Counselling student stories
Real journeys from real people who trained with Aloe Counselling Training.
Every student arrives with their own hopes, doubts and reasons for choosing counselling.
These stories reflect the breadth of experiences at Aloe Counselling Training: different backgrounds, challenges and goals, all supported by warm teaching, practical learning and a safe relational environment.
Here are some of the journeys our students have taken:
The tutors helped me see strengths in myself that I had never noticed before.
Before joining Aloe, I had spent years working in an administrative role. I felt stuck in a routine and knew I wanted something more meaningful, but I had no background in counselling or mental health. What first drew me to the Introductory course was a quiet curiosity. I wanted to listen, to help and to learn something that mattered.
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I remember feeling very nervous on my first day. Sitting in a small group with people I had never met felt intimidating, but the tutors were so gentle and reassuring.
Over the following weeks, as I listened, practised, reflected and sometimes struggled, something inside me began to settle. I felt more grounded.
I realised I could learn this. I could actually do it. I realised I could stay present without rushing to fix things. By the end of my Level 2 training I felt genuinely proud of myself.
That experience encouraged me to progress to Level 3. For the first time in years, I feel like a new future is opening up. One where I can support others while continuing my own personal growth.
It was the first time in years I felt like I was doing something that mattered.
I had worked in a corporate job for over ten years when I was made redundant. It hit me unexpectedly and left me feeling lost and directionless. A friend suggested counselling training, and although I was unsure, I decided to sign up for the Introductory course ‘just to see.’ I did not expect it to affect me the way it did.
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During skills practice, I realised how comfortable I felt sitting with silence and how naturally empathy came to me. I listened in a way that seemed to help people feel safe. It felt meaningful, human and completely different from the work I had done before.
As I moved into Level 3 and Level 4 courses, everything started to shift. I began placement work, saw real clients under supervision and found myself waking up with a sense of purpose again.
Today, I work part time in private practice and balance freelance consultancy alongside my therapy work. Training at Aloe did not just give me new skills — it helped me rebuild my life.
They believed in me long before I believed in myself.
After years dedicated to raising my children, I reached a point where I realised I had lost a sense of who I was outside of motherhood. I wanted to rediscover myself and do something meaningful that belonged to me. The idea of returning to education felt daunting after so long, but I also knew I needed a new chapter that allowed me to grow and reconnect with who I am.
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From the first session, the tutors were patient and encouraging. They understood I was stepping into something new and gave me space to find my confidence.
I never felt rushed or judged. Through reflective exercises, empathy practice and group work, I started reconnecting with parts of myself I had pushed aside for years.
I am now studying the Relationship Counselling Level 5 course. My hope is to support couples, especially those navigating parenting or blended family life. This training has become more than education for me. It feels like a reawakening — a chance to build a new chapter filled with purpose and compassion.
I learned that being sensitive is not a weakness.
My journey began when I became a client myself, during a time of loss and emotional overwhelm when I felt unsure of my direction. Counselling supported me in ways I had not expected, offering insight, healing and a sense of stability. Through that experience, a new idea slowly emerged: that I might one day be able to offer the same kind of support to others.
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I joined Level 3 counselling training at Aloe and the start was not as straight-forward as I had expected. The training brought up old memories and vulnerabilities. There were times I wondered whether I made the right decision. But whenever I felt close to giving up, my tutors held space for me. They understood that counselling training is emotional as well as educational.
Over time, I realised that the sensitivity I once saw as a weakness was actually one of my greatest strengths. It helps me connect with people. I learned how to stay present without absorbing everything, how to hold boundaries with empathy, and how to sit with difficult stories without losing myself.
I am now completing my Level 4 Diploma and working with real clients in placement. This journey has been challenging and transformative — the hardest and best decision I have ever made.
What helped most was how approachable the tutors were.
I was already a qualified counsellor when I joined Aloe and enjoyed my individual client work, but I often noticed the deeper relational patterns shaping what was happening in the room. I felt drawn to working with couples and relationships, yet unsure how to develop the skills and confidence needed. I wanted a clear, supportive way to expand my practice into relational work.
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The Aloe’s Relationship Counselling training offered me the perfect blend of flexibility and depth. The online modules gave me space to learn at my own pace, while the in-person training days helped me practise skills and witness real dynamics in the room.
At first the theory felt comprehensive, but slowly, through role plays, discussions and supervised practice, I began to find my voice as a relationship therapist. Nothing felt silly to ask.
I now offer couples therapy in private practice, and the training has expanded not just my skills, but my confidence, purpose and clarity about my future direction.
I suddenly realised I could hold a session and stay present without panicking.
When I started Level 4 counselling training, I felt a mix of excitement and fear. I was aware that the course would involve deeper academic work alongside preparing to see real clients and I worried about whether I could manage both. In the early weeks I felt overwhelmed at times, but the steady support from my tutors helped me find my footing and begin to trust myself in the process.
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Halfway through the course, something shifted. I realised I could trust my presence rather than rely on techniques. I could stay grounded, listen deeply and hold a session without panicking.
Now, as I complete my placement hours, I feel ready to start my own practice and even move into Relationship Counselling training. Aloe has given me both the tools and the confidence to grow into the counsellor I want to become.
Looking for more real perspectives?
Explore longer-form stories and reflections on our blog.
