‘I’ve become more aware of the day-to-day struggles people can face’ – we speak to our inspirational counselling students

The New Futures Project runs professional training courses which are externally validated and accredited by the Counselling and Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body, (CPCAB).

We welcomed our first students in November 2023 – ‘the culmination of a dream’ for our director, Della Kagure Brown.

We been planning for several years to take this step, not least to generate income for the project and to help train therapists – some of whom may well end up supporting our existing clients.

A few weeks ago, we asked our current students to write about their experiences of the course, what brought them here and where they think the qualification could take them.

In response, Joanne Carvell wrote this lovely piece for us.

I left school at the young age of 15, which wasn’t uncommon in 1984, Joanne writes.

As I’ve grown older and this combined with being back in a public sector working environment, I think I’ve become more aware of the day-to-day struggles people can face. 

I don’t think I appreciated this before because my life in the consulting world was so far removed from the community-type environment that I’m in now.

It’s changed a lot from where I originally started. People are more open about their home-life, dreams and struggles.

The world is changing too, mental health is talked about. I think my perception was that mental health was more of a medical profession than what I now understand it to be.

The course was recommended to me by a friend who is a year ahead of me. She was so enthusiastic about what she’d been doing and knew that it would be of interest to me.

I started researching it for myself, and I looked at many places that taught the course. I needed it to fit in with my current working life and wanted it to be local.

New Futures is also a charity rather than a school, so I thought I might experience the reality of being in that type of environment and learn a little about the centre itself.

I love the fact that we use actual therapy rooms for skills practice that are used by the centre during the day.

At first going back to learning, especially about a topic that I knew nothing about, felt daunting. 

I can’t deny that sometimes the work has felt overwhelming. A good majority of the work is on yourself, to become more self-aware, and at times I’ve felt like I’m picking myself apart and putting myself back together with a different view.

Working within the safety of the group environment does help with this. We all support each other throughout our learning experiences and getting to know each of my groups has been special.

You grow with your group and get to know them appreciatively due to your shared understandings.  You would never interact with anyone you meet elsewhere in this same way and it has been the best experience.

I genuinely look forward to seeing them and spending time in the cocoon of respect and healthy feedback that I don’t think I’ve ever encountered anywhere else.

Even when I feel shattered going into sessions, I always feel glad to have been a part of it when the lessons end.

I’m not sure where it will take me. I’m taking one step at a time, but currently I don’t want the journey to end.

It’s helped me personally with my relationships, having more self-awareness has had a very positive impact on me.

I wouldn’t change my journey, it’s been enlightening, and I would recommend it to everyone whether they intend to go into the profession or not.

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The New Futures Project also offer counselling by qualified counsellors and those in training, working closely with both the CPCAB and the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, (BACP), to ensure all counselling we provide is ethical and fit for purpose. 

The starting dates for our courses this year are:

• Level 2 Fast-track – Saturday, April 26

• Level 2 – Tuesday, September 8

• Level 3 – Monday, September 7

• Level 4 – Wednesday, September 9

• Level 5 Integrative – Thursday, September 10

• Level 5 Counselling Children and Young People –  Monday, September 14

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The New Futures Project offers a comprehensive welfare and counselling service for women and young people dealing with sexual abuse or exploitation, domestic violence, trafficking, poverty and debt, substance use or mental ill-health.

Call us on 0116 251 0803 or send us a message at: info@new-futures.org.uk

You can find us at 71 London Road, Leicester, LE2 0PE.