Georgina Preston
Leamington Spa,wa
Summary
I am a compassionate and reflective trainee counsellor with over four years' experience supporting individuals affected by substance misuse, trauma and addiction. My professional background, combined with my counselling training, has enabled me to develop strong therapeutic communication skills, empathy and a person-centred approach to supporting others.
My previous nursing studies provided me with a foundation in holistic care, safeguarding, ethical practice and multidisciplinary working, while my experience as a full-time parent, including raising children with autism and ADHD, has strengthened my understanding of neurodiversity, resilience, advocacy and the importance of adapting support to meet individual needs.
Throughout my counselling training, I have developed a deeper understanding of Person-Centred, Psychodynamic and Integrative approaches, alongside the importance of self-awareness, reflective practice, professional boundaries and supervision. My own experiences of recovery have further reinforced my belief in the healing potential of authentic therapeutic relationships, while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries.
I am committed to providing a safe, ethical and non-judgemental space where clients feel heard, valued and empowered to explore their experiences. I am now seeking a counselling placement where I can continue to develop my clinical skills, contribute positively to a counselling service and grow as an ethical, reflective practitioner.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
Work History
Trainee Counsellor
University of Warwick
10.2024 - Current
- Build therapeutic relationships through empathy, trust, and respect.
Practice advanced active listening and attending during sessions.
Use open questions, reflection, summarising, and appropriate challenge.
Apply person-centred, psychodynamic, and integrative counselling approaches.
Recognise trauma, attachment, and adverse childhood experiences on wellbeing.
Develop self-awareness via personal reflection, skills practice, and development work.
Apply understanding of transference, countertransference, and use of self.
Follow BACP ethical framework principles in daily counselling practice.
Maintain professional boundaries, confidentiality, and ethical decision-making.
Demonstrate cultural awareness when working respectfully with diversity.
Manage safeguarding responsibilities and conduct risk assessment.
Use supervision and reflective practice to support safe, effective work.
Acknowledge mental health, addiction, grief, loss, domestic abuse, and neurodiversity.
Explore unconscious processes, defence mechanisms, and attachment patterns impact.
Collaborate with clients while recognising competence limits and referral needs.
Use active listening, empathy, and emotional intelligence in sessions.
Practise reflective practice, critical thinking, and effective communication.
Strengthen self-awareness, professional boundaries, and ethical decision-making.
Manage time, write clearly, and produce counselling reports.
Work effectively in teams and maintain resilience under pressure.
Apply cultural competence and ongoing personal development to practice.
Stay at Home Mum
My kids
02.2004 - Current
- Career Break – Full-Time Parent and Family Carer
During this period, I developed a wide range of transferable skills while raising my family, including children with autism and ADHD. This role required organisation, resilience, advocacy, emotional support and effective communication with healthcare, education and support services. I developed a strong understanding of neurodiversity and learned to adapt my approach to meet individual emotional and developmental needs while maintaining a calm, supportive and structured environment
Building trusting relationships
Remaining calm in emotionally demanding situations
Listening without judgement
Supporting people through adversity
Understanding individual differences
Patience and consistency
Reflective problem-solving
Advocacy and collaboration with professionals
Recovery Support Worker
CGL
leamington spa, Warwickshire
01.2022 - 10.2026
- Built therapeutic relationships at CGL through empathy, trust, and respect.
Used active listening to help individuals feel heard and understood.
Demonstrated unconditional positive regard by supporting clients without judgement.
Encouraged clients to explore their own goals and motivations for change.
Applied motivational interviewing to enhance readiness for recovery.
Supported clients facing addiction trauma, grief, anxiety, and low mood.
Conducted comprehensive risk assessments, covering suicide and self-harm risk.
Created collaborative recovery and relapse prevention plans.
Worked in a trauma-informed way, recognising adverse life experience impacts.
Maintained professional boundaries while building supportive therapeutic relationships.
Practised reflective listening and effective questioning to deepen self-awareness.
Managed emotionally challenging situations with calmness and professionalism.
Worked within safeguarding procedures to protect vulnerable adults and children.
Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams and external agencies for holistic care.
Maintained accurate, confidential, ethically sound client records.
Adapted communication to meet diverse needs, including neurodiversity.
Used supervision and reflective practice to develop self-awareness and improve practice.
Supported clients through relapse with compassion and resilience.
Education
Learning Curve
2021
Diploma of Higher Education - Nursing
University of Birmingham
Birmingham2004
Skills
Active Listening
Empathy
Person-Centred Communication
Therapeutic Relationship Building
Reflective Practice
Professional Boundaries
Risk Assessment
Record Keeping
Confidentiality
Team Working
Emotional Resilience
Neurodiversity Awareness
Trauma-Informed Practice
Languages
Polish
Beginner
A1
French
Beginner
A1
Spanish
Beginner
A1
Hobbies and interests
- Art club
- geek club/quizzies/days out
Timeline
Trainee Counsellor
University of Warwick
10.2024 - Current
Recovery Support Worker
CGL
01.2022 - 10.2026
Stay at Home Mum
My kids
02.2004 - Current
Learning Curve
Diploma of Higher Education - Nursing
University of Birmingham