Where it all started

On 24th November 2020, I began my Level 3 Counselling journey with Heartwood Centre for Counselling and Psychotherapy Training. At the time, I was working from home during the Covid-19 lockdown as a website assistant and eBay salesperson.

It had been a long, lonely year. My work felt monotonous and disconnected — I was earning minimum wage and lining someone else’s pockets, with no real path for growth or fulfilment.

I knew I needed a change. More than that, I wanted purpose. I wanted to do something that mattered, something that allowed me to help people.

By September 2021, I was ready to take the next step and started the Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling at the Newquay Adult Education Centre. Those two years were pivotal for me — not only in terms of education but also personal growth.

I learned so much about myself through the training — about how I relate to others, how I manage emotion, and what my natural strengths and blind spots might be as a counsellor. It was hard work, but deeply rewarding. I learned how to bring balance to the parts of myself that needed it, and I started to grow into the kind of counsellor I wanted to be.

As part of my diploma, I completed my placement hours with Intercom Trust in Truro — an LGBTQ+ charity offering support across the South West. This experience shaped me in ways I hadn’t expected.

I had the privilege of working with a wide range of clients — from young transgender people navigating identity, University, and family relationships, to older trans adults processing past trauma or seeking to live more authentically later in life. I also supported parents of trans teens who were trying to understand and support their children, and LGB clients who had experienced discrimination, isolation, and in some cases, hate crimes.

These clients taught me so much. Their courage, vulnerability, and honesty moved me deeply, and I began to see just how important it is to create safe, affirming spaces where people can be truly seen and heard — especially those whose identities are often misunderstood or marginalised.

During my diploma, I briefly explored another path through a short experience with Tobias School of Art and Therapy — a four-year modular training programme combining arts and transpersonal counselling. The course included residential modules in Sussex and online learning, blending creative approaches with spirituality and therapeutic work.

I only completed two weeks of the training, but even that short time was an important turning point for me. The content leaned heavily into spiritual practices and a more esoteric way of working that just didn’t sit right with me. While I deeply value the role of creativity and intuition in counselling, I realised that I needed a more grounded, practical approach — something that was accessible, down-to-earth, and rooted in real-world mental health needs.

That experience taught me a lot about myself and my professional identity. It helped me clarify the kind of counsellor I wanted to be — someone who could blend warmth and creativity with clarity, structure, and a focus on what actually works for the people I support.

All of these experiences — the studying, the placement at Intercom Trust, even the detour into training that wasn’t the right fit — helped shape who I am as a counsellor today.

I went on to start 2B Frank Counselling, a space where people can show up as they are, without judgement. My approach is creative, grounded, and real. I work especially well with people who feel like they don’t quite fit the mould — whether that’s because of identity, mental health, or just how they see the world.

Counselling gave me direction when I needed it most, and now I get to offer that same sense of clarity and hope to others. And that feels like exactly where I’m meant to be.