I would like to start by mentioning that I feel very lucky that I am writing this blog while beginning my fourth year of work at Willingness. I believe that not being one of the newest additions to the team enables me to share more about my experience. These past three years have flown by so quickly and have not only met my expectations but exceeded them. In this blog, I will be sharing my experience as a professional at Willingness, focusing mainly on my starting point, the personal and professional growth that I went through and where I stand right now.
I still have memories of the time I came across the post for Counsellor at Willingness and my interest in applying, given the name of the clinic and the experience I thought I could gain if I were to get the position. Looking back, I remember feeling both grateful and anxious when I found out I had been chosen. I mainly felt grateful, knowing that securing the position was not easy and that not every counsellor had this opportunity. At the same time, I felt anxious, as I usually do when starting a new venture and stepping into the unknown.
The team might have noticed this, as they commented on the improvement I made, particularly in terms of self-confidence. Clients may have noticed as well, as I received better feedback on sessions as they progressed. In fact, I believe that the feedback sheets offer professionals an opportunity to reflect on themselves and discover what works well and what doesn’t.
A Mindful Team
Overall, I find the team very mindful and aware of what is going on and communication is constant. I find this helpful as the team can bring to my attention anything that could have slipped my mind and negatively impacted my colleagues. I believe this reduces the likelihood of making mistakes and provides another opportunity for self-growth, both as a person and as a professional.
Since I work in a psychosocial team full-time, I find Willingness’ multidisciplinary and multicultural team extremely helpful. I believe that I learn more and work better in such teams, especially due to the team members’ varied expertise and since it would be easier for me to communicate with other professionals whenever needed. I regularly consult with other professionals on the team when I believe my clients would benefit from simultaneous support from multiple specialists or need more focused expertise.
Since I joined Willingness, I have also sought to continue developing as a professional as Willingness believes in each of us and encourages continuous professional development. I find the subsidized trainings that Willingness offers very helpful as this enables me to apply for more than one training course and, ever since, I think that my existing skills and knowledge have improved. The organization of the team buildings provided me with the opportunity to continue growing as a professional. So far, they have not only enabled me to feel a sense of belonging and become more familiar with my colleagues, but also reflect more on myself and on the team that I am part of.
On a final note, I look forward to continuing this great learning experience as I’m sure that there is more to come, and I will have more memories to share in the future. I would also like to take this blog as an opportunity to express my sincere thanks and gratitude to the whole team.
Johanna Cutajar is a Master in Counselling graduate from the University of Malta. She works with children and adolescents as a counsellor within the education sector on a variety of issues including relationship issues, trauma, bereavement, transitions, and general mental health.