Volunteer story - Maureen

We rely on the kindness of volunteer counsellors to help us support people who have experienced sexual abuse or violence. All our volunteers are fully qualified or in training, working towards their professional certification, and bring valued specialised skills.

Here, our Psychotherapeutic Counsellor, Maureen Pettican, tells us about her journey. During her time at Sue Lambert Trust, Maureen has progressed from trainee counsellor to pursuing a Doctorate in Counselling Psychology. She also explains why she encourages other professionally qualified counsellors to start volunteering for the Sue Lambert Trust.

Why did you join the Sue Lambert Trust?

“I initially joined as a trainee counsellor in 2022, during the final year of my studies. Today, I am a part of the charity’s counselling team while also maintaining my private practice.

“In my final year of the Advanced Diploma in Counselling, I needed to complete 100 hours of clinical practice as a requirement of the program. These placements must be in settings recognised by the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy, which Sue Lambert Trust is. So, I began exploring what it would mean to volunteer.

What kind of support do volunteers receive?

“It quickly became evident that the charity offers a comprehensive placement package. Volunteers receive paid clinical supervision (according to BACP requirements), which is essential for the work, as it provides guidance and fosters personal development, a mandatory aspect of training.

“There is also a thorough induction and plenty of continuing professional development (CPD) opportunities, as well as administrative support that handles tasks like client bookings and cancellations. This allows us to focus on our work with clients. Everything is well-coordinated and supportive.

“Each volunteer is assigned a senior clinical lead who becomes part of their support system, addressing any concerns or worries. As a trainee still in the learning process, I truly needed that level of support.

How did volunteering benefit you?

“The client work has been personally fulfilling, and the placement has facilitated the advancement of my career.

“At Sue Lambert Trust, there is a wealth of experience; you have the opportunity to learn from seasoned colleagues and continuously develop your practice. The access to incredible mentors – experienced counsellors who are true specialists in their field – is invaluable.

“Everything we do is trauma-informed, recognising that trauma lies at the core of most psychological distress. Through ongoing training, CPD, and peer support, we gain a plethora of tools and strategies to help support our clients. These are additional skills and knowledge that we carry with us throughout our careers. And since my time here, I’ve gone on to study for a Doctorate in Counselling Psychology. I honestly believe that if I hadn’t had the opportunity to hone my Advanced Diploma training with the Sue Lambert Trust, I probably wouldn’t have secured a place on this high-level course. Volunteering with the charity has given me the confidence that I’m capable of dealing with complex cases and being the best possible counsellor I can be.

Why should other counsellors think about volunteering? What’s your message to them?

“It’s an incredible charity to be a part of, and one that puts its people first; that really struck me as soon as I joined. The culture is kind and nurturing, as well as being a place where you have the support and opportunities to grow professionally.

“There’s an openness and a willingness to listen and share here. You can strike up a conversation with any counsellor to discuss a challenge confidentially, and colleagues are always willing to share their knowledge so we can all work together to provide the best possible service for clients.

“Their investment in me has paid off. Now that I’m fully qualified and on the next step of my career journey, I want to continue to give back and be there for the Sue Lambert Trust and its clients for the long term.

“My message is, if you’re reading this as an experienced counsellor or a trainee in your last year of training, then please join us.

“All the support we deliver for clients is made available to people free of charge, and we rely on volunteer professionals to be able to support the number of people that we do. We need to keep seeing as many clients as we can, and make therapy accessible to those who can’t afford private counselling. There’s sadly always a demand, and always more people waiting for our help.

“I believe everyone has the right to heal from past trauma, and at the Sue Lambert Trust, we make that possible.”

What’s been a personally rewarding moment?

“Bearing witness to the significant shift our clients experience in ‘being in the world’. Just one of the many clients I have worked with is a good example. They were struggling with trauma, particularly with issues around trust and safety in relationships, which had plagued them most of their life. They wanted a partner and a family, but the trauma was getting in the way. We worked together through the sessions, and six months later, they had met a partner and went on to marry.

“The therapeutic journey they had been on had renewed their faith in humanity, moving them into a position where they could trust someone else. To see that hope return and see someone move forward so positively is incredibly rewarding.

“We walk alongside someone until they can walk on their own.”

Maureen is a Psychotherapeutic Counsellor at Sue Lambert Trust and as well as working for the charity, continues to deliver weekly sessions on a voluntary basis too.  

Our qualified volunteer counsellors provide up to three voluntary sessions per week. We pay a fee for any sessions delivered over and above this.  Find out more or apply here.