Case studies : Counselling psychologist in training: Rebecca

Rebecca has a BSc in Counselling and Psychology from Roehampton University. She graduated in 2006 and is now completing her final year of a postgraduate PsychD in counselling psychology while volunteering as a counselling psychologist in training. She also has a private practice where she sees people with relationship issues.

The primary care organisation where I hold my voluntary position is a part of the Priory Group and the patients who attend this service have a wide range of issues with various levels of severity. This placement is one that I secured as a condition of my course requirement. My private practice consists of clients who are referred to me from previous contacts at Relate or from previous clients.

I am at the placement at the primary care organisation on a part-time basis. On each of the two days that I am there I see three patients for fifty minutes each. I write up notes on each patient, write letters to their GPs, write letters of referral to other more appropriate treatment centres when necessary and attend supervision on a weekly basis.  For my private practice I see six clients a week for fifty minutes each. In those sessions we work on issues related to their relationship. I attend monthly supervision for these couples.

My career ambitions are to continue to develop my private practice and to continue on working part-time in the public sector.

I enjoy seeing people make sense of their lives and in many cases, cope with very difficult circumstances and in some cases get better, or even move on to better things. No two people are the same and both simple and very complex presentations engage my curiosity and creativity and help me to develop a deeper appreciation of humanity, including my own. I never stop marvelling at both human fragility and human strength.

There are some very challenging parts of the job, such as the ever increasing influence of governmental financial involvement and the subsequent need for evidence-based practice. The increased pressure to take possible litigation into account when offering services to clients and patients who simply want help, is also a very frustrating part of this work.

On the plus side, providing a meaningful service for some demographics of people who would otherwise never receive emotional/psychological support is very satisfying.

If you are considering going into this profession, make sure it is definitely the right move for you and you are passionate about it. This career is a very challenging one on a personal level, as you must always engage in your own personal development and awareness. It is also challenging on a professional level as you are always in a position to witness sometimes very intense human suffering. Lastly, your leisure time will also be effected as, particularly with a private practice, you can work unsocial hours, early mornings, lunch times and evenings when employed people are free to attend sessions.