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I have quoted this before and it stands constant to when I explain my role as a counsellor: “When you need me, but do not want me, then I must stay. When you want me, but no longer need me, then I have to go” (Nanny McPhee).

For me to be available for an individual, I believe listening is the skill that is at greater importance and then follows empathy. There is so much more to learn, so much more to process and so much more to provide as counsellors to the clients which begins with listening respectfully.

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The journey of professional development was a journey of self-discovery in which I was able to analyze my own inhibitions, resistance and to move forward in developing myself as a professional healer. The support and encouragement that had been received from the group was a source of development. Now I feel that I am strong because I have strong support from the community of my batchmates who understand and accept me as I am. The below image shows the steps I had taken during this course and how this course helped me to develop a professional identity

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Where are you in relation to your development as counselors

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I see a counselor’s development as never ending and on-going journey. So, for me, there’s no cut-off point which I have to reach. I see it like a staircase that just goes on and on. I have witnessed my journey from step 1, starting from 11th standard psychology to now doing Msc. and now when I look back, I can clearly see that I have come a long way. With each day passing, I gain more confidence. Earlier I used to think- Will I be a good counselor? Will I be able to help people? Will I be competent enough? But, today I say, that the answer to these questions is ‘YES’. With the counseling psychology course, I have started believing in myself, I am able to sense my growth, and I know that there is a long way to go. But I am not scared of this life-long journey. I am excited and I am ready to make myself more competent with time and practice. Learning won’t stop. And that’s the best part about being a counselor.

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I feel like this have given good food for thoughts to reflect on myself and able to look back what happened back in life. this help to cherish and be grateful to some learnings too. I identified my strengths such as optimism, emotional regulation, overcoming bias and gratitude. I identify these are so important in Counselor learning progress. I had wholesome experience with this and I feel happy about taking the course.

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This art by Eva Gawlik is the only perfect representation of what I believe the process of counselling entails. I can relate the one single chair that is placed in the midst of light and darkness to my own development through the course. The fact that there is only one chair makes me think of the multiple roles that a counsellor plays. Counsellors, especially those in training, have learned to live in hyphenated spaces, juggling the healing process between self and others. I have come to understand that while I might be ready to become a counsellor in the near future, I might never reach a point where there is nothing new to learn. With light that comes with being aware and healing others, there always will be knowledge lurking in the darkness waiting to be discovered.

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I've always been an optimistic person, and the course and the sharing process has made me much more optimistic and positive towards self and significant others around me. In the professional sphere, I see myself to grow a lot.
one of my school teachers use to say - Aim high and high, Sky is the limit.

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The gif image below accurately represents where I think I am in the process of developing as an efficient counsellor. I have definitely expanded my skill set and strengths pertaining to counselling. One major thing I learned through the course of time is that "every glow stick needs to be broken in order to shine", and I resonate with that. As time passes, I am reminded of my passion towards this profession, as well as my life goal. Being appreciated for having a strong will power, I know I will be able to achieve what I aimed with hard work and effort. I currently feel empowered to have good listening, empathic, and good attention span skills.

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so I think that as a professional counsellor I am like this drawing of mine, all colorful and being drawn with a bunch of skills. But just like a butterfly I am always hopping from one learning to another and never settling for anything. I have learnt a lot uptill now but I still have some black spots where I can work on. I as a counsellor have not only learned skills but I have also come into awareness of many qualities I already have hence, I will always be imperfectly perfect in my world.

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I quite relate to the background of this padlet. I have always shared an affinity with sky, freedom, clouds, wings and rainbow. I feel at home in the immense vastness of the sky. I feel somewhat similar in my journey towards becoming a good counsellor. I feel like I am working on my wings. I relate with the idea that "the sky is the limit". I am coming in terms with my strength to take out time for things that matter to me and my identity as a therapist is one of those things. I currently feel like a rainbow with wings. I feel at peace with my sense of self-awareness.