When someone applies to the Springplank foundation with a request for help, they are helped further by one of our counsellors, but what do they actually do? Jip explains this to us!  

“Being a counsellor involves supporting and facilitating someone in their request for help. This often involves topics such as work, housing, finances and social circumstances. The idea as a facilitator is to steer towards self-reliance, allowing the candidate to tackle the problem independently and get back on the right path. I like to say: ‘Not giving someone a fish, but rather teaching them to fish’ is what I do as a counsellor.” Says Jip, “Almost everyone who comes to Springplank has raised the alarm too late, did not dare to ask the question for help, wanted to solve it themselves. This just didn't work out and this often involves a lot of shame which then gets in the way. As counsellors, we try to change that behaviour by making people see things. By showing that things can be different and that we need each other in this world. It is important to give people insight, support, so they can take a step forward instead of backward. It is sometimes a hard world where sometimes too little interest is shown in the other person, but we should actually take good care of each other.”  

What is the best thing you have experienced as a supervisor? 

“When someone has a twinkle in their eye again when they themselves have achieved something again, that's what I like best about my work, that you can give someone that again. I also think it's cool when someone's network is restored and they get things done themselves.” tells Jip, “I wish my work were actually not important, because then we would take good care of each other.”.  

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