Lorraine Marie Forrest

HPD Class of 2012

Like a Phoenix rising from the ashes, I have embarked on a new life and will never be the same again! Over the past four years as a student at LC&CTA I have learnt so much about myself and other people. The change in how I perceive myself and relate with other people has been noted by colleagues, friends and family. I am far more self-aware now, with healthier self-esteem, personal boundaries and a stronger internal locus of evaluation. It wasn’t easy though; some self-revelations were very painful. Although committed to qualifying as a person-centred counsellor, I was primarily focused on my personal growth and found that the experiential learning at LC&CTA in research and community groups was invaluable!

Mo Lishmoma

As a white woman, when Chris Brown spoke to a racially mixed group of students about her inherited racism, it was so healing for me to hear it openly acknowledged. It means a lot ... and also it means the white students don't just switch off defensively (as they might if a black person was speaking about racism). I've grown personally from taking the HPD course. I can communicate more honestly and openly and I can feel and express my anger much more appropriately. The growth continues. I'm also looking at my attitude towards and relationships with men and I am looking at my blackness, my whiteness and other things and issues raised by the course. Because I'm mixed race there's so much about race, identity, anger ... so much 'stuff' to explore. I just wanted to tell you and share my appreciation of the course. And for Chris' braveness in flagging up the issue of my whiteness (though I'm not visibly white it's still part of who and how I am). I fly the LC&CTA flag regarding diversity, multiculturalism and the mixedness of the course all over the place. I also share with people that it's not an easy process to study at LC&CTA and that Chris is charismatic and volatile woman!!! But I also want to share my love and appreciation for all that I experienced, the good the bad and the fucking horrible; in all its dimensions!!! Another thank-you and blessings is due to Linda Hafez as a Supervisor she is good at what she does and is a very good woman.

Wesley Freeman Smith

Put simply, it has been an incredible journey. The Diploma course under leadership of Juanita and Chris was deeply involving, challenging, and enriching. I look back in awe at where I was when I began in comparison with where I am now. Change is not always easy, and change is not always fun; throughout the course I have come up against things which are difficult. But in a reflection of the theory that underpins the whole experience, even at it's most challenging there is an eventual understanding that the direction all along has been toward personal growth and higher awareness. The tutors possess great insight into people - insight that at critical moments on the course has proved invaluable. In my experience person-centred counselling is the opposite of the caricatured 'nodding dog therapist'; it is a deeply relational process that requires the therapist to extend his/her whole being in response to the client, and is far from passive in this pursuit. The real learning for me as been here, in fostering a trust in and rapport with my own visceral, emotional, and organismic experiencing to the service of the therapeutic work. Needless to say I am now on wider journey that I am only just beginning, but LC&CTA has helped lay the foundations - by showing me all I can achieve and facilitating the confidence in me that I can do it.

Kate Comens

HPD in Counselling Student

What an incredible journey. I have laughed, cried, marvelled, been scared and amazed. I have been held and have held. The tutors and my wonderful peers have facilitated me to explore so many facets of my life and the lives of others. This has been a very difficult, painful, emotional roller coaster, but such a rewarding experience. I have delighted in the learning theory, been challenged in the skills and academic elements, but throughout have been supported by the LC&CTA Team to stretch myself, face my doubts, grow, and move towards becoming a fully functioning person.

Linda Harvey

My experience of LC&CTA has, so far, been a challenging journey of learning and self development. The learning is predominantly Person-Centred, however, it was good to learn of other approaches i.e. Existensialism, CBT and the Psychodynamic Approach; this gave me a greater understanding of the different counselling theories. The research project I was involved with was very challenging for me, however, I learned a huge amount from this experience. The residential weekends were enjoyable but very self-enlightening. It also presented a time to bond further with my peers and tutors, plus the food was great! LC&CTA has also given me more opportunities to learn through many workshops that I have found to be extremely useful and helpful. I was also trained to help with Interviews for the lower grade courses and have worked on the Reception Desk which gave me the chance to see more of how the organisation works.

Emma Whelan

HPD in Counselling Student

Being a student at LC&CTA is a constantly changing experience - a process, not a destination! It is challenging, tough and engaging. It is authentic and demanding. I have met incredible people; these people and being part of the HPD group has facilitated great learning for me. For me studying at LC&CTA has gone beyond all normal learning parameters - it has been life-altering; it has been, and continues to be, a privilege.

Siobhan McCalla

Doing the Diploma in Person Centred Counselling at LC&CTA has been one of the best decisions I have ever made. This course is tough, it's life changing and I can not recommend it highly enough.

Jacqui Neil 2009

Qualified 2009

I’m coming to the end of my studies vastly different from how I begun. I’ve acquired skills and knowledge which have equipped me for being a good (moving towards excellent) counsellor. I say this whilst being aware that there is still a lot for me to learn in terms of the profession and learning about myself. Studying at LC&CTA has been a rollercoaster ride for my emotions and for me as a person. I have been stretched in ways that I could not have imagined and parts of the journey have been hard, challenging and painful. However the things I have achieved from each experience resulted in euphoria, I do not regret, in fact I am grateful that I decided to study here. The tutors have been a very important part of the whole process. Both Juanita and Chris and their team have facilitated my learning in both practical and personal ways; supporting me when I’ve needed it and not allowing me to get away with the things that in the longer term would hinder my professional and personal development. When I started studying it might as well have been French the tutors were speaking; I did not understand a thing and never thought I would. I did not believe that I could actually counsel a cat, let alone another person in need. Now everything makes sense, I’ve learnt a new language and I am counselling effectively with positive results for my clients.

Carol Gordon

As a former student of LC&CTA I have found that the material provided i.e. tutorial information, guidance and support quite dynamic, structured, informative and concise. It has enabled me to recognise and understand in terms of theory and skills the importance of re-evaluating my beliefs, values, morality, sex, religion, race, gender, motives, barriers and my conditionings; which has facilitated me in gaining new insights of self as well as being able to work more effectively and ethically with my clients. My initial thoughts when reflecting back on my experience on the course is just how surprised I am by the depth of information and learning of the theories and concepts covered; and in being congruent, many of these issues would have never occurred to me at all in advance of the course, hence I am very grateful to have been able to grow within the diverse dynamics of LC&CTA. Thank you LC&CTA.

Debra Tweed

Qualified Counsellor

I have attended a number of Continued Professional Development Workshops held by LC&CTA. My experience has been beneficial and rewarding in terms of being provided on-going opportunities to further develop my skills and professional awareness. The background experience of LC&CTA tutoring staff provides a constructive learning environment which is supportive and encourages a sense of freedom to explore a range of personal and professional development issues that are stimulating and informative.