JULIE Lowenthal, from Copplestone, has been celebrating after achieving First Class Honours in her university degree.

Julie has just completed her Integrative Counselling degree with the University of Worcester, studying through Iron Mill College in Exeter.

“My main aim was to gain as much learning from this degree as possible and I hoped that would also result in First Class Honours,” she said. “The teaching has been of high quality and without such excellent and supportive tutoring in this final BA year, I do not know if I would have achieved a First.

“I have found the degree challenging in an academic sense as well as inviting me to delve deeper in a personal and reflective way, that has contributed greatly to my ability to understand the various theories experientially,” Julie added.

“This, I believe, transfers to an ability to be an effective counsellor to a wide range of people, bringing a tailored approach to each individual. I feel proud of this achievement and feel this will give me greater confidence with approaching my future goals.”

She added: “Taking this degree was always linked to my plans to set up a social enterprise supporting people with their mental health. This social enterprise is multi-stranded with encouraging people to be in connection with nature, particularly through community, horticulture, creativity and play. I feel equipped, ethically and practically, to be able to safely offer mental health support to a wide range of people, as well as knowing my limits.”

To find out more about studying with the University of Worcester from this September telephone 01905 855111 or visit: www.worcester.ac.uk .