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'It's exciting to see where it will take me' - counselling student Eva loves being on placement with New Futures
- ciaran583
- Mar 6
- 4 min read
Updated: Mar 25
The New Futures Project has a proud history of opening its door to students who want to experience the reality of working with the marginalised and abused people we support here.
We offer this opportunity to two particular groups - those studying social work and those who are on the road to a career in counselling and psychotherapy.
Eva Zeegers, 27, is on the second year of an MSc in counselling at Bangor University, in Wales.
Due to graduate this summer, Eva is spending time with us as part of our counselling student placement programme.
We asked her to give her impression of the time she has spent with us so far. We started by asking her an easy one: Why counselling?
Being trapped in unhelpful or negative thoughts can be incredibly isolating and debilitating. To be able to help someone through this is, in my opinion, very valuable, she writes.
I think counselling is very special, how often do we get the chance to speak about ourselves without anyone pushing their own agenda?
Being able to facilitate a space for someone where they can explore their own thoughts and feelings and get to know themselves better is something I am very passionate about.
To be part of an organisation that dedicates itself to supporting women who have experienced various degrees of trauma and abuse is something I am very proud of.
The New Futures Project cares a lot about people, which is sadly not always a given within the caring sector. It has the best interest of the clients at heart, which is something I completely align with.
Within the organisation I feel valued as a whole, rather than perceived as ‘just a trainee’, which I very much appreciate.
Although we have practised being a counsellor extensively during the beginning of the course, it was quite daunting to start seeing ‘real’ clients.
However, once you have built a rapport and you start to truly care for the human being across from you, I found that it came quite naturally to step into my counsellor role.
I am already miles away from the counsellor that I was when I first started placement one year ago, and it is exciting to see where it will take me.
At the end of the day, it is important to remember that as long as you are not inserting your own thoughts and opinions into the counselling space, and you are providing that empathetic listening ear, you won’t do a client any harm.
Before I started my placement there was still a part of me that was wondering if talking about challenges and issues would truly be beneficial for a person, but since placement I have truly come back from this.
When reflecting with clients on the counselling experience it becomes clear how transformative counselling can be.
Some individuals struggle for months or even years with certain beliefs and it isn’t until they have spoken those words out loud that they realise they may be a) wrong or b) not serving them well at all.
However, the biggest surprise since starting my placement is how much I learn about myself when speaking with clients. Their themes in life may be similar to mine, or not at all, but there is always a lesson to be learned there that I can reflect on for myself.
Placement has also helped to bridge the gap between the theory I have learned in university, and real-life practice. This has helped me understand the course content better.
Although hearing certain experiences can be upsetting, and I truly feel for some of my clients, but luckily I have to this day been able to not take these feelings home with me.
READ MORE: We're offering a fast-track CPCAB-approved counselling skills course for students in a hurry
Personal therapy has helped a lot with this, as I have learned to tune in with myself and listen to what I need in order to be okay. I have learned how to recharge my own batteries and how to recognise when my batteries are running low.
I am happy with the support I have received from all ends, from my placements, university, clinical supervisor, and personal therapist. I feel that from all ends I am receiving all the tools I need to thrive and learn as a trainee counsellor.
So far I think I am doing just fine! I have been in placement since April 2024 and over the span of 10 months I feel that I have made lots of progress which is nice to feel.
It’s nice to notice that I am getting more comfortable as a therapist, and I have learned more tools that I can use to support clients.
My next step is to graduate this summer! After that I am hoping to acquire more experience either employed or in private practice, and eventually I would like to continue learning by doing a doctorate.
The options are endless but I will certainly continue supporting individuals with their mental health.
*****
The path to a career in counselling can start at the New Futures Project, where we offer a range of professional training courses are which are validated and accredited by the Counselling and Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body, (CPCAB).
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
For more information, call us on 0116 251 0803 or send a message to training@new-futures.org.uk
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.
You can find us at 71 London Road, Leicester, LE2 0PE. Send us a message at: info@new-futures.org.uk
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