Andrea Rickman MBACP

Therapeutic Counselling Briar Park Business Centre 11 Stour Road Christchurch Dorset BH23 1PL View map	Bournemouth Dorset BH23
07708 542743 www.therapeuticcounselling.org.uk Click here to Email me

Profile

Counselling is a confidential, therapeutic relationship, a unique space where you can feel safe to discuss, explore and work through feelings and issues that are negatively affecting your life.

Knowledge of psychological theories and recognised communication skills, modified with experience, intuition and empathy allow me, as your counsellor, to provide a safe, containing environment in which you can share your intimate concerns, problems or aspirations. The task of counselling is to explore, discover and clarify ways of living more satisfyingly and resourcefully, in the here and now.

There are many reasons why people seek counselling, you may be in the midst of painful relationship difficulties or dealing with feelings of loss and grief. It could be that you were abused during your childhood and are still struggling with the after effects. Sexual problems or issues around your sexuality could be causing you concern. Maybe you have low self esteem, lack confidence and carry a feeling within you that you are not good enough. Difficult, unmanageable feelings of anger, sadness, emptiness or fear could be making you feel overwhelmed.

Whatever is troubling you, sharing your difficulties and feelings with a counsellor, someone unbiased, who will listen to you without judgement, is therapeutic. I shall support you as you try to establish and understand your needs and find ways of meeting them, rather than giving advice or offering solutions. Therapy can be reparative and transformative, a healing of hurts, traumas and psychological wounds. The counselling process can enable you to work through your feelings, move on from painful issues, become empowered and make positive changes to lead a more fulfilled, happier and healthier life.

I am based in central Christchurch, Dorset, immediately to the right of the Rail Station. You can contact me by telephone and we can have a talk and discuss your counselling needs or  you can mail me to begin with if you prefer.  If you also visit my website you can read more about my practice and please feel free to get in touch by phone or e mail to ask me to ask any questions you may have. If you then feel you would like to take the next step we can arrange the free initial assessment session. This first 30 minute session will give you a feel of counselling and help us both decide whether or not I am the right counsellor for you.

Training, Qualifications & Experience

I began counselling training in 1999  and gained my Advanced Diploma in Psychodynamic counselling in 2003 and gained another module in Helping Children and Young People in 2006.

My counselling placement whilst training was at Southampton Counselling and Therapy Centre, which offers short term psychodynamic counselling to men and women.  Since then I have founded and co-ordinated a self help/support group for adult women survivors of childhood sexual abuse and have worked at Over The Rainbow (LGBT), Compass Counselling Service and Dorset Action on Abuse before starting my private practice.

My Advanced Diploma is Psychodynamic but I have also studied Humanistc/Existential and Cognitive Behavioural theory and work integratively. I have worked as a counsellor since 2003, seeing clients with a diversity of issues in Hampshire and Dorset. I have worked extensively with adult Survivors of childhood sexual abuse in a group setting and now on a one to one basis. I see clients in private practice in Christchurch, Dorset and also do counselling work with the LGBT community, previously at Over the Rainbow in Bournemouth, now in Christchurch. For further LGBT information my website has a link to Over the Rainbow.  

 

Areas of counselling I deal with

• Abuse
• Affairs and Betrayals
• Anxiety
• Bereavement
• Bullying
• Couples Counselling
• Depression
• Emotional Abuse
• Gender Identity
• Generalised Anxiety
• Low Self-Confidence
• Low Self-Esteem
• Physical Abuse
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Relationship Issues
• Self Harm
• Separation and Divorce
• Sexual Abuse
• Sexual Issues
• Sexuality
• Stress
• Trauma
• Work Related Issues

Fees

A thirty minute initial consultation is offered free of charge so we can meet face to face and see how we feel about working together.

I charge £40 a session for individual counselling and £55 for couples.

Some concessionary spaces are available. I can offer a lower fee for those on Income support, Job Seekers Allowance or Working Tax Credits/Housing Benefit (from £25 for individuals and £40 for couples) so please let me know when we meet for your initial free session if you are having financial difficulties and hopefully we can negotiate a lower fee.

Member Organisation(s)

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