Counselling – Iain Douglas Stewart

Further thoughts on my father’s passing

By Iain 27 March 2025ReflectionsNo Comments

So, my Dad died. As I said in the other post, we weren't close by any stretch of the imagination, the last time I saw him in person was in maybe 1997 or 1998 when I was in my early twenties, the last time I spoke to him on the phone was in 2019 on Jake's birthday (I didn't actually…

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…

I don’t know where my motivation has gone

By Iain 11 August 2022Physicality, Reflections, The MissionNo Comments

I try and keep it positive on here, which is why it's been quiet recently. A lot of negativity in my life right now. Stuck in a slump and I just don't know which way to go. Work is awful right now, people have been leaving for years and have not been replaced, and it's got to the point now…

The Mission – updated

By Iain 11 May 2021The MissionNo Comments

So I had a look at my old plans and it was glaringly obvious why I was drifting, rudderless. Apart from learning to drive and buying a car, and taking the next step in my counselling journey, I'd ticked off everything that was possible to tick off. And even then, there are plans in place to complete those objectives. A…

Life Coaching Diploma Module 1

By Iain 18 January 2021Qualifications courseworkNo Comments

I have recently taken up an online course about Life Coaching. Specifically, this one on New Skills Academy: https://newskillsacademy.co.uk/course/life-coaching-course If you fancy doing a course from New Skills Academy, consider using this affiliate link which will give you a massive 75% off a course: https://newskillsacademy.co.uk/refer/IAINDOUGLAS75-1226. It will also give me 75% off my next course, so it's a win-win scenario…

Minecraft: Real life vs simulations

By Iain 14 December 2020Creativity, Essays, The Mission, VideogamesNo Comments

This post started off as a piece on how Minecraft evokes primal instincts in a person, but the more I wrote, the more it evolved. Have a read. You'll see. Survive the night. Is there a more evocative phrase? When you start a new Minecraft world in survival mode, that is your mission statement, your purpose. Survive the night. Granted,…

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 Mental Health Assignment

By Iain 30 June 2020Qualifications courseworkNo Comments

Identifying and describing a range of mental health problems As categorised by The National Institute for Health Care Excellence (NICE), the most common mental health problems are: Depression – The main symptom is a low feeling and a loss of pleasure in things that were once enjoyable. Other symptoms include feeling irritable all the time, having drastic changes in appetite,…

L3CiCS Counselling Agency Assignment

By Iain 29 June 2020Qualifications courseworkNo Comments

The purpose of this assignment is to choose a counselling agency and research how it operates. I have chosen Off The Record. I chose this organisation because there was once a place in Southampton that offered a similar service that I visited when I was a troubled teenage to get some help. It helped me greatly, more than I realised…

L3CiCS You as a Counsellor Assignment

By Iain 28 June 2020Qualifications courseworkNo Comments

I am training to become a counsellor because I want to help people. Throughout my life I have struggled with a lot of various types of mental health problems, such as depression, addiction and severe anxiety. I was borderline narcissistic and I suffered from delusions of grandeur, as well as Golden-Child syndrome. I thought I deserved more, but I expected…