Meet NHC College Counsellor, Clare Walker

Clare is a vital part of the NHC team and offers support for all learners. Get to know Clare and her role as College Counsellor…

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗛𝗖?

My role at the NHC is to provide a counselling service to all learners should they need additional support whilst here with us. I can provide a package of support tailored to a learner’s needs in order for them to achieve their goals.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴?

I have worked with young people for almost 20 years in a variety of different roles, providing support. 5 years ago, I decided that I wanted to develop myself and my career and train as a counsellor. I qualified in 2019 and then went on to complete my degree. In order to qualify as a counsellor, you have to complete 100 clinical placement hours working for an agency. I challenged myself and set myself a goal of working for Open Minds in Doncaster, a renowned counselling service providing support to children, young people and adults. I started there in 2018 and still volunteer for them now.

As part of my degree clinical hours, I worked for Evolving Minds which are based in Leeds. This provided me with a more diverse experience, as I was working with a variety of different ethnicities, cultures, and religions.

Both services are generic services, so they offer support around a variety of different issues for example, bereavement, depression, anxiety, addictions, domestic abuse, stress, low self-esteem, suicidal ideation and self-harm, eating disorders, trauma and anger issues. So, I have gained a good sound level of experience in a variety of different areas.

I initially qualified as a Person-Centred counsellor and then went on to develop myself as an Integrative Counsellor when completing my degree. This means that I can work with a variety of different theories such as CBT, Solution Focused Therapy and Family Systemic Therapy.

I am a member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and fully insured.

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗛𝗖?

I support learners to initially settle here at the NHC. On day 1 when they arrive, I am there and then see them again on days 2 and 3. This helps to form those relationships and support them to feel comfortable whilst here. I can offer them formal counselling if this is something that they feel would benefit them and I am that person who they can come to if they are having a bad day. For example, the ride wasn’t a great one, or they are simply missing home life. I am also available for learners when they go out on placement too.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝘃𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝗿?

Getting to know each and every learner that comes through the college. I enjoy listening to them when they are talking about their riding and yard work and seeing their progress on family and friends’ day and graduation. Spending time with them when they are on the yard. It’s good to see them working, and a lot know my horse skills are basic so they are keen to explain what they are doing and why. For me, this is key to building a relationship with them.