I have had a very varied career. As a single mother, my employment was income driven. I volunteered for Samaritans, as I felt the need to give something back to society. I was not able to realize my ambition to help other people through paid employment until I reached my forties, and both children had left home. I started work for NACRO in Reading for a year then moved to Reading Borough Council’s Housing Department, eventually being promoted into the role of Homelessness and Temporary Accommodation Manager in 1995. I held this post until 2006, when I took early retirement.In this post a met a variety of homeless households, including organisations for single homeless, young people,the police and probation. I undertook numerous training courses, including issues such as mental health, drug and alcohol abuse. In 2006, I moved to Shrewsbury to be nearer family, but found that my energy levels were not suited to retirement. I therefore worked for Shrewsbury Council on a temporary basis as a homelessness officer in 2007 and remained for four years. In 2010, I became interested in counselling, being awarded certificate in Counselling skills in 2011. I gave up work with the Council in 2011, as I chose to concentrate on my college work and my volunteering.I started my trainee placements with Telford Mind in January 2012. I also volunteered for Ageuk.I commenced my training with Aquarius in December 2012. In April this year, I was accepted as a volunteer for the NHS. I have participated in numerous relevant training programmes provided by the various agencies. I qualified as a counsellor in August this year, and am now in the process of gaining BACP accreditation.In conclusion I feel that my experiences, I have a wealth of personal and professional experience working with people under stress, whether they have a drug, alcohol addiction, or whether they have lost their family homes, for instance, through gambling.