Graduation Year: 2017
Degree: Postgraduate Diploma in Humanistic Counselling
Scholarship: Employability and Enterprise Postgraduate scholarship
Why did you apply for the alumni-funded scholarship?
At the time of applying for a scholarship, I was working part-time, alongside studying a postgraduate diploma in counselling. In my first year of study, I faced redundancy at work, and as is the case for many students, was living on a tight budget.
How did the scholarship help your study?
The scholarship contributed significantly in reducing the financial burden I was facing and aided me to successfully complete my counselling training.
The scholarship enabled me to travel to three individual counselling placements with third sector-based counselling services, within York and Scarborough. Placements that provided me with the opportunity to have a positive impact upon individuals in the wider community and also enable me to continue to develop my counselling skills and experience. The scholarship also enabled me to fund any required additional clinical supervision and purchase counselling related books and stationery.
The scholarship made a huge difference in my time at York St John. Ultimately it contributed in enabling me to fulfil the requirements of my course. In turn, I acquired a range of experience in working with clients from diverse backgrounds and differing issues. I achieved this having had the opportunity to secure placements in different types of counselling services for adults, including a hospice-based bereavement service.
What did you do after successfully completing your postgraduate degree?
Having successfully completed my counselling training, I am now a qualified counsellor and Registered Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). My career in the counselling field is developing and opportunities are varied, challenging and exciting. I am currently employed as Clinic Manager with the Counselling and Mental Health Research Clinic (CMHC), based within the School of Psychological and Social Sciences at York St John University. Alongside, I am also developing my independent private practice, and continue to volunteer some of my time with counselling services in the local community.
What would you like to say to the donors who supported your scholarship?
I was so grateful to have received the scholarship; thank you. It helped me push through a difficult time in my life and enabled me to successfully reach my ambition to develop a career in the field of counselling and hopefully have a positive impact upon others.
This scholar now successfully runs their own counselling service based out of Harrogate.