From Fairy Tales to Being Human: A Counselling Journey
A Childhood of Fairy Tales
Once upon a time, before I truly knew what it meant to see another person, I believed in magic. Not the sparkly kind, but the quiet kind, the magic that lives in hope, in stories, in the safe corners of imagination.
Fairy tales were my refuge. When the world felt heavy or unpredictable, I could step into forests and castles and find a rhythm that felt safe. Heroes and heroines faced trials, but there were always rules. Always endings that promised light. Somewhere in those stories, I learned to hope. Somewhere, I learned to survive.
And yes, I liked knowing that even when things got messy, someone, somewhere, would wrap it up neatly.
But those tales were more than childhood fancy, they were companions through shadows I could not yet name. Trauma, loss, fear, they all had a quiet presence in my early years. Fairy tales offered a secret scaffold, a way to carry what I could not speak aloud.
If you have ever found comfort in stories during dark times, know that you are not alone. Therapy can help you carry and understand those hidden pieces of yourself.
Answering the Call to Counselling
When I first heard the call to counselling, it felt like a whisper from a hidden doorway in a familiar forest, a place I had always known but never entered. I imagined the path would be gentle, lined with light, with understanding and clarity at the end.
I soon realised the forest had its own rhythm. The magic was not in rescue, it was in being met, in being seen.
Guides Along the Path
Along the way, I encountered guides. My college lecturer, quiet yet fierce, carried her own light like a hidden lantern. My supervisor, the trickster of the forest, reminded me that models are constructs, rules could bend.
The first time I sat in the client’s chair, my heart fluttered like a thousand tiny birds. I still clung to the hope of a fairy tale ending. But the forest had other plans.
Each encounter stretched me, sometimes wider than I thought I could bear. Yet it taught me the courage of simply being present. And sometimes, presence is all the magic you need.
For anyone considering therapy, know this, transformation is often subtle, quiet, and human. It does not happen in neat endings, but in moments of being truly seen.
The Magic of Being Seen
As I took up my role as a guide, I thought my task was to show others the gentle light. And I still do. But I also came to see that my lens was changing. The tidy endings I once sought became less important. What mattered was sitting with both shadows and light, holding pain and hope in one hand.
The heroes and heroines I meet are layered, alive, tender, flawed, brave, and occasionally stubborn, absolutely human. And that is the point.
Sometimes I still imagine a little sparkly magic sneaking in, just because it likes to. And sometimes, if I close my eyes in the forest, I swear I can see it glowing faintly at the edge of the trees, waiting for me to notice.
Next Steps for You
If you have ever felt lost in your own forest, know that counselling can help you find the light again. Explore your own journey with curiosity, courage, and support.
