helping people

[Phuzella]

One of my ambitions in life is to help people with anxiety, and in particular agoraphobia, to get out and about, that kind of thing. Or have someone to talk to.
I have no formal qualifications in this field, just shedloads of personal experience of every kind of anxiety under the sun. :shades:.
So I've scoured the Internet looking for volunteering opportunities but alas, they seem to be very lacking.
Is it me or is there just nothing out there??

[Catherine S]

I was a volunteer for MIND some years ago, helping ppl in their struggle with the severe anxiety caused by tranquiliser withdrawal, as I had personnel experience. It might be worth seeing if they still take volunteers?

[MrAndy]

Rethink.org take volunteers there is one in my cbt group

[Phuzella]

I left my details with Mind, but have heard nothing yet. I tried Rethink, apparently there is nothing in my area. I guess I'll just have to keep looking:)

[MrAndy]

My hedge needs trimming :D

[Phuzella]

:D I think I'd be a bit dangerous to be let loose with power tools

[MrAndy]

Can you cook then ?,I like cakes :D

[Phuzella]

Nah if I make cakes, I tend to eat them all, so it's safest not to :D

[MrAndy]

Your fired :roflmao:

[Phuzella]

:doh::roflmao:

[LunaLiuna]

Noble idea Phuzzy!

I have pretty much the same aspiration, I'm studying psychology at the moment so I can get that much needed title that you seem to need. If you come across any other way then let me know.

I hope your doing okay, and everyone else for that matter. I've taken a back seat recently and haven't really been involved with much on here, not sure why, I guess a little reflection was needed :)

[PanchoGoz]

You're a nice bunch of people, always good to see your helpful posts in the face of your own positions :)

[Phuzella]

Thank you Pancho:)
Hey little Buddha, wondered where you'd got to, a little reflection is always a good thing, keep looking outward though :). And keep up your studies :D

[Rennie1989]

I've actually enrolled into college to study Counselling. Like you I do like to help people, I think it comes from the fact that I was abandoned as a teen when I started getting ill and I hate to see other people suffer alone, and I want to offer some of my wisdom! A lot of colleges do the Counselling Concepts Level 2 course which runs for a few hours a week for 10-12 weeks. It's not particulary expensive and with that you can progress further (Level 3 and 4) or get some training from a support charity, like the Samaratans, Barnardos, Mind etc.

[Phuzella]

Thanks for that Rennie, I'll look into it:)

[MyNameIsTerry]

Is that the BACP route Rennie? I seem to recall theirs being at 3 levels over 2 years or so. If so, I can post a link to the diagrams they have online for Phuzella.

[Rennie1989]

It is BACP accredited. The Level 3 course is one year and Level 4 is two years. It teaches enough information and gives us the necessary experience (and hours) that would enable us to register with BACP as qualified counsellors. I will say that many education centers (be is an adult center, college or university) do these courses differently. As long as they hit the criteria set by the BACP then it does not matter which you do.

[MyNameIsTerry]

Thanks Rennie,

Thats the ones I've seen on the BACP site, so some links added if Phuzella wants a read.

http://www.bacp.co.uk/crs/Training/careersincounselling.php

http://www.bacp.co.uk/student/careers.php

http://www.bacp.co.uk/crs/Training%20&%20Careers.php

http://www.bacp.co.uk/crs/Counselling_Training.php

They must have done away with the pathways diagrams as I can't seem to find them now.