Student story: how I built my confidence and private practice
Our tutor Ania, who completed her counselling training with Aloe, reflects on her journey as a student, from early training through to building confidence, qualification and a growing private practice.
Student story: how I built my confidence and private practice
By Ania Kappes, Aloe’s Tutor and Level 4 Graduate
I came to counselling through my own personal journey. Parenting a child with special educational needs and navigating complex relational dynamics led me to seek therapy myself.
In that space, I experienced what it felt like to be truly heard. I realised how powerful counselling could be, not only for healing but for rebuilding a sense of self.
That experience planted a seed. I began to wonder whether this was work I might one day do myself.
Taking the first step into counselling training
I began my studies at Aloe with the Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills. I chose to stay for the next level because the knowledge, integrity and warmth of my tutors stood out immediately.
The training felt robust and grounded, held by people who clearly care about their students and the profession. From the outset, it felt like a place where learning mattered, not just academically, but personally too.
As I progressed, the quality of teaching remained consistently high. The training was clear, informative and concise where needed, supported by fantastic resources. It fully met my expectations and offered great value for money.
More importantly, I felt genuinely held as a student. The tutors created an environment where it felt safe to reflect, question and grow, even when the learning became emotionally demanding.
Growing confidence through Level 4 and placement work
Level 4, in particular, was phenomenal. The theory was broad and clearly connected to real practice, both online and in person. Placement preparation was thorough, and I felt supported as I began working with clients.
The blend of theory, experiential work and independent exploration helped me build a solid foundation for ethical and skilled counselling. I was never made to feel rushed or unsupported as I stepped into real client work.
‘I grew in confidence, clarity and self-awareness. I learned to trust myself as a practitioner rather than becoming compliant or reliant on external reassurance.’
The training reduced my anxiety about working independently and helped me feel equipped to work with both young people and adults. I also gained a wealth of therapeutic resources that I still use in my practice today.
From training to private practice
Alongside the Level 4 Diploma, I completed additional courses including Starting Your Own Practice and Working with Young People. Most recently, I enrolled in the Relationship Counselling Diploma.
Each course built naturally on the last, deepening my skills while continuing to support my personal and professional development.
Since completing my training, I have been building my private practice, Journey Within, alongside continuing my agency, charity and affiliate work. My client work is varied, challenging and deeply rewarding.
Aloe’s training did not simply contribute to my development; it changed my life. The depth of self-awareness work, combined with the support of the tutors and the wider centre, helped me make life-altering decisions with confidence.
Looking back on a transformative journey
If someone asked whether they should train with Aloe, I would not hesitate to recommend them. If you want a centre that offers not only excellent theory but inspiration, ethical safety, career preparation, strong CPD opportunities, placement support and a fun, interactive learning environment, this is the place.
My advice would be simple: trust the process. It may change your life, just as it changed mine.
Ania Kappes, Journey Within
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From counselling training to private practice | Student story
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Read Ania’s story of how counselling training at Aloe supported her growth, confidence and journey into ethical private practice through CPCAB Levels and specialist training.
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Reflective journalling for counselling students
Summary for blog listing page: Reflective journalling is one of the most powerful tools in counselling training. This blog explores why it matters, how it supports your personal and professional growth and how to create a journalling habit that feels natural rather than pressured.
Reflective journalling for counselling students
Reflective journalling is often introduced very early in counselling training, sometimes within the first session. For many students, it is a familiar concept, something they have encountered in school or in wellbeing exercises. For others, the idea of writing about their thoughts and feelings feels new and uncertain.
Some worry that they will not know what to say, or that they must write something profound for it to be useful. As training unfolds, most students discover that reflective journalling becomes one of the most meaningful and transformative parts of their learning journey.
Counselling requires emotional awareness, relational depth and the ability to reflect on your own responses as well as those of your clients. Journalling offers a space where these capacities can grow. It allows you to pause, step back from the intensity of learning and gently explore what is happening inside you. This makes it an essential tool for anyone training to work therapeutically with others.
What reflective journalling really is
Reflective journalling is not the same as keeping a diary. You are not simply describing what happened in a session or listing events from your day. Instead, journalling invites you to explore your internal world. It asks you to pay attention to your emotional and relational experiences, to notice your thoughts and feelings and to reflect on how they influence the way you listen, communicate and respond.
At its core, reflective journalling is a process of making sense. It helps you put words to experiences that might feel complex or unclear. It gives you a private space to process, deepen insight and prepare for future learning. Over time, journalling strengthens your self-awareness and helps you understand your reactions in a more compassionate and grounded way.
Counselling training involves many moments that benefit from reflection. These might include emotional insights, challenges in group discussion, moments of connection during skills practice or times when something feels uncomfortable or confusing. Without reflection, these moments may pass quickly. Journalling helps you sit with them a little longer so that you can learn from them.
