Andrea Howmans (Accredited Counsellor) MBACP, MNCS (Accred) - Counselling Tree
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Physio Room 25 Claremont Crescent Whitley Lodge Shopping Centre Whitley Bay Tyne And Wear NE26 3HL View map |
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0780 9888918
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Profile
Welcome to my page; Counselling is about you and certainly a chance for you to speak freely rather than bottling up your feelings. I appreciate that it takes courage to ask for help and I hope my warm approach will make you feel at ease.
About Me
I decided to become a counsellor as I am extremely passionate about helping people towards achieving a more content and happier life. I am an accredited counsellor, offering a combination of therapies. I work with adults, young people, NHS, organisations and Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs).
How counselling can help
Many people attend counselling to explore upsetting things from the past in order to move on or when facing a difficult life situation and hope to gain a new perspective or come to terms with things that cannot be changed. Or it could be helpful if you are anticipating and worrying about the future and may need some help to make important decisions.
What issues do people attend counselling for?
Bereavement, stress, anger, depression, post-natal depression, divorce, low self esteem, anxiety, panic, worrying, relationship problems, bullying, abuse, work related issues and many more.
What therapies are offered?
Whilst the foundation of my approach is Person Centred (PC), I am an eclectic therapist as I always adapt my style to best suit individuals. Therapies and techniques include; Humanistic; fundamentally PC combined with Gestalt, Transactional Analysis, Existential. Also; Psychodynamic, Solution Focused Brief Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), Mindfulness and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).
What is CBT?
The basis of CBT is: how people think affects how they feel emotionally / physically and alters what they do or don't do. When appropriate, I can use CBT techniques to help you to identify and revise any unhelpful thinking and behaviour. By doing this, there is usually a considerable improvement in how a person feels emotionally and physically. Whilst I am not a CBT therapist, I have combined CBT techniques and found them to be very effective for issues such as; anxiety, panic, depression, anger and stress.
Training, Qualifications & Experience
Qualifications
- Postgraduate Certificate in Low Intensity Psychological Therapies (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) - with merit
- Foundation Degree in Humanistic Counselling - with commendation
Other workshops/courses attended
*CBT for panic disorder (Intermediate)
*CBT for specific phobias (Intermediate)
*CBT for health anxiety (Intermediate)
*CBT for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (Intermediate)
*CBT for Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) (Intermediate)
*Solution Focused Brief Therapy
*Mindfulness
*Place2Be creative play therapy skills
*Sand Play
*Transactional Analysis
*Motivational Interviewing
*Foundation Skills Training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
*Bonding & attachment
*Inner child work
*Gestalt personal development including; empty chair, projections, self awareness
*Conflict Resolution
*CPR
Ongoing Training and Development
Currently studying a NCFE post graduate Bereavement diploma (level 6)
Bereavement Counselling
The death of someone we love is an overwhelming loss and for many of us it will be the most distressing experience we will ever go through. Experiencing the loss of someone close can change the way we see ourselves, others and the world. Everyone's experience of grief is different and there is no right or normal way to grieve. Some people find that bereavement counselling can be beneficial to talk through distressing feelings with someone outside of the family.
Bereavement diploma; workshops already attended:
*Worden and Kubler Ross - approaches to grief experiences
*Bereavement support group facilitation course (5 days)
*Brief Counselling and Grief work
*Bereavement through the death of a parent and childhood experiences
*Counselling for bereavement through death by suicide
*Gender Differences of Grieving Parents
Also, currently studying a Neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) Practitioner course with Communicating Excellence. NLP helps you to notice the skills you have to achieve your goals and brings a heightened awareness of your five senses; enhancing your communication skills and consequently improving relationships. NLP can also be very useful for: neutralising negative memories, re-framing certain ways of thinking, improving individual performance and for individuals to gain further understanding of themselves and those around them.
Experience
Due to start a new part time counselling position for a charity in May 2012. Currently, working part time in the NHS within GP surgeries as a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (PWP) helping people with mental health problems; using mostly a CBT approach.
