Abigail Waghorn

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she/her
Registered MBACP (Accred)
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

Watford, Hertfordshire, WD18
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

About me

I can offer you one-to-one personal therapy or couples work. You may have personal issues relating to your self esteem, relationship, anxiety, stress and depression, past trauma, bereavement, or you may just feel that your current situation is limiting you. I am an experienced Integrative and also EMDR therapist. You won't know if therapy can help you unless you try - it can be difficult though to reach out. You can work with me and I will offer you a safe, supportive space. We can talk things through together. Sometimes we all need to turn to someone who isn't a family member or a friend and who may be able to offer something different. I offer short, medium and long-term counselling and psychotherapy in Watford, Hertfordshire to adults. I also offer couples counselling and am a trained supervisor of counsellors. Sessions can be daytime or early evening. Sessions are generally on the same day and at the same time. For individuals they are normally weekly but these sessions are for you and so I always try to be as flexible as I can. For couples counselling it may not be necessary to be seen every week. Each case is different and we can discuss your needs in our first session.

My commitment to you is to offer a safe, supportive environment and, being an Integrative Counsellor, I am able to draw on many different therapeutic approaches. Many of my clients come with anxiety, relationship issues, family issues, bereavement, depression, anger issues and stress but there is a fuller listing below of the other issues I work with. Underpinning all my work is a belief that we can all learn to help ourselves in order to manage and make the most of whatever life throws our way. Sometimes we feel stuck though. Sometimes we don't know which way to turn. Past experiences can make it seem impossible for us to get what we need.

Once we can understand and make some sense of the foundations of our difficulties then it becomes possible to deal with things differently, make changes and feel better. Dealing with uncomfortable and often complicated or confusing feelings, feeling sad and living through difficult events may have brought you to a point where you would like to talk to someone who isn't a friend or one of the family. Contacting a counsellor can be a vital first step.

Training, qualifications & experience

Registered member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) (Accred)
Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling (Integrative)
Certificate in Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT) (Centre for Stress Management)
Certificate in Counselling Supervision

EMDR Therapist (Sandy Richman trained)

Relaxation and Stress Management training (Centre for Stress Management, London)
Solution Focused Brief Therapy training
Trained Bereavement Counsellor (South West Hertfordshire Bereavement Service, Peace Hospice, Watford)

Relaxation skills training and Mindfulness

EMDR (Richman EMDR training) 

Fully trained supervisor of counsellors offering individual and group supervision in Watford
Affiliated member of the International Society for Coaching Psychology

In the late 80s I underwent training with the Terrence Higgins Trust in London and since then I have held a commitment to people who are in need of varying degrees of support. Along with seeing a wide variety of clients in my private practice for counselling in Watford, I have worked with people from all walks of life and in various settings in Hertfordshire including the Community sector, Watford Women's Centre and Herts Youth Service. I have also worked in the charity sector as manager of Signpost counselling service in Watford, and for several years I was a volunteer Bereavement counsellor for South West Hertfordshire Bereavement Service based at The Peace Hospice.

Member organisations

Registered / Accredited

Registered / Accredited

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
British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP)

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

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy
Accredited Register Scheme

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.

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy

Other areas of counselling I deal with

  • Sexuality
  • Cross-dressing
  • LGBT*Q - Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Trans people and those Questioning their identity
  • Family relationship issues
  • Cross cultural relationships
  • Performance Anxiety (actors, teachers, public speaking, musicians...)
  • Feeling 'Stuck' - unable to make sense of your life
  • Relationship issues where anger management is a problem
  • A bereavement, either recent or some/many years ago
  • Career counselling
  • Mid-life crisis
  • Individual and Group Supervision
  • Where Panic disorder, Anxiety, and/or depression is impacting family life and creating relationship issues

Photos & videos

Fees

£80.00 - £95.00

Health Insurance/EAP

  • Aviva
  • Axa Health
  • BUPA
  • Vitality

Additional information

Individual sessions: £80 (50 minutes)

Couples counselling: £95 (1 hour)

(For some EMDR work, if agreed between us and if there is need, I am also happy to offer 1-1.5 hour sessions. Charged at £95-£140)

Supervision £70 (1 hour)

I am able to offer a limited number of concessions for students, those on a low wage or currently unemployed, subject to availability.



When I work

As well as daytime sessions, I am able to offer sessions in the evenings.

Further information

Enhanced CRB check and fully insured.
I attend regular supervision, in line with BACP requirements, to support my work and further my professional development.
I also undertake regular CPD (continual professional development)

Supervision:I now have availability to take on new supervisees for face to face, online and telephone supervision.

Please contact me if you would like to discuss the possibility of individual or group supervision.

Quiet location in Watford, Hertfordshire
Easy Parking
Near Watford Met underground (approx 7 minutes)

Watford, Hertfordshire, WD18

Type of session

In person
Online

Types of client

Adults
Older Adults
Couples
Organisations
Employee Assistance Programme

Online platforms

Microsoft Spaces
Skype
Whatsapp
Zoom
VSee

Supervision

In person
Online
Phone

I'm an experienced and fully trained supervisor and I love to support and allow my supervisees to enjoy and feel 'held' so they can work effectively

View supervision profile

Abigail Waghorn
Abigail Waghorn