Back to School

It’s that time of year again.

Christmas and New Year are now drifting into memory along with an overindulgence of cheese and chocolate and we’re all back, with a thud, to knowing what day of the week it is and the familiar, if harsh, sound of the alarm clock in the dark, winter mornings.

For us trainee counsellors heading back to our diplomas, it’s another step in our learning journey. The course is intense and demanding as it should be we work towards gaining the BACP accreditation for the privilege of offering a safe, professional, and ethical space to our clients, with the support of Fife Alcohol Support Service who have offered psychotherapy to the people of Fife who are struggling with alcohol issues for over 40 years. Heading back to the online classroom, after two weeks of relaxation, is a thought.

There are also changes afoot for our service as we return to counselling via telephone instead of our traditional face-to-face appointments as we monitor ongoing Covid-19 restrictions and keep our clients, staff and volunteers safe.

This transition made me think about our clients. What is Christmas and particularly the New Year, the traditional season of consumption like for them? How do they navigate this and keep themselves safe? Most of all, I wondered if this challenging time of self-care is acknowledged and while as a trainee counsellors we head back to college with butterfly stomach nerves, the courage of our clients, trying to make changes during what could be the most challenging two weeks of the year should be acknowledged and celebrated.

If this is you, we see you and acknowledge your courage and bravery as we know it can’t have been easy for you.

And if you need our help and support you know where we here – to listen, to hold a safe space and to acknowledge the journey so far, as we ourselves never stop learning.

We are here.