Previous to my PWP role, I worked as a Place2Be primary school counsellor and Tyneside Women's Health where I provided client-centred counselling for women with a variety of enduring mental health problems. I was also a volunteer counsellor at Barnados Orchard Mosaic project where I worked with bereaved teenagers until I was successful in my current NHS position.
Corporate / Voluntary Sector Work
Additionally, I have business management experience from my previous roles. My corporate and voluntary sector knowledge includes management of projects, resources and staff, including personal development coaching.
Employee Assistance Programmes (EAP) welcome
Counselling within; workplace, social services, GP's, police & ambulance services, schools, voluntary organisations and charities. I can provide one-one therapy / counselling for individuals struggling with work related / personal issues. Invoices can be produced for organisations who wish to refer employees for counselling. Please feel free to contact me to discuss your requirements and fees.
Group Work / Workshops
I have delivered many psychoeducation workshops to enable people to take control of low mood, stress, anxiety and anger. Last year, I created an overcoming depression course, based on CBT principles and then facilitated this course. The feedback from the course was very positive.
Areas of counselling I deal with
- Abortion
- Abuse
- Adoption Issues
- Affairs and Betrayals
- Alcoholism
- Anger Management
- Anxiety
- Bereavement
- Binge Eating Disorder
- Bulimia Nervosa
- Bullying
- Career Counselling
- Child Related Issues
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ME
- Debt Management
- Depression
- Domestic Violence
- Eating Disorders
- Emotional Abuse
- Family Issues
- Gambling
- Gender Identity
- Generalised Anxiety
- Infertility
- Low Self-Confidence
- Low Self-Esteem
- Miscarriage
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Panic Disorder
- Passive Aggressive Behaviour
- Phobias
- Physical Abuse
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Postnatal Depression
- Pregnancy and Childbirth
- Relationship Issues
- Seasonal Affective Disorder
- Self Harm
- Separation and Divorce
- Sexual Abuse
- Sexuality
- Smoking
- Spirituality
- Stress
- Trauma
- Work Related Issues
Other areas of counselling I deal with
Panic attacks
Excessive worry
Financial worries
Life transitions
Retirement
Redundancy
Loss and Grief
Interpersonal problems
Alopecia
Therapies Offered
- Cognitive and Behavioural Therapies
- Psychoanalytical and Psychodynamic
- Humanistic Therapies - Person-Centred Counselling
- Other Therapies - Integrative
- Gestalt Therapy
- Transactional Analysis
- Existential Therapy
Fees
£35 for a 50 minute counselling session (9-5pm)
or
£45 for a 50 minute counselling session (from 5pm onwards or weekends)
£25 (reduced rate) for student counsellors - I wish you warmest wishes throughout your training
Tailored "combat stress" sessions are available.
NLP sessions will be available from July 2012 - fee to be confirmed
Please note, I charge a fee if I do not receive at least 24 hours notice for cancellations
Further Information
Testimonials
"I am just writing to thank you for all of your help these past months... Although I will continue to improve myself, you started this process and I am very grateful. I realised there's no stopping me from getting more affection from anyone or giving it. Thank you so much" - Jan 2012
"Having a friendly person to talk to each week has been the best part. I found Andrea extremely helpful and supportive. The leaflets on different aspects of my problems were also very helpful"
"Andrea, just to say that your kind and considerate manner whilst listening and talking to me has been greatly appreciated. A big thank you and best wishes for the future"
"It has been helpful being listened to by an empathetic and professional therapist in a calm, totally anonymous setting away from family and friends. Although, at first I was not very keen to attend, the experience has proved the opposite and I feel more able to cope as a result. Thank you".
General Information:
I am an accredited member of the National Counselling Society. You can find details at their website: www.nationalcounsellingsociety.org
I am also a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). You can find details of this ethical framework for good practice at their website: www.bacp.co.uk/ethical_framework/
Location:
I cover a wide area, including; Newcastle Upon Tyne; Monkseaton, Gosforth, Jesmond, Tynemouth, North Shields, Northumberland.
Free parking is available near the premises shown on the whitley lodge map below.
If you have any questions about anything, please contact me.
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Warmest Wishes
Andrea
Member Organisation(s)
