“I didn’t have it all figured out. I just knew it was time to start.”
Sharon’s story of faith, fear, and becoming a Christian counsellor
“I Googled the average age of counselling students… It said 45. Suddenly, what felt impossible started to feel within reach.”
When Sharon enrolled at AIFC, she was in her mid-40s. She hadn’t studied in over 20 years, was working part-time, raising three kids, and wrestling with doubts.
Am I too old? Will I be able to keep up? What if I fail?
But deep down, she felt God was calling her to something more.
“People had always come to me for advice, prayer, or help. I realised I’d been informally counselling for years.”
She didn’t have the full picture, just a quiet sense that it was time to take a first step.
A journey of transformation
The early weeks were tough. Sharon battled nerves, long nights, and fear. But slowly, things shifted. Through mentorship, prayer, and a deeply supportive community, her confidence grew.
“I always saw myself as an introvert, but with AIFC’s support I did my first roleplay… then my first real client.”
She began to understand her own patterns, care for herself more deeply, and trust in God’s presence throughout the process.
“I came to help people. But I didn’t expect the course to transform me too – in faith, in self-awareness, in purpose.”
A place where faith and training go hand in hand
Sharon didn’t just get qualified. She found a community that walked with her through every season. The flexibility of the course allowed her to keep working and parenting. The spiritual foundations gave her peace and direction.
“AIFC reminded me that I wasn’t walking alone. Not in the course, and not in the counselling room.”
Today, Sharon runs her own counselling practice. She supports others in their healing, just as she was supported during her training.
“I started with no formal experience. Now I’m counselling real clients, and I know God brought them to me for a reason.”
You don’t have to wait until you feel ready
If you’re sensing that this could be your path, Sharon’s advice is simple:
“You might be sitting on the fence. That doesn’t mean you’re not ready – it might mean you’ve already heard the call. Life never feels perfectly lined up. But God meets us in obedience, not perfection.”
Enrolments are now open – and your first unit is free.
Start now with your first unit free
Until July 3, AIFC is offering a $611 Free Unit Offer for new students enrolling in the CHC51015 Diploma of Counselling. This is for people who want to integrate faith with real-world skills, and help others with confidence and compassion.
Why choose AIFC?
✅ Faith-integrated learning rooted in biblical truth
✅ Nationally recognised and accredited by ACA and CCAA
✅ Flexible online learning with strong mentoring
✅ A community of Christian peers and purpose-driven professionals
✅ “AIFC is built for real people – people with full plates, busy lives, and a heart to help.”
Take the next step
Enrol now and save $611. Or if you’d like to hear more of Sharon’s journey, you can still watch her full story here.
Have you thought about becoming a qualified counsellor? It’s a great opportunity to learn how you can extend God's love and grace to the hurting out in the community.
For those who would like to enrol in aifc’s accredited Christian counselling courses we have two intakes per year for courses commencing around the following months:
Enrolment Season - opens approximately 2 months prior to our courses commencing. Enrol online here during our enrolment season.
We also offer two modes of study:
A Master of Counselling course was introduced in 2018.