Class of 2017
Counselling
Country: United Kingdom
Job:
Director & Lead Counsellor – Serendipity York Limited T/A Serendipity Counselling York
IF YOU STUDIED YOUR UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMME AT YORK ST JOHN UNIVERSITY OR FOUNDER COLLEGES, DID YOU GO ON TO POSTGRADAUTE STUDY?
Yes, at York St John University.
WHY HAVE YOU CHOSEN THIS PHOTO AS YOUR YSJ SNAPSHOT?
I chose this photo because it reflects the calm, welcoming environment I aim to create for our clients and represents the journey from training to building a meaningful counselling organisation.
WHY WOULD YOU RECOMMEND YSJ TO SOMEONE?
I would wholeheartedly recommend York St John University to anyone considering training as a counsellor. The counselling teaching team bring a depth of clinical experience, creating a learning environment that is both professionally rigorous and genuinely supportive.
The two-year PGDip offers a strong balance between academic learning and practical development, giving you the time to build confidence, deepen self-awareness, and grow into your identity as a practitioner.
What stands out most is how well the course prepares you for real-world practice—not just in knowledge, but in developing the presence, ethics and relational skills needed to work safely and effectively with clients.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE YORK ST JOHN UNIVERSITY OR FOUNDER COLLEGES?
Living in York, with three children at home and working full-time in condensed hours, York St John University was a natural and practical choice for me. The accessibility of the course made it possible to balance my professional and family commitments alongside my training. While there were other counselling courses available, YSJ stood out not only for its reputation and structure, but for what it represented personally. It gave me the opportunity to fulfil a lifelong ambition of attending university—something I hadn’t previously been able to pursue. That combination of flexibility, quality, and personal meaning made choosing YSJ feel like the right decision on every level.
WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING SINCE COMPLETING YOUR STUDIES?
Serendipity Counselling York began in 2017, at a point in my life where experience, instinct, and ambition all came together. After more than 15 years working in social care, including time within CAMHS, I had seen the profound impact that accessible, relational counselling could have. I also saw the gaps—people waiting too long, struggling to find the right support, or feeling unsure where to turn. Serendipity was created in response to that.
What started as a small, solo practice has grown steadily into something far bigger than I first imagined. In the early days, I worked alone, building connections, establishing a reputation, and learning what it meant to run a business alongside clinical work. As demand increased, so did the need to expand. Bringing in associate counsellors was a natural next step, and over time, Serendipity evolved into a supportive team of practitioners, each bringing their own strengths, approaches, and specialisms.
A key part of that growth has been a commitment to accessibility. From the outset, I wanted counselling to feel within reach for more people. This led to the development of our low-cost counselling service, working with trainee counsellors and supporting placements for students from YSJ and other local universities. Since 2020, we have supported over 50 trainees, offering them a safe and nurturing environment to develop their practice, while also increasing the availability of affordable sessions within the community.
Partnership working has also been central to Serendipity’s journey. Our collaboration with Menfulness, a York-based men’s mental health charity, has been particularly meaningful. Together, we have delivered thousands of counselling sessions, supporting hundreds of men and contributing to real, measurable improvements in wellbeing. This work has reinforced the importance of community-led, collaborative approaches to mental health support.
In 2026, we expanded further, opening a second site in York. This marked an important milestone—not just in terms of growth, but in what it represents. Serendipity is now a team of around 15 counsellors working across two locations, offering support to adults, young people, and couples, both in person and online. We’ve been able to increase flexibility, offer evening and weekend appointments, and continue responding to the needs of our community.
Alongside clinical work, I’ve remained passionate about training, development, and sharing knowledge. From supporting trainee counsellors to delivering workshops and contributing as a visiting lecturer, there is a strong thread of learning and reflection running through everything we do.
Looking back, the journey with Serendipity has been one of steady, values-led growth. It has never been about scaling quickly, but about building something that feels ethical, grounded, and genuinely helpful. Every step has been shaped by the people we work with—clients, counsellors, students, and partners.
Serendipity continues to evolve, but its core remains the same: creating a space where people feel seen, supported, and able to make meaningful change in their lives.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE YOUR SPECIFIC COURSE?
I chose the course following my work in social care, where I was seconded to the CAMHS Family Therapy Team. During this time, I saw first-hand the power of therapeutic interventions and the difference they can make in people’s lives. It was a pivotal experience that shaped my decision to train as a counsellor. I was particularly drawn to a course that held a strong social perspective, recognising the wider contexts people live within, rather than focusing solely on diagnosis or pathology. This approach felt aligned with my values and experience, supporting a more holistic, compassionate way of working with individuals, families, and communities.
WHAT WERE THE BEST FEATURES OF YOUR COURSE?
The best features of the course were the relationships I built along the way. I made lifelong friends within my peer group, sharing a journey that was both personally and professionally transformative. A real highlight each year was the weekend residential trip to Cober Hill, which offered space for deeper connection, reflection, and learning outside of the classroom. I also had the privilege of being taught by inspiring tutors who brought warmth, knowledge, and authenticity to the course. Many of those connections have stayed with me, and I remain in touch with some of the tutors who supported and shaped my development throughout my training journey.
HOW DID STUDYING AT YSJ HELP IN YOUR CAREER SEARCH/SUCCESS/CURRENT ROLE?
Studying at York St John University provided the foundation for both my counselling career and the development of Serendipity. The course supported not only my academic learning, but my growth in self-awareness and my understanding of the therapeutic relationship—something that continues to underpin my work with clients and how I lead a team today.
The emphasis on ethics, relational practice, and a broader social perspective has shaped how I run my business, particularly my commitment to accessibility and supporting trainee counsellors through placements.
Since qualifying, I’ve been invited to return to YSJ as a visiting lecturer on both the BA and PGDip counselling courses, as well as supervising trainees and offering placements within my practice. It feels meaningful to now contribute to the development of future counsellors, in the same environment that shaped me.
WHAT ONE PIECE OF ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO A CURRENT STUDENT, OR ONE ABOUT TO GRADUATE?
As you approach graduation, it’s natural to feel a mix of excitement and uncertainty. Counselling is a profession that asks a lot of you—not just in skill, but in self-awareness, patience, and resilience—so give yourself time to grow into it.
My biggest advice is to stay curious and open. You won’t have all the answers at the start, and that’s okay. Focus on building strong, ethical foundations and trust that your confidence will develop through experience, not perfection. Be thoughtful about where you begin your practice—look for supportive environments where you can continue learning, feel contained, and be part of a community.
Prioritise good supervision and don’t underestimate the value of your own personal therapy. Both will shape you as a practitioner as much as any training.
Finally, remember why you came into this work. Stay connected to that. Counselling can be deeply meaningful, but it’s also important to look after yourself alongside others.
To find out more about Serendipity Counselling York, visit their website.
Listen to Sinead on the Menfulness podcast.
Read Sinead’s interview with Founded by Women here.