing machine in the end, I'm ashamed to say the…

Self-isolation, week four

By Iain 14 April 2020Internet, Music, Reflections, The MissionNo Comments

It reminds me of when I was unemployed, having all this free time. But it's weird - instead of bumming around playing videogames all day and moderating meaningless internet forums, this time I am spending my time improving my situation. I asked Twitter when the lockdown first started if this crisis brought anyone's mortality into sharp focus. It did mine.…

L3CiCS Reflective Diary – 13th March 2020

By Iain 13 March 2020Qualifications courseworkNo Comments

This week, just like last week, we split up into small groups to discuss case studies in a simulation of a peer-supervision group. I presented my second case study this week, a female in her mid-thirties, who came to counselling because she was feeling regret at not having settled down and felt she had focused on her career for too…

Three years ago, today

By Iain 10 February 2020Books, Reflections, The MissionNo Comments

Or yesterday, I forget. Whichever day it was, three years ago I was going to kill myself. I've come a long way, baby. Far enough? Not yet. We still have a ways to go. But still, considering the progress that I have made, it's unreal. Compare the person I was back then to the person I am now and I…

L3CiCS Reflective Diary – 27th September 2019

By Iain 27 September 2019Qualifications courseworkNo Comments

We talked a little about our own personal boundaries in this lesson, and at first I was a little blank about what my own personal boundaries as a counsellor would be. I am pretty easy going and I like to think I would be able to handle most subject matter thrown my way. Still now, as I’m writing this a…

L3CiCS Reflective Diary – 20th September 2019

By Iain 20 September 2019Qualifications courseworkNo Comments

Firstly, I feel I need to address this last academic year. I was upset that I didn’t start the Level 3 last year, but that shouldn’t have stopped me from doing anything productive. I just didn’t feel like I was able to be productive. When the Level 2 course finished in 2018, it was nice to take a little break…