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In this episode, I welcome Lee Raspberry, a trainee therapist, to discuss his potential career transition from engineering to counselling. Lee shares insights from his journey, including challenges, passion, and has lots of valuable advice for those considering a similar path.

Key Points:

1. Lee's background: his experience in engineering and product management, completing an MBA at Warwick Business School and discovering a passion for psychology and organisational behaviour.

2. His catalysts for change: major life events, such as becoming a parent and the COVID pandemic, prompted Lee to re-evaluate his career, as well as personal experiences with counselling that ignited his interest in becoming a therapist.

3. Deciding to pursue counselling: Lee's realisation that a human-centered career path is likely to suit him better than his role in engineering, looking at the importance of self-reflection and identifying personal values.

4. Training at Matrix College: he talks about the integrative counselling degree course that he's currently studying, the balance of academic work and practical experience within the program.

5. Great advice for Aspiring Therapists: Lee has lots of suggestions for ideas to bear in mind in making the career change:

1 - What you do tomorrow doesn't devalue what you did today or yesterday.

2 - Change is inevitable, in you and in the world.

3 - Listen to your gut, give the cognitive muscle a rest.

4 - Explore and understand your values - recognise when they change.

5 - Seek new experiences that get you in touch with different sides of yourself.

6 - Expand your circle, look for variety in your connections.

7 - You cannot mitigate all the risk, dangers and unknowns. Change will cost time and money.

8 - You may never know if you don't have a go.

9 - Think about what you are moving away from, and towards.

10 - Think about the WORK, and HOW the work is done.

6. Challenges Faced: he talks about the potential challenges faced including balancing study, work, and family life while managing stress and deadlines.

7. Future Aspirations: Lee's goal of establishing a private practice while keeping an open mind about potential career developments as he encourages listeners to trust themselves and explore their passions.

Thank you for listening to this podcast. If you do enjoy it, please feel free to SHARE it, don't forget to 'SUBSCRIBE' to show your support, it would be much appreciated!

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If there’s anything else you’d like to know about John-Paul and how he might be able to help you, please do contact him via his website www.thistrustedplace.co.uk

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Subscriber’s question: ‘I'm struggling with this question right now. I've had a long career in technology, but am burned out from it and need to do something else. I also started getting counselling myself a few years ago and find it helpful and very interesting.

I'm also very much an introvert, and not really a people person at all, although I'm very sensitive and empathetic. How the heck do i know if i could be a good counsellor? Does a masters program sort of transform you into one?

Thanks!’

This podcast is a response to the above subscriber's question about how to know if one would be a good counsellor, given that they don't consider themselves a great "people person" and are more introverted. It also addresses a comment from another viewer about the need for a "portfolio career" to earn enough as a therapist.

I explore what I think are many of the common traits and qualities of a 'good therapist', such as:

- Curiosity and openness to new ideas
- Self-reflection and tolerance
- Empathy and sensitivity
- Emotional intimacy and vulnerability
- Active listening and communication skills
- Optimism and hope
- Good boundaries
- Honesty
- Warmth and kindness

The podcast also mentions other qualities like creativity, connection to nature, and lack of competitiveness. Looking specifically at the subscriber's question, I suggest that their perception of themselves as not being a "people person" or being introverted may be shaped by their past experiences and environment. The training and being around other therapists can help transform these beliefs and bring out the qualities that are valued in the profession, encouraging the subscriber to be curious and observant about how they feel in the training environment and to trust their own experience.

Support the show

If there’s anything else you’d like to know about John-Paul and how he might be able to help you, please do contact him via his website www.thistrustedplace.co.uk

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Today is the release day of Caz Binstead's new book "Relational Ethics in Psychotherapy and Counselling Private Practice: Solidarity, Compassion, Justice (Ethics In Action)" (published by Routledge), which also features a short case study on my YouTube channel!

An excerpt from the Amazon book description: 'This book explores the ethics around everything connected with setting up and running a therapy private practice... The book provides exercises, examples, and vignettes, in addition to the author's own unique working model, to help the reader bring theoretical reflections into their own everyday practice...and... will help private practitioners feel more confident and grounded in their private practice and up-to-date with developing thoughts. It will also appeal to training institutes, supervisors, and students.'

In this podcast, I had the pleasure of chatting with Caz about her journey to releasing the book and the importance of ethics in private practice. She's an experienced private practitioner, supervisor, writer, and facilitator, with a passion for ethical and thriving practice. She has helped hundreds of therapists with their private practices and believes in the importance of balancing ethical considerations with business growth.

The book covers various topics, including solidarity, compassion, justice, and the importance of endings in therapy. Caz also runs projects like Trainee Talk and Therapists Create, which provide support and opportunities for therapists and trainees to connect and explore their creativity. If you're interested in learning more about ethical practice and the journey of releasing a book, this podcast is for you.

Thank you for listening. If you do enjoy it, please feel free to share it, don't forget to subscribe to the channel to show your support. Also, please do subscribe to my YouTube channel for more content like this!

Don't forget to check out Caz's new book and support her amazing work. You can find out more about Caz via her website:

www.cazbinstead.com

If you are interested in joining in with any of Caz' projects - #TherapistsCreate or #TraineeTalk, or, to find out more about the #TherapistsConnect community, please email her on info@cazbinstead.com

And, feel free to connect with Caz on social media:

https://www.facebook.com/caztc

https://twitter.com/cazbinny

https://www.instagram.com/night_owl_counsellor/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/caz-binstead-385873302?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

https://www.tiktok.com/@cazbinny?_t=8r0YYxI2lLU&_r=1

https://bsky.app/profile/cazbinny.bsky.social

Support the show

If there’s anything else you’d like to know about John-Paul and how he might be able to help you, please do contact him via his website www.thistrustedplace.co.uk