I loved the strong sense of community at Chichester

Cathy Burnard is CEO of the Young People’s Shop in Chichester, and is a graduate of BA (Hons) Humanistic Counselling.

Can you tell us about your job?

I’m currently the CEO of a children’s and young people’s charity, supporting individuals aged 11-25 with emotional support and counselling. In addition, I run a successful private practice, specialising in counselling children, young people, and couples.

Do you think your degree helped you land your job, and how do you think it helped?

Absolutely. The course was incredibly thorough, providing me with a solid foundation in both the theoretical and practical aspects of professionalism. It gave me the confidence to step into a leadership role as a CEO, as well as the skills needed to run my private practice.

Can you tell us about your experience at the University?

I loved the strong sense of community at the university. The support I received was invaluable—both emotionally, as counselling can be a challenging field to study, and academically. The tutors were truly inspirational and served as real role models for me throughout the course.

What are your hopes for the future in your career?

I absolutely love what I’m doing now. My hope is to continue growing and nurturing the charity I lead. I also still maintain close ties with the counselling team at the University of Chichester, which is fantastic and something I look forward to building on.

What advice do you have for someone considering university who may want to follow a similar career path?

Go for it! It’s not an easy course by any means, but it was the best decision I ever made. I’ve learned so much about myself and can confidently say that studying counselling at the University of Chichester has made me a better person, both professionally and personally.