The Edge of Awareness

There is a buzz of excitement in the air. As restrictions ease and we move beyond Level 0 in Covid-19 restrictions. Life is opening again. For some these changes are sunny and glorious for others they can be nerve-wracking. Nevertheless, we are moving forward. We can see friends and family for tea with less restrictions, some of us are going back to work from office instead of at home and local colleges are preparing for the new academic year.

For some of us FASS Counsellors, it’s time to dig out the school bags and pencil sharpeners as we begin our Diploma in Counselling at Fife College in the next few weeks. It’s an exciting and demanding journey to become accredited in your chosen vocation and we’re lucky enough to have the financial and supervisory support of Fife Alcohol Support Service with over 40 years of experience in counselling and psychotherapy. Our colleagues have been sitting in front of clients for years and to have these supervisors sharing their jewels of knowledge is a privilege. For us, this is our community.

Community is an important word here. As we Diploma newbies start a chapter in our learning lives, this edge of awareness is two-fold for clients of our alcohol counselling service. And while we’ll admit to feeling a little first night nerves as we meet our tutors, fellow students, and assignment timetable, we acknowledge the courage of our clients who are making those first tentative steps towards positive life changes.

I sometimes wonder what it is like for our clients, how do they feel before the first appointment, or picking up the phone to refer themselves or having a browse through our many self-help guides on our website. I wonder how I would feel sitting outside a health centre about to meet a stranger to confess the most difficult and sometimes painful aspects of my life. This isn’t first night nerves in a classroom. This is true unadulterated courage and at FASS we are lucky enough to witness this manifestation daily.

In the meantime, we’ll keep learning.

When you are ready.

We are here.