I decided to re-train as a counsellor in 2008, after a health problem prevented me from doing the job I had been doing for years: bookkeeper, office manager and fundraiser for several small charities including Transform Drug Policy Foundation, Community Resolve, and Haven Books to Prisoners.
Making such a big change was frightening, but now I’d say it’s the best thing that could have happened to me. I find being a counsellor incredibly rewarding and I’m always humbled by the courage and strength of the people I meet doing this work.
I have worked (in some cases, as a volunteer) for the Womankind Helpline, the SWAN Project, the Addiction Recovery Agency, Bristol Drugs Project, Counselling for Social Change, the Southmead Project, and GamCare.
I also taught counselling at City of Bristol College, including the Level 2 Introduction to Counselling Concepts course, as well as the Addiction and Reflective Practice modules at Level 5. In early 2019, I ran a one-day course at Network Counselling and Training about working with addiction in a person-centred way.
I currently work as an external supervisor for One25, Caring in Bristol, SARSAS and Hope at Home.
All of my current counselling work is in private practice.
In my work, I have also learned a great deal about people’s struggle to live with difficult, sometimes traumatic, experiences. This work fills me with great hope that all of us can be healed and live happier and healthier lives.
Please get in touch if you have any questions by emailing me at nathalie.counselling@gmail.com or ringing /texting 07824452840