Bena Armitage
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Welcome to my page. I am a warm, approachable, caring and an experienced psychotherapist and a counsellor, offering you a safe, confidential and non-judgmental Psychotherapy and Counselling support. I work with Adults, Couples, Trainees, Young people (12+), and Families.
Please ring 07976 820788 for a free 15 minute telephone consultation.
I am of Indian origin and have grown up in the UK most of my life, so English is my main language. I have experienced various life challenges between the values of my own heritage, and those I have grown up with in the UK. I therefore take a very considered and empathetic approach in understanding you and your life experiences, and will fully embrace and respect you at all times, regardless of your background. With my role as a psychotherapist, and a counsellor, my approach with you at all times will be to empower you to make your own decisions, and to support you in making choices that lead you to living a more happier, positive and fulfilling life; one that focuses on your own wellness, success, and you having closer relationship with others.
From time to time everyone faces challenges in life and we all need some support. Reaching out, is the first step to making changes.
Psychotherapy and Counselling are medically recognised as being highly effective processes for improving mental well-being and enhancing personal growth. You have the option of making those changes and to be the person you want to be.
I offer short and long term face-to-face therapy in my private practice, as well as online and telephone sessions for clients who are unable to make face-to-face visits.
Although my main practice is based in East Sussex near Crowborough, Uckfield, East Grinstead and Forest Row, I am also only 20 minutes drive from Crawley and Haywards Heath in West Sussex.
What my clients say:
"I had no idea what to expect, but from the first session, Bena put me at ease. Throughout my journey she was nothing but encouraging, warm, accepting and absolutely professional. One of the best things about each time I met with Bena is that I could turn up exactly as I was- having had a good week, a bad week, happy or sad, with laughter or with tears- and she would meet me where I was at, and help me navigate the maze of emotions to be able to move forward." Claire
"Before I came to see you Bena, I didn't think I would ever feel happy again. I can honestly say that I now feel the best I have ever felt, and that has largely been down to working with you. I can't thank you enough for all the help and support you have given me these past few months." A.P.
"Since coming to Counselling with Bena, my life has been getting better and better and I truly feel happy again!!! I now have more ideas and opportunities to look forward to, and a much better quality of life. Thank you for everything." Dominic.
"Bena has provided me with an incredible online therapy support for the past few months. She has helped me look at things from a different perspective, and really improved my relationships and trust in others. I am now a lot happier and less anxious than when I first began working with Bena." E.J
"Initially I was anxious of having therapy but was encouraged to see Bena by a friend. Having now finished working with her, she has exceeded every expectation I ever had. Bena is one of the kindest women I have ever met. She has offered me a safe space in which to be vulnerable, angry and upset and I felt she truly cared for my feelings on a human level, not just as a therapist. My sessions with her have impacted on my life in a way I cannot begin to put into words." J.T
“Bena, thank you so much for your continual support which has allowed me to be happier and see the world in a different light, as well as for being so accepting of who I am, and supporting me during the hardest times of my life." A-Level Student
Training, qualifications & experience
I am a fully qualified Psychotherapist (CTA-P) at master’s level, with postgraduate and Advanced Clinical Training in Transactional Analysis Psychotherapy, including TA101. I have over 10 years of psychotherapy and counselling experience, have worked in various settings and I am a registered member of the UKCP, UKATA, EATA and the BACP. All my work is underpinned by the ethical framework of these professional organisations.
As well as working in my private practice in East Sussex, supporting clients of various age groups, I also hold extensive psychotherapy and counselling experience of working with young people in secondary schools. Additionally, I have several years of experience providing psychotherapy service to clients with a range of brain and head injuries, as well as working with their families and carers.
I have undertaken additional specialist training, including Safeguarding Children and Young People, Attachment Disorder, Self-Harm, Trauma and Recovery, Anxiety, Substance Misuse, Personality Adaptation, and understanding individuals with acquired brain injuries and its effect on their families and caregivers. I am also proud to have been for several years a member of the UK Association for Transactional Analysis (UKATA) Diversity and Social Responsibility Committee.
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.
The UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) is a leading professional body for the education, training and regulation of psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors. Its register is accredited by the government's Professional Standards Authority.
As part of its commitment to protect the public, it works to improve access to psychotherapy, to support and disseminate research, to improve standards and to respond effectively to complaints against its members.
UKCP standards cover the range of different psychotherapies. Registration is obtained by training or accrediting with one of its member organisations, or by holding a European Certificate in Psychotherapy. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
UKATA (formally the Institute of Transactional Analysis) is the national UK Transactional Analysis organisation representing all fields of TA theory and practice. TA can be used as an effective tool in a wide range of contexts such as: personal development, management, coaching, counselling, psychotherapy, teaching, education, parenting and more.
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.
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
Abandonment, Various Anxiety Disorders, Panic Attacks, Bullying, Cultural Identity, Divorce, Jealousy, Infidelity and Mindfulness.
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£65.00 - £80.00
Additional information
£65 for individual sessions lasting 50 minutes.
£80 for couples, family sessions or individual appointments lasting 70 minutes.
For a free telephone consultation, please contact 07976 820788 or email: bena@armitages.org
Unfortunately, low income space is currently unavailable
When I work
My working days are Mondays to Thursdays, excluding bank holidays.
Further information
Other useful information
My work is regularly supervised by a qualified and UKCP registered Supervisor.
My psychotherapy modality is Integrative TA and I use a humanistic tradition in the work that I do with all my clients. Hence my approach is ‘I am okay, you are okay’ and that we are both equal, deserve each other’s respect and accept each other as human beings, regardless of our age, gender, race, sexuality, culture and ethnicity.
English is the language I use when working with my clients, however I can also speak Gujarati if there are individuals who would prefer to communicate in Gujarati.
