Helen recently completed her BSc in Psychology, Counselling and Psychotherapy at the University of Cumbria. As part of her degree, she was required to complete 100 hours of counselling practice. Eager to find a meaningful placement, Helen reached out to The Well Communities, where she connected with Andy Roan to explore opportunities.

Together, they discussed offering weekly one-to-one counselling sessions to individuals in Stage 2 or beyond of the organisation’s 12-step behavioural recovery programme. “Through discussions it was felt that offering sessions to people at Stage 2 would be the most effective, giving them a strong foundation for progress.” While Helen does not have personal lived experience of addiction, she does have experience of addiction within her family and friends. This, combined with her passion for supporting others, made the placement a natural and resonant fit.

“As a student counsellor, you need to reach a certain level of learning before you’re able to work with clients,” Helen explained, “we aren’t allowed out on placement until we reach the strict criteria and are assessed by our tutors. Placements are fully supported by the university, but it’s down to us to go out there and find and arrange them; it’s the first step in developing our professional identities”.

Helen found that The Well Communities willingness to support her counselling modality and offer open ended sessions for clients was invaluable, “I feel incredibly lucky that I was able to find a placement that really supported me in my training as a person-centered counsellor and the ability for clients to have continuous, not time-limited sessions was an amazing opportunity. Many times, sessions are time limited, sometimes to ten or less sessions, however the ability for clients to truly take sessions at their own pace and have that support throughout their journey was unique and invaluable. Some clients had 8 to 12 sessions and that was them done; others have had close to 30 sessions. I really depended on the client and their needs.

Reflecting on her time with The Well Communities, Helen said:

“I loved working with The Well Communities and would be happy to continue that relationship. The team were warm, welcoming, and made me feel truly part of the organisation. The clients were open and receptive; they could really see the value of the counselling. In many cases, it’s a service that isn’t freely accessible, and waitlists for NHS support can be incredibly long. It was rewarding to offer them a safe, dedicated space to explore their experiences and emotions.”

The counselling service was completely confidential, giving clients the freedom to speak openly about their struggles, including cravings, trauma, and personal challenges; the space was theirs and they could truly be themselves in sessions without any fear of judgement. Helen shared that many sessions delved beyond addiction, touching on the very personal experiences of clients, all of which had contributed to their journeys.

“It wasn’t always easy work,” she reflected, “but I had my own clinical supervision where I could talk through any difficulties I had and to ensure I was always practicing in a professional manner. I saw real growth in the people I worked with. Some clients continued with sessions beyond Stage 2, and it was incredible to witness their transformation as they realised the strength and potential they had when given the right support.”

Helen also gained significant personal and professional growth through the experience:

“The placement helped me become a stronger person and a more confident counsellor. Sometimes clients worry they might do counselling ‘wrong’ but I reassured them you can’t get it wrong. It’s their space, and they’re in control. I was just there to hold that space and be alongside them.”

“I don’t think I could have chosen a better placement. It was a special part of my learning journey. While helping others is the heart of counselling, it was truly uplifting to see the positive impact it had.”

What’s Next for Helen?

Helen is now preparing to work with the Happy Mums Foundation, supporting maternal mental health. From September, she plans to begin offering private practice counselling, with a strong desire to continue working in the charity sector, where support is needed.