Dawn McHale
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
I believe that everyone has the ability to realize their potential and my Integrative Therapy includes a range of approaches and techniques which have been acquired through extensive training and experience to support each individual.
I offer face to face sessions in Bristol and also work across the UK via Zoom.
As a Play Therapist I work with children and adults from 4 years old upwards.
Trained in Hypnotherapy, I can also integrate this into therapy.
Working with adults, couples, children and young people, families, groups and organisations, I have over thirty years experience of working with people with: mental ill health, disabilities, homelessness, bereavement, grief and loss, ill health, cancer, terminal illness, rape and abuse, parenting and pregnancy issues. I have worked for, and in partnership with: MIND, Cruse Bereavement Care Bristol, Bath and South West, RELATE Mid-Wiltshire, Bristol Crisis Service for Women, Self-Injury Self-Help, Kinergy, Support after Rape and Abuse, Off The Record Bath, The Priory (adult and CAMHS), BIMM Music Institute, One25 and Second Step. My work includes referrals from media including 'The Jeremy Kyle Show', and a range of Employee Assistance Programmes.
As an accredited member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy I adhere to their Ethical Framework. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss your needs. I have some concessionary spaces at times which need to be negotiated in advance. I offer a free 15 minute assessment to discuss working together.
Training, qualifications & experience
I have a Masters Degree in Counselling and Supervision, and experience of working with people of all ages for over thirty years. My supervision sessions can also integrate a wide range of creative techniques.
With a Diploma in Couple Counselling, I enjoy exploring a clients' unique relationships. As a Master Practitioner in Eating Disorders I offer clients safe space to explore their unique relationship to self and food.
Having worked with children and young people from 4 years upwards to older adults in their 90s. I have specific training with a Diploma in Counselling Children and Young People, and a Diploma in Play Therapy which I offer to all ages and in a variety of settings, including schools.
Creative techniques may be integrated into my work depending on a client's needs and preferences, as I have an MSc in Creative Writing for Therapeutic Purposes and a National Certificate in Dance Movement Therapy.
Over forty years experience of working with people with mental health needs particularly provided insights into coping with depression and anxiety, Other experience has been working for over sixteen years with issues of grief and loss and my background has included working in prisons, with men's and women's groups, and particularly with people wishing to move forward in their lives and build self esteem and confidence. This also includes delivering long-term training in issues such as Assertiveness, Anger Management, Self-esteem, Managing Change and Goal Setting, well-being and self-care.
For several years, I taught on a range of counselling courses including the Foundation Degree in Counselling, the Foundation Degree in Creative Arts Therapies, the Foundation Degree in Working with Addiction, and Youth Work.
My training has also included a wide range of issues and experience facilitating a number of self-help groups on: bereavement, loss, abuse, stress management, relationships, gender, sexuality, self-harm, suicide, bullying, children, older people, pregnancy, miscarriage, abortion and vasectomy, and sexual health issues .
I look forward to hearing from you to discuss your preferences and explore what might be most valuable in supporting your unique needs.
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
Other areas of counselling I deal with
I also offer therapeutic creative writing for personal issues and journaling, using the arts for self-expression. To meet your needs I can offer support with how to support partners and family who have mental health issues, eating disorders, and the responsibilities and demands of being a carer. I have also long-term experience of supporting people who have been raped and/or abused.
Therapies offered
Fees
£50.00 - £60.00
Concessions offered for
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
Fees: these are set by the high level of qualifications and experience I offer:
£55 per 50 minutes for individual counselling (concessions offered/negotiable in specific circumstances)
£60 per 50 minutes relationship counselling (more than one person)
£55 per hour for therapeutic creative writing sessions
£50 per hour for supervision - £75.00 for 90 minutes
Group fees for any of the above on request
When I work
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Variable day times weekly: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Thursday evenings in South Bristol.
Further information
I have delivered stress management, anger management, self-esteem building, anxiety and career counselling sessions and workshops for many years. For over forty years I have worked with people who have suffered abuse, rape, depression, self-harm, eating disorders, sexual issues, phobias, obsessive compulsive disorders, work related issues and bullying, a loss of goals and purpose, and trauma.
