Wendy Powell MSc

Back On Track Healthcare 9 Merton Park Parade Wimbledon SW19 3NT View map
07968 356238 www.wendypowell.net Click here to Email me

Profile

I work with clients both in person and on Skype as I recognise that not everyone can get to where I practice, and also that people have to travel, or just live too far away from a therapist to visit them regularly. Skype gives clients an opportunity to access counselling when work or other issues may otherwise prevent them from attending an appointment.

I am accredited with the Federation of Drug & Alcohol Professionals (FDAP), Registered with the United Kingdom Register of Counsellors and a Member of BACP and B-eat (Eating Disorders Association). I also work with clients suffering from Trauma and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

I offer counselling to individuals, couples and families who are experiencing problems.

I also offer employee counselling support to private companies as part of their employee support programme.

I work from a Clinic in Wimbledon and in addition to this private work I have wide experience of setting up and managing private residential rehab clinics.

I regularly write articles for lifestyle magazines focussing on different aspects of counselling or mental health issues.

Training, Qualifications & Experience

MSc Addiction Counselling & Psychotherapy
NLP Practitioner
Diploma in Nutrition
Attended numerous training with National Federation of Eating Disorders Association
Member of UK Trauma Society
Member of European Studies for Traumatic Stress Studies (ESTSS)
Member British Association of Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP)
Member Federation of Drug & Alcohol Professionals (FDAP)
I am in the process of training for a Certificate of Psychotraumatology which is run by the UK Trauma Society and ESTSS and is recognised and supported by the Institute of Psychiatry in the UK.

Areas of counselling I deal with

Other areas of counselling I deal with

The FreshOutlook.com

Women In Business Profile

1. What led you to set up your business?

It was several years before it actually happened; I was working in the corporate world and suffering from depression. I was dragged by a friend to see a therapist and began to question my career choices and deal with my depression. After some time my therapist (who has become a mentor) asked whether I had considered training as a counsellor. To cut a long story short, I was very fortunate to be offered volunteer placements in private and community based drug and alcohol services as I decided this was the area I wanted to work in. Once I knew this was right for me I did as much training as possible, achieving an MSc in addiction counselling and psychotherapy. After years of working as a therapist and manager in substance misuse services I was able to begin seeing clients on a private basis which I continue to do, and things have gone from there.

My original aim was to eventually be able to offer the same type of support and understanding that I received when things were bad for me.

2. How did you feel about starting up on your own? Did you face any challenges?

Well, there are always the basics; bills and mortgage still had to be paid and I couldn’t just sit back and hope that clients rolled in, so I have been fortunate enough to mix this work with interim management roles, where I am contracted by a private or community based substance misuse service and improve their structure, make positive changes in line with government guide lines and good practice in order to create a better service.

Personally, starting on my own wasn’t scary because I had my finances covered by the interim contracts, but I do appreciate that some people don’t have this to fall back on. I guess my main challenge was the cultivation of patience and the belief that I had made the right decision.

3. Has running your own business changed you in any way? If so, how?
Changes have been taking place in me since the day I agreed to see a therapist for my depression, which eventually opened the door to a life changing decision.

I have always been independent and my mother, father and brother have been self employed so it wasn’t as daunting as it could have been, however I have come to recognise that I have a very commercial focus and a determination to ensure good practice is taught and upheld. I have been able to blend my commercial working experiences and my therapeutic training to the benefit of clients and organisations, so the main change has been to let both worlds collide and see what happens rather than run away from one into the other.

4. What is the biggest reward from your work?
Being able to see clients make positive changes to their lives, and watching the gradual realisation that they are far more powerful than they ever thought they could be.

On a larger scale I get a great deal of satisfaction from being able to turn around a business/service that is failing so that a greater number of people benefit from the changes and staff get a service they believe in and which supports them.

5. Who inspires you, and why?
My parents who, as they make their way into and through their 80s are a constant source of inspiration and support. My colleagues and friends who do amazing work that mainly goes unnoticed.

My clients inspire me in so many ways. I have worked with clients who have experienced abuse, poverty, addiction and horrors that are so far removed from my world it would be hard to imagine, yet they retain a spark of trust and belief that their lives can change for the better.

6. What role should business play in the community?
I believe that business and community need to be linked at a greater level. Every day local businesses close down as large organisations take over, but from what I see, the best businesses go into the community and look at how they can work together rather than just exist in the same area.

Local referral sources and joint working partnerships are vital to support and nurture the community – but small businesses just can’t compete with corporations so something needs to change.

7. Do you consider your business your biggest achievement? Yes? No? Why?
That would be a Yes and a No, my business has been a great achievement, but so has living with depression, studying for a degree while working full time and making a decision to change my career. There are many different aspects of my life that have been achievements I did not expect to make, and I would like to think that there are still many ahead of me – so I reserve judgement on this one for now!

8. What do you dream about now?
Too many things! I have plans for future projects and training that I am putting in place, personal dreams – as big as I can dream, you name it.

9. Have you got any tips for women who want to launch a new business?

Research your area of expertise very well, get as much training and experience as you can, be honest, reliable and don’t be too proud to ask for help.

Network – clients won’t magically trip over your doorstep, people need to be able to recommend you.

Make sure you have a solid support system around you; both family and business, your accountant and bank - people with expertise to ask and support you.

Therapies Offered

Other Therapies

Integrative

Fees

Discussed with individuals.

Further Information

Having worked for a over 10 years in residential rehabs for addictions and eating disorders I have a lot of experience working with all addictions, from alcohol and drugs through to shopping, gambling and eating disorders.

As a result of this work I am also experienced in working with families of those suffering from these problems, how they can become affected as the family and relationships gradually deteriorate.

I work closely with a number of associates who specialise in areas of work that I don't, this is particularly relevant for clients who have anger management issues or who are experiencing relationship problems as a result of issues with anger.

After realising that many clients I see appear to be struggling with past traumas which prevent them from moving forward in life, relationships and work, I became interested in learning about Trauma Focussed CBT which is a highly effective method of helping clients to move on.

In addition to the above I work as an interim service manager, setting up and updating/improving community based alcohol and drug programmes, I am also experienced in working with Criminal Justice Drug Programmes and offender management programmes with clients who are arrested for possession of drugs or who commit crimes which are alcohol or drug related. I do this work through an agency but can also be contracted directly by organisations.

Online, email or telephone counselling available

Member Organisation(s)

Registered / Accredited Counsellor or Psychotherapist

Published Articles

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