Lesley Aitcheson
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Perhaps one of the most valuable things about counselling and psychotherapy is that time is set aside just for you, to explore whatever is troubling you without being judged.
I am an experienced psychotherapist, used to working with a range of difficulties, including relationship issues, depression, anxiety and trauma. I find that people turn to psychotherapy when they have tried to resolve their issues themselves, but then realise they would like more support without burdening friends or family. Nothing is too difficult to bring to therapy - the issues I deal with could be anything from relationships or health, problems with self-esteem, fear or anger, bereavement or sexual problems.
As a psychotherapist, I do not have a preconceived idea of how to manage your situation and I provide a safe environment where you can explore and address your issues at your own pace. There is no judgement of your issues. Instead, we will work in this safe and confidential space to encourage emotional growth and to allow you to resolve your problems or make changes in order to lead a more fulfilled life.
I work psychodynamically and the work is based on the idea that our unconscious fears, desires and needs impact on our conscious life. We will explore how to allow feelings which are hidden, for whatever reason, to come to the fore and be experienced, thought about and understood. Once they have been understood, you will have more control over their impact.
We'll begin with a fifty minute assessment, using this time to think about what has brought you to seek therapy, why now and how you are currently affected. We also check that we can work together and whether the problem you wish to work on is best solved by this way of working. (If it is not, I will help you with the next steps).
If we agree that we would like to work together, then we will make a start with a minimum of six sessions of fifty minutes each.
After this, we review the work and decide what, if anything, needs to happen next.
I have worked with people for a duration of anything from six sessions to over two hundred sessions, depending on the level of difficulty we have been working with.
Whilst some people are satisfied with coping strategies and other tools, others wish to attain a deep understanding of their situation. I ensure that the process remains flexible and responsive to these needs. Some of the typical problems I work with include anxiety, childhood and adult abuse, bereavement, sexuality, trauma, anger, relationship issues, domestic violence, adoption and assertiveness.
You can read more about this at www.harleycp.co.uk
Training, qualifications & experience
I am an experienced and qualified psychotherapist, with both a masters and doctorate in psychotherapy. I am an accredited Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), a member of the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) and a member of the Association for Independent Practitioners (AIP). I am registered with the United Kingdom Register of Counsellors (UKRCP) and the Private Practice Register (PRP).
I have several years experience in working as a psychodynamic psychotherapist dealing with serious issues such as the damage that arises from trauma or abuse. I have also helped people with a range of mental health issues, trauma, relationship problems, eating disorders, identity issues and difficulties at work.
I deal in particular with:
Generalised Anxiety
Depression
Anger management
Psychosexual issues
Bereavement
Relationship issues
Career counselling
Bipolar disorder or manic depression
Eating disorders
Addictions
Obsessive compulsive disorder or OCD
Abuse
Low self-esteem
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Personality disorders
Termination/abortion issues
Miscarriage
Postnatal depression
Workplace bullying
Stress
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.
The UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) is a leading professional body for the education, training and regulation of psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors. Its register is accredited by the government's Professional Standards Authority.
As part of its commitment to protect the public, it works to improve access to psychotherapy, to support and disseminate research, to improve standards and to respond effectively to complaints against its members.
UKCP standards cover the range of different psychotherapies. Registration is obtained by training or accrediting with one of its member organisations, or by holding a European Certificate in Psychotherapy. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
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.
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
Other areas of counselling I deal with
Race and Faith Issues, Transgender Issues, Work Place Issues, Adoption Issues, Adult ADHD
Therapies offered
Fees
£125.00 per session
Free initial telephone or online session
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
£125 Initial Assessment (50 mins)
£125 On-going sessions (50 mins)
Fees are payable by BACS transfer on a monthly basis. I require 48-hours’ notice to cancel a scheduled session, otherwise the full fee will be due. When possible I will make every effort to reschedule within the same week.
When I work
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My practice is currently full, however, I do have a waiting list - please send a message if you wish to join this.
Further information
I am based in Davies Street, in London W1. The nearest tube station is Bond Street and no. 53 is a 2 minute walk from the main exit.
Please telephone me on 0207 1112 5165 or 07779 279240 for an appointment, or email on lesley@harleycp.co.uk
