From “Counsellor by Proxy” to Community Changemaker: Charlotte Summersides’ Journey
Some people find their calling late. Others, like Charlotte Summersides, were living it long before they had the words for it.
Charlotte is now a registered counsellor working in a clinical role at headspace, running her own private practice in regional Queensland and continuing her studies to deepen her impact. She just needed the right moment and the right pathway to turn what she’s always had into something she could build a career on.
A natural listener, long before formal study
Originally from New Zealand and now based in regional Queensland, Charlotte spent her early adult years travelling and working throughout Australia in hospitality, mining, remote communities and everything in between. And wherever she ended up, people gravitated toward her, not for the small talk, but for the deeper and more meaningful conversations they weren’t having anywhere else.
“People always just told me things, even their deepest darkest secrets, without me even asking. It felt like a privilege,” Charlotte recalls.
Friends, colleagues, strangers and even people she’d only just met would share things they hadn’t told anyone else. She was often told she’d make a great counsellor, but like a lot of people who are naturally drawn to this kind of work, she held herself back.
“It brought up a lot of impostor syndrome when people said that,” Charlotte admits. “I was working through my own mental health challenges, so part of me thought it wouldn’t be right to step into that type of work.”
The doubt was real, but so was the pull toward the work. The seed had been planted. It sat there quietly, waiting for her to say yes.
The moment that changed everything
Charlotte found AIPC at a turning point in her career. Working in hospitality, mining and cleaning environments had taught her a lot about people, but she was ready to channel her natural empathy and compassion into something more purposeful. The Diploma of Counselling offered a pathway to transform her personal strengths into professional skills.
She’d heard about the Diploma of Counselling through word of mouth and was drawn to the flexibility of online study, which suited her lifestyle in regional Queensland.
“I kept coming back to the same question: do I start now, or look back later wishing I had?” Charlotte reflects.
The decision wasn’t without hesitation. Returning to formal study as an adult, especially while managing her own wellbeing, felt daunting. But once she started, something changed.
“I actually found the content really healing for me personally, because it resonated with my own lived experience of mental health challenges.” Charlotte remembers.
That combination of personal experience and professional learning became one of the most powerful parts of her journey.
Why AIPC?
Living in regional Queensland, Charlotte needed a study option that worked around her life without the need to make drastic changes. AIPC’s flexible online delivery made that possible.
The self-paced structure felt daunting at first, but it quickly became one of the most valuable parts of her experience.
“The fact that it was online and self-paced was amazing, especially living in a regional town with no local options,” Charlotte explains. “I realised I actually do really well when I can study when I have the capacity. I’d power through big chunks, then take breaks when I needed.”
Even while planning a wedding, working full-time, and renovating a home, Charlotte completed her Diploma of Counselling in just 18 months.
“Just knowing that I could come back to it when I had the mental space to focus really took the pressure off and made all the difference,” she adds.
Learning that translates to real impact
One of the most defining parts of Charlotte’s study experience was how quickly the learning stopped feeling theoretical and started changing what happened in the room with her clients. She was already working in a counselling-related role with people experiencing alcohol and other drug concerns, which meant the theory and the real-world experience were constantly informing each other.
“I’d learn something in a topic and apply it that same week, then see the benefits for my clients. That built my confidence so much.”
The ethical foundations of counselling left a particular mark.
“Learning about confidentiality and clients’ rights became a huge part of how I build trust. It actually helps people feel safe in the space,” says Charlotte.
From qualification to career momentum
After graduating in 2023, Charlotte became a registered counsellor with the Australian Counselling Association, which was a milestone that marked a new level of confidence– the moment where her lived experience, formal training and professional identity finally lined up.
“When my membership card arrived, it was the most exciting day. Like, ‘You’re actually registered now,’” Charlotte continues. “There’s so much variety. I love it. No two days are the same.”
Her career has moved quickly since then. She works as a Early and Brief Intervention Clinician at headspace, supporting young people through intake, counselling and alcohol and other drug (AOD) services. Her role also includes community education and stakeholder engagement on top of her client work.
Her specialised AOD experience, in particular, has opened doors she didn’t see coming.
“For anyone considering this pathway, the demand is clear. I cannot even stress how many opportunities I’ve had. So many services are crying out for people with AOD knowledge,” she emphasises.
Creating impact where it’s needed most
Driven by a desire to give back to the communities she called home, Charlotte recently launched her own private practice focused on reaching people in rural areas who have limited access to mental health, alcohol and other drugs support.
“There’s a real need in smaller communities… I just thought, why not give it a go?”
Her work goes well beyond one-on-one counselling sessions, too. Charlotte is passionate about reducing stigma around substance use and pushing for more compassionate, person-centred care in spaces where people have historically felt too judged to ask for help.
“The language we use can create barriers. I want to help people feel safe accessing support, not judged,” she adds.
Looking ahead: continuing to grow
Charlotte isn’t slowing down. She’s currently working toward advancing her counselling registration and expanding her career opportunities through completing online degrees in counselling and psychology, all while staying focused on the work that matters most to her.
“I just like that it opens up more opportunities, but I’ll always stay focused on counselling, I believe it’s my calling,” she notes.
Her advice for future counsellors
For anyone sitting on the fence about a career in counselling, Charlotte’s message is simple but powerful:
“Don’t let fear stop you from saying yes to opportunities. Some of the best doors open when you don’t feel ready. Plus, if you’re waiting to feel completely ready, you’ll be waiting forever. Just say yes and let yourself grow into it.”
She also encourages students to stay connected to their reason for starting in the first place, adding: “That’s the fuel that keeps you going when things get tough.”
And if she could go back to the beginning?
“The diploma will open up more doors than you could ever imagine, so don’t take it for granted,” she urges.
A career built on compassion
For Charlotte, counselling gave her natural strengths somewhere to land.
“A career in counselling has given me a space where my sensitivity, empathy and compassion are actually the driving force behind my success.”
The qualities she once doubted in herself turned out to be exactly what the work required. And for anyone else carrying those same doubts, Charlotte’s story makes a pretty strong case for saying yes anyway.
Speak with an AIPC adviser to learn more about the Diploma of Counselling.
About Charlotte
Charlotte is a registered counsellor based in regional Queensland and the founder of Grounded Actions Counselling. She has a special interest in alcohol and other drugs (AOD) and youth mental health, and is passionate about reducing stigma and creating safe, non‑judgemental spaces for people in rural and regional communities to access support.
