Michael Owens
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Thanks for taking the time to view my profile. I am a qualified, accredited therapist with over 20 years of experience in this field. I offer open-ended therapy to adults.
About therapy
We all need to talk to someone else about our problems at some time in our lives, when we can't see a way through them or we've reached our limits. It may be that we have struggled on for months, or even years, knowing something is wrong without knowing what to do about it, and possibly hiding it from everyone else. We might feel as if we've failed because we couldn't deal with these issues on our own. Coming to therapy and admitting we feel confused or stuck can be difficult, but it can be liberating too.
When we're in a safe, confidential space with an impartial therapist, saying exactly what we think and feel about a situation can be a tremendous relief. This kind of honesty can also give us insights into the problems we've encountered, so we can decide what our options are, or learn how to behave in a different way for a different outcome.
It can be a powerful experience to have someone listen to us and understand how we've been affected by our difficulties. I've been doing this work a long time now, and I'm still surprised by how much people change when they feel heard and understood. I've seen clients grow in confidence, challenge themselves and work out creative options for dealing with a problem. I believe this last part is vital to a person's well-being: when we have choices, we can control our response to a situation, rather than feeling as if the situation is controlling us.
What happens during the counselling process?
During our first session, we can discuss your difficulties and what you hope to get out of the process. We’ll also need to talk about how the counselling relationship works, and agree a contract for our work. After that, I’ll follow your lead and you decide what we’re going to talk about.
How I work
Each client will take a different path during therapy so I don't set an agenda. I’ll ask you what you want to talk about and we'll take it from there. I'll listen carefully and ask questions. I'll make observations about your situation and I'll offer alternative viewpoints too. What I won't do is give you advice or guide you in a particular direction because what I would do in a situation might not suit you. As the relationship develops, we’ll review your progress on a regular basis.
I offer open-ended counselling. There is no set number of sessions. We continue to work as long as you need the support.
Credit for my work
In 2017, I got an acknowledgement for my work with a student experiencing PTSD in the Evening Standard. The article is featured below in the Photos & Videos section.
Training, qualifications & experience
Professional Accreditation
2011 Accredited Member of BACP
Counselling Qualifications
2017 Diploma (Trauma Therapy)
2009 Post Graduate Diploma in Professional Studies (CBT/Counselling Supervision)
2003 Advanced Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling (Integrative)
Other Qualifications
MA, PGCE, BA(Hons)
Experience
Since qualifying as a counsellor, I gained profession accreditation with BACP and continued to train in CBT, counselling supervision and trauma therapy models. I have a wide range of practical experience in public sector, corporate and voluntary settings. As well as working with clients, I train and supervise counsellors and publish articles on therapy. Special interests include working with people experiencing psychological traumas, including PTSD.
Member organisations
Being registered/accredited with a professional body means an individual must have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by their member organisation.
BACP is one of the UK’s leading professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy with around 60,000 members. The Association has several different categories of membership, including Student Member, Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP, Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Accred) and Senior Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Snr Acccred).
Registered and accredited members are listed on the BACP Register, which shows that they have demonstrated BACP’s recommended standards for training, proficiency and ethical practice. The BACP Register was the first register of psychological therapists to be accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
Accredited and senior accredited membership are voluntary categories for members who choose to undertake a rigorous application and assessment process to demonstrate additional standards around practice, training and supervision.
Individual members will have completed an appropriate counselling or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but they won’t appear on the BACP Register until they've demonstrated that they meet the standards for registration. Student members are still in the process of completing their training.
All members are bound by the BACP Ethical Framework and a Professional Conduct Procedure.
Accredited register membership
The Accredited Register Scheme was set up in 2013 by the Department of Health (DoH) as a way to recognise organisations that hold voluntary registers which meet certain standards. These standards are set by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
This therapist has indicated that they belong to an Accredited Register.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£70.00 per session
Additional information
Individuals
£70 per session (50 minutes)
48 hours' notice is required to rearrange a session and I charge for cancellations.
When I work
Weekdays & evenings