Why reflective journalling is important in counselling training
Counsellors work with human emotions, personal histories, relational patterns and complex psychological experiences. To support clients effectively, you need to develop sensitivity to what is happening inside yourself. Reflective journalling helps you become aware of your emotional landscape and how it influences your presence in the counselling relationship.
There are several reasons why journalling is so valuable for trainees.
- It helps you understand your emotional responses. In counselling training, you will encounter moments that stir unexpected feelings. These might arise during group discussions, skills practice or personal development work. Journalling offers a place to explore these feelings with honesty and curiosity. It allows you to notice patterns, triggers and themes that may shape your future work with clients.
- It supports personal and professional growth. Counselling requires a deep understanding of the self. Journalling helps you recognise your strengths and growing edges. As you write, you may notice areas where you feel confident and attuned, as well as moments where you feel challenged. This awareness supports your development and prepares you for more advanced training.
- It strengthens reflective capacity. Reflection is essential for counsellors. Supervisors expect trainees to reflect on their work, their emotional processes and the dynamics that arise in sessions. Journalling gives you practice in reflective thinking and helps you build the internal voice that will guide your professional development.
- It reduces emotional overwhelm. Counselling training can feel intense at times. You may encounter themes or emotions that resonate with your own personal experiences. Journalling helps you process these moments in a safe and contained way. It creates space for emotional release and helps you navigate the natural ups and downs of training.
- It improves the quality of your learning. When you write about what you are learning, you deepen your understanding of it. Journalling helps you integrate theory, skills and personal insight. It reinforces key concepts and helps you recognise how they connect to real life experiences.
How to begin a reflective journalling practice
Starting a journalling practice does not need to be complicated. Some students feel pressure to produce long entries or beautifully written paragraphs. In reality, the most helpful journal entries are those that feel genuine and honest.
Here are some suggestions to help you get started.
- Choose a format that feels comfortable. Some people enjoy writing by hand because it slows down their thinking and helps them connect with their emotions. Others prefer typing because it feels faster and more accessible. There is no correct way to journal. Use whatever feels natural.
- Find a rhythm that supports you. You do not need to journal every day. Some students write after each class. Others journal once a week or whenever something meaningful arises. What matters is consistency. Find a rhythm that works with your life and training schedule.
- Begin with small reflections. You might start with a single thought or feeling. For example:
- I felt proud when I managed to stay fully present during skills practice.
- I noticed discomfort when talking about boundaries and I want to explore why.
- I realised that I often try to reassure people and I want to understand what is happening for me in those moments.
- Be honest, without judgement. Your journal is a private space. You are not being marked on eloquence, grammar or insight. There is no right or wrong content. What matters is that you allow yourself to be truthful about your experience.
Common concerns about journalling and how to approach them
Almost every trainee experiences uncertainty at the beginning of their journalling journey. Here are some common concerns and how to work with them.
- I do not know what to write. Start with one moment from your class or practice session that stayed with you. It might be a feeling, a sentence someone said, a moment of connection or a moment of confusion. Begin there and see where the writing takes you.
- I am worried I will write something too traumatic. Reflective journalling invites personal insight but does not require you to revisit trauma or share details you are not ready to explore. You can reflect on feelings without describing the story behind them.
- I do not feel comfortable reading my own reflections. This is very common, especially in the beginning. Over time, many students find that revisiting their journal entries helps them see growth and patterns that would otherwise go unnoticed. If rereading feels too difficult at first, you can wait until later in the course.
What reflective journalling can reveal over time
As your journal grows, you may begin to notice recurring themes. You might see that certain emotions arise often, that certain communication patterns appear repeatedly or that you respond to particular topics with strong feelings. These patterns are not things to fix. They are maps of your inner world. They help you understand who you are as a developing counsellor.
You may also notice moments of growth. Perhaps you feel more confident in your listening skills. Perhaps a topic that once felt uncomfortable now feels interesting. Perhaps you see yourself becoming more patient, more open or more able to sit with emotion.
Over time, your journal becomes a record of your development. It shows you where you began and how far you have come.
Reflective journalling as a lifelong tool for counsellors
Many counsellors continue journalling long after they qualify. It helps them make sense of their work, manage emotional responses and prepare for supervision. It supports clarity, self-compassion and ethical thinking. Journalling remains a steady companion throughout a counsellor’s career.
If you develop a journalling practice during training, you are building a tool that will support you long into the future.
Reflective journalling is not about writing beautifully or producing polished insights. It is about creating a space where you can explore your thoughts and feelings with honesty and kindness. It helps you understand yourself more deeply and supports the personal development that is at the heart of counselling training.
If journalling feels unfamiliar, start gently. Allow yourself to write imperfectly. Over time, the practice will become more natural and meaningful. As you grow, your journal will grow with you.
