You’ve done the training. Now how do you actually begin?

Finishing a counselling qualification is one thing. Feeling ready to step into the role of counsellor is another. Through my work as a trainer and assessor with the Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors, I speak with counselling students and emerging practitioners regularly. I know how many questions can arise once the study starts becoming real:

Am I actually ready to do this? Where do I begin? How do I get my first clients? Should I work for someone else or start my own practice? What do I need to set up? And what if I don’t feel confident enough yet?

This is where mentoring can help.

Support for the transition from student to counsellor

These sessions combine practical professional guidance with the confidence-building support that can be just as important as knowing the theory.

We can explore things such as:

• building confidence as a new counsellor

• making the transition from student to practitioner

• understanding your options for employment or private practice

• setting up the practical foundations of a counselling practice

• working out what services you want to offer

• establishing your professional identity and approach

• navigating the first stages of finding clients

• thinking through fees, boundaries and session structure

• developing confidence in your counselling skills

• working through fears and self-doubt about beginning

• creating a realistic plan for getting started

I’ve spent years on both sides of the process — working as a counsellor and coach, and supporting counselling students through their training and assessment. So this isn’t about giving you a textbook answer. It’s about helping you work out how you want to step into the profession and what you actually need to do next.

You don’t have to wait until you feel completely ready.

Confidence often develops through doing, not before doing. Having someone experienced to talk things through with can make the transition from qualification to professional practice feel much more manageable. These sessions are mentoring rather than formal clinical supervision, and they’re designed for counsellors and counselling students who want practical guidance, perspective and encouragement as they find their feet.

Online via Zoom.

Counsellor Mentoring $150