Counselling intern struggling (in need of advice)
Hi everyone, I’m currently a counselling psychology intern in Malaysia and I’m honestly feeling quite overwhelmed and stuck right now.
I’ve started putting myself out there on Instagram Threads to try and find clients because I need to start collecting my hours to graduate. The thing is, people are responding. I get DMs, people ask about pricing, what I offer, how sessions work, location, etc.
But after I reply… they just disappear. No bookings.
I understand that committing to therapy is a big step and not everyone is ready, but it’s starting to stress me out because I feel like I’m doing something wrong. It’s like I’m able to get attention, but I can’t convert that into actual sessions.
For context:
- I’ve been offering low-cost sessions (RM50)
- I try to respond clearly and professionally when people ask questions
- I’ve been posting content related to anxiety, overthinking, emotional struggles
I’m starting to wonder if:
- I’m giving too much information at once
- My responses don’t feel “human” or connecting enough
- I’m not guiding people clearly on what to do next
- Or if this is just normal at this stage
I guess I’m looking for advice on a few things:
How do you move someone from “interested” to actually booking a session?
What kind of messaging or approach helps people feel safe enough to commit?
Are there specific topics or niches I should focus on to build trust faster?
If you’ve been in a similar position (especially as a trainee), what actually worked for you?
I really want to do this work well, and I care about the people reaching out. I just feel stuck at this stage where nothing is converting and it’s making me anxious about whether I’ll be able to complete my hours in time.
Any advice or insight would really mean a lot. Thank you.