Ben Amponsah
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This professional is accepting new clients but may have a waitlist. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.
This professional is accepting new clients but may have a waitlist. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.
About me
I am a friendly experienced BACP Accredited Counsellor and Counselling Psychologist (in Training) who operates from a fully serviced office close to Manchester's Piccadilly Station. I have, since I was very young, been interested in what makes people tick and that is why I chose Psychology as my first degree. After a stint as an Army Officer and then a Recruitment Consultant I landed back in the world of counselling and psychology by joining an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) Work based counselling organisation. I worked in that industry for over 13 years before branching out as a private practitioner counsellor, having gained my counselling qualifications some years earlier.
My main areas of speciality have traditionally been counselling in the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT), Human Rights (with victims of torture/serious trauma) and Workplace arenas (EAP) but I have counselled outside of these with young people (14 and older) and Groups as well.
I can work either face to face, online or over the telephone.
I work with 6-12 sessions and then review with my clients. This is to get a focus on the work. I do work with some of my clients in an open-ended way.
Always happy to have a free initial consultation/assessment to see whether we are a fit and then take things from there.
Training, qualifications & experience
I have been counselling since 2002 and to date have completed more than 2400 counselling hours.
I have a Post Graduate Diploma in Advanced Studies in Counselling, University of Manchester, 2006; Certificate in Coaching, University of Middlesex, 2012; BSc (Hons) Psychology, University of Bristol, 1991.
I am currently part way through a Doctorate in Counselling Psychology.
I am an Integrative Counsellor working with my clients on the best therapeutic approach for the issues that they bring. I mainly use Gerard Egan's 'Skilled Helper' Integrative framework with a humanistic base and strong influence of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Psychodynamic and Solution Focused approaches.
I am also an EMDR (Eye Movement, Desensitisation and Reprocessing) qualified therapist-this is only one of 2 NICE approved therapies for working with people struggling with PTSD/Trauma.
I am experienced in assisting clients in the following areas: AIDS/HIV, Anxiety and generalised anxiety, Bereavement, Cultural issues, Depression, General counselling, Identity problems, Life Coaching, Loss, Mens Issues, Mental health issues, Obsessions, Personal Development, Post-traumatic stress, Redundancy, Relationships, Self Esteem, Self Harm, Service Veterans, Sex related issues, Sexual identity, Sexuality, Stress, Trauma, Work related issues.
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
Therapies offered
Fees
£45.00 - £95.00
Free initial in-person, telephone or online session
Concessions offered for
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
My fees are £65/hour but this is negotiable dependant on circumstances i.e. concessions for students and unemployed or retired are available (at £45/hour). More specialist EMDR work is £95/hour.
When I work
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My first session is usually 1030 and my last 1730
Further information
My counselling office is in a building with serviced reception and full accessibility.
