Al Skiffington-Smith MBACP Dip. Couns, Dip. Supervision, (12yrs Experience)

Coventry West Midlands CV2 View map
024 7663 6826 www.alskiffington-smith.co.uk Click here to Email me

Profile

Are you feeling Anxious? Depressed? Struggling with Bereavement? Relationship or Family Problems? Questioning your Sexuality? I work with all these issues and many more...

How I Practice
It can be a commonly held belief that seeking out any kind of therapy is a sign of weakness. When people are struggling in life and reach out for help, I see this as a sign of strength, as it can symbolise the first step towards coming to terms with their situation. Working as your therapist I strive to offer you a safe, reflective space to be heard without being judged. I have a deep respect for the differences that exist in people and it is this that reinforces my commitment to working with you in an anti-discriminatory way. I won't try to tell you what you should do. You decide what we talk about and at what pace we work. I listen very closely and work with you to help you gain a deeper understanding of your own thoughts and feelings. At times this may involve challenging your thinking. The relationship we develop between us forms the basis of our work together. Each counselling session with me lasts for one hour. Sessions are usually on a weekly basis but this can vary depending upon agreement.

Mutual Assessment Session
As part of my counselling service I offer a free Mutual Assessment Session lasting up to one hour to enable us to decide if we can work together and if so what that work may encompass. This is not a counselling session but instead it is an initial meeting where we can both get a sense of each other. You can use the time to briefly outline the concerns that bring you to counselling and ask any questions that you might have. I will listen carefully to what you say, gather some information about yourself and then discuss with you how we could work together to help you. This process should help you decide if counselling with me is the right thing for you to do. You are under no obligation to make your mind up straight away. You are free to take time after the session to think about things before you make a decision.

About Me
As a qualified experienced counsellor and clinical supervisor I work with adults (18 years plus) on an individual basis offering short, medium and long term in-depth therapy. I began counselling people in 1999. I am a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP) and I subscribe to their Ethical Framework for Good Practice. I am CRB checked, fully insured and all my work is professionally supervised on a monthly basis. I provide independent counselling and supervision services to people across Warwickshire, the West Midlands, Leicestershire and surrounding areas. From my varied experience I have developed the ability to appreciate given situations from different perspectives. I have an interest in sexual identity, sexuality, gender identity and disability.

I originally worked in engineering and construction before changing direction and working firstly as an IT tutor, then a youth worker and finally beginning my counselling training in 1997. Since 1999 I have continued training and gained experience working as a volunteer counsellor, a paid counsellor, a paid staff counsellor and supervisor and finally as an independent counsellor and clinical supervisor. I have experience of working in private practice, counselling charities, counselling agencies and support agencies where I have established, managed and co-ordinated counselling services and recruited staff and delivered training events.

Contacting me - ' I treat all contacts in strictest confidence... '

If you are thinking about contacting me I would welcome your call. I am happy to answer your questions, provide further information or, should you wish, arrange a free mutual assessment session, subject to availability.

Telephone: Coventry 024 7663 6826.
Email: Please click on the email link at the top left hand side of this page.
Website: If you feel unsure or you would like to read more information about me please click on the following link: www.alskiffington-smith.co.uk

Training, Qualifications & Experience

Qualifications

Post Graduate Diploma in Person-Centred Supervision (2 year course) - Temenos College 2005.
Post Graduate Certificate in Client-Centred Psychotherapy - Leeds Metropolitan University 2004.
BACP Accredited Diploma in Counselling using the Person-Centred Approach (3 year course) - The Sherwood Institute 2002.
Certificate in Therapeutic Counselling - CPCAB 1998.

Small Example of Continued Professional Development

Expressing the non-verbal.
Working with sexual abuse.
Endings, loss and bereavement.
Working with sexuality, learning difficulty and the law.
Disability awareness.
HIV and sexual health.
Working with sexual dysfunction.
Working with difficult, disturbing and dangerous behaviour.
Fragile and Discociative Proess - facilitated by Professor Margaret Warner.
Psychological Capabilities in a Global Age - facilitated by Maureen O'Hara Ph.D.
Identity and Suffering - Facilitated by Paul Ong Ph.D.

Current Training

MSc Person-Centred Psychotherapy and Counselling.

Organisations

Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP).
Member of the British Association for the Person-Centred Approach.
Member of the World Association for Person-Centred and Experiential Psychotherapy and Counselling.
Member of the Directory of Pink Therapists.

Areas of counselling I deal with

Other areas of counselling I deal with

The list below is a small example of some of the many areas and issues I am experienced in working with. There are no restrictions on what you can bring to counselling. If you do not see what you are looking for please contact me to discuss your needs.

Abuse - inclusive of emotional abuse, neglect, physical abuse and sexual abuse.
Adoption.
Affairs and betrayals.
Anxiety.
Bereavement, grief and loss.
Bullying and harassment.
Carers - partners, relatives or friends who support people with disabilities.
Childhood issues.
Depression.
Disability, disabilities and disabling conditions.
Discrimination.
Family difficulties.
Gender identity.
Low self-esteem.
Oppression.
Relationship issues.
Self-harm.
Separation and divorce.
Sexual minority counselling - inclusive of lesbian counselling, gay counselling, bi-sexual counselling and transgender counselling.
Sexuality - inclusive of people who are questioning their sexuality.
Sexual identity.
Shame and guilt.
Stress.
Suicidal thoughts.
Trauma.
Work related issues.

Therapies Offered

Humanistic Therapies

Person-Centred Counselling

Fees

Counselling

My fee for counselling is £35 per hour.
Payment can be made by cash or cheque at the beginning of each session.
I offer concessionary fees to people experiencing genuine hardship i.e. on a low income or in receipt of benefits.
If you wish to negotiate a concessionary fee please make this clear so we can discuss this in the free mutual assessment session.
I offer concessionary fees by negotiation to counselling and psychotherapy students.

Further Information

Accessibility Statement
My practice room is on the ground floor. There is one small step on to a platform and then one more small step to the front door, fitted with grab handles, which wheelchair users have previously successfully managed. There is one flight of stairs with double handrails to the toilet. Unfortunately, wheelchair accessilbe toilets are not currently available.

Parking
My practice is located in a quiet cul-de-sac with ample free on-street parking available.

Bus Route
Bus 36 destination Little Heath or Tesco Arena, departing from Pool Meadow bus station in Coventry, drops off in Blackberry Lane which is within 300 yards of my practice.

Clinical Supervision
I am also a qualified experienced Person-Centred clinical supervisor. Please click on my Counselling Directory Supervision Profile link below for more information.

Supervision available (view supervision profile)

Member Organisation(s)

Location Map

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