Norfolk grandad who's retrained to become a counsellor urges others to follow their dreams

72 year-old David Goodman is now qualified to offer counselling out of an office in the South Lynn Community Centre

Author: Tom ClabonPublished 14th Dec 2024

A grandad who lives in West Norfolk who's recently qualified to become a counsellor is telling us It's never too late to find out what you're passionate about and follow your dreams.

David Goodman, who's 72 years old and originally from South Africa, began studying for this in January 2021- after 45 years of working in the jewellery industry.

He's now qualified to offer counselling out of an office in the South Lynn Community Centre.

""I've never seen retirement as something to aspire to"

David moved to South Wootton in 2020:

“Ashleigh took up a new career as a foot health practitioner during Covid and, while it’s not the norm at my age to be studying for a new career, it’s what convinced me to go back to college".

"Also, because I've been in group-therapy I thought that I was a bit of a 'lay-psychologist'. The psychologist that I'd been with in South Africa, she had also lived in the UK, and I spoke to her and asked her what she thought about me studying to become a psychologist and she said it could be really good".

He told us the favourite thing about his new job:

"You see such changes in people through their ability to transform how they're feeling about things. Also, with the need that people have to talk about their feelings- it's such a valuable thing to offer".

"I've never seen retirement as something to aspire to, or a cut-off point to reach. I've always really loved my job, so I've never had to work a day in my life".

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