Mark

“My aim is to help and support as many people as I can, particularly those who have suffered loss.”

Former student Mark had a deeply personal reason for taking up the Integrative Counselling degree course at New City College Ardleigh Green Campus. Mark had to cope with unimaginable grief after both his children died from cancer at the age of 19, his son in 2014 and then his daughter in 2018.

Mark says studying the Counselling course gave him a focus and he is now helping others who need support with grief or other mental health issues.

Why did you decide to study the Counselling course at New City College?

After the loss of both my children I was in the darkest time of my life but the counsellors I saw helped get me through it. I decided that having suffered such devastating grief myself, I was in a good position to help others who had suffered loss too, so I started looking at where I could study to get the qualifications to work as a counsellor.

How did the course help you – was it what you expected?

I came across the Level 3 Diploma in Counselling Skills at Ardleigh Green Campus, which is close to where I live, so I decided to enrol. Once I passed that, I moved onto the Integrative Counselling degree. The course was a lifeline for me. The counselling I received inspired me to think about being a counsellor myself and when I started at New City College all the teachers and other staff in the counselling team were so supportive. It was more of a community than I was expecting and it is due to their help and dedication that I have been able to study and qualify.

Would you recommend the course to others?

Definitely – the course is a great way to train for a profession that is more in need now than ever. The college and the teachers work with you to help you every step of the way so that you can succeed. I want to encourage more men to get involved with counselling as I think the profession needs more male counsellors and this course is the best way to start.

What will you do now you have completed the qualification?

My aim is to help and support as many people as I can, particularly those who have suffered loss. Unfortunately, I have now been diagnosed myself with cancer but I am determined to battle on and I am using all the challenges I have faced and my own experiences in my counselling work. Helping others get through tough times in their lives is a legacy to my children.