Carla Cowling

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Dip Couns, Dip CBT, MBACP CoP accrd
Limited availability
Limited availability

This professional is accepting new clients but may have a waitlist. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.

Congelton, Cheshire, CW12
Limited availability
Limited availability

This professional is accepting new clients but may have a waitlist. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.

About me

**If you make contact using the form on this website, if you don't leave your mobile number,  please double check your email address is correct as I've had a few enquiries with incorrect email addresses this month whose reply has unfortunately bounced back and i've no means of contacting you. Many thanks**

When thinking about whether you need counselling, it might be helpful to ask yourself a number of questions. If you can answer 'yes' to one or more it may indicate that counselling could help:

Are my relationships beginning to suffer?
Do I feel anxious/depressed/troubled for a significant amount of the time?
Do I often feel like or find myself crying?
Do I often feel overwhelmed by life or the particular problem I have?
Do I often feel confused and find making decisions difficult?
Am I drinking more to help me cope with things?
Do I often have trouble sleeping or often wake up in the early hours of the morning?
Is my eating affected?Am I eating less/more?

I offer Person Centred Counselling and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for a wide variety of issues. I use an integrative approach of both models

CBT is a type of psychotherapy, person centred approach is counselling. They are very different. CBT is a very directive approach and is very much a collaborative