To use the buzz phrase of 2019, social care is a ‘broad church’. Not only does it cover a wide range of sectors, from social services to housing to child welfare, but its practitioners are also experts in many different specialisms.
At the heart of everything, however, is a real desire to offer practical help and emotional support to those going through tough times.
For Dominic Douglas, this means dividing his hours working as a Counselling Therapist within the Psychological Therapies Team in the NHS and also in private practice. He explains the move into this particular role was almost natural.
“I’ve been involved in pastoral caring roles for more than 30 years and this has given me the opportunity to be involved with diverse groups – working in various communities, primary and secondary schools, hospitals and hospices,” he says.
“For many years before becoming a therapist I’ve often been with people at difficult stages of their lives.”
Each day is a mix of therapy and clinic hours, note-taking and reflections on sessions, administrative tasks and Continual Professional Development.
Dominic says: “It’s important therapists know how they can work at their best. For me, that’s changed, and I aim to start my clinics at 10am as I often work through to 7pm, which means a long enough day.”
“Each day is quite full, with the beginning and end of the day being the busiest working with clients. These tend to be the more popular appointments to work in with clients’ lifestyles, considering work and childcare demands.”
“As a therapist, there’s a rule of thumb that to work in an ethical way a therapist will work for a maximum of six therapeutic hours a day. This is something a therapist agrees to when they join a national register for therapeutic practices such as BACP (British Association for Counsellors and Psychotherapists), of which I’m a member.”
“As part of this agreement, you also have to allow time in the diary to participate in supervision, which is an important part of the profession.”
“Supervision for therapists is not just looking reflectively at your work with clients with another professional for the wellbeing of the clients, but also looking at your own wellbeing and ensuring self-care is in place.”
While Douglas would “strongly uphold the university of life is hugely important”, this was augmented by a structured learning programme at Strathclyde University and, after seven years in practice, by gaining an MSc in Counselling and Psychotherapy through Persona Training at Stirling University.
He points out: “It’s also important training is ongoing, and your practice is supported by reading, attending and participating in training events. A particular area of interest to me is Mindfulness – these elements of Continual Professional Development have to be followed by personal reflection.”
Don’t worry it’s not at all quite as serious as it might sound!
“It’s been said clients get the therapist they need and as therapists, we get the clients we need. The experience is rewarding and always challenging. You have to be ready for the highs and the lows. So, it’s important that, if you’re going to take this path, ensure you pack and bring with you a sense of humour!”
Douglas goes on to explains the two ‘best bits’ of his job are quite different.
“One is the fact my job invites me to be part of an individual or couple’s life as they work to understand the events in their lives and grow in the knowledge of their selves and the best way forward at this time.”
“Given the opportunity to help empower someone in their life and relationships is very rewarding. To be able to create a safe environment where a person feels at ease to disclose and share with you their inner thoughts and feelings, they carry is a unique experience every time it happens. Knowing someone is leaving the room feeling they’ve been heard and what they’ve shared has been valued is a reward too.”
While a therapist works as an individual in the therapy room, the supervision relationship is very important, Douglas points out, adding this enables the therapist to be there for the client but also to look after their self . . . the second-best bit of the job.
“It is an opportunity to develop knowledge and challenge self to a deeper understanding of self and the clients. Therefore, the relationship with one’s supervisor is very important. It’s a place where the therapist can be supported, encouraged, challenged, called to reflect and look at the client and self differently.”
“These elements are there and carried out by the supervisor with the one intention: keeping the therapist and client safe, with an assurance the therapist is doing his or her best by and for the client.”
The biggest challenge to the job, says Dominic, is the same as for most people who enjoy their work – looking after yourself and trying to make sure there’s a good work-life balance.
“When you enjoy your job there’s always the danger it can take over too much of your life. There is a code of ethics to protect both therapist and client, but the reality is an hour of clinic work can easily bring with it another twenty minutes of additional administrative tasks.”
“As a therapist, you’re being contacted by individuals and couples who are asking for help and it can be a challenge for many of us to be able to say no. However, sometimes we have to accept we have to say this in order to continue and finish the work with those clients we’re already working with . . . and to care for ourselves.”
Dominic believes that every experience – positive and negative – contributes to who you are as a therapist.
“Extensive research has been carried out into the different types of therapies offered,” he notes. “The effectiveness of therapy has been shown not to be dictated by the discipline of the therapist but the ability of the therapist to be in a relationship with the client.”
“So, I’d say that, alongside the academic learning that has to continually be a part of the therapist’s life, self-knowledge and a real interest in people is crucial. Enjoying the new engagement with a client and making them feel welcome, as well as the journey as the relationship deepens, is important.”
“While there was a grounding of these skills within me for many years, they have developed through encounters with the clients and colleagues and friends I’ve met on this journey.”
If meeting Dominic has inspired you to start your own journey, you can check out the latest vacancies right now on s1jobs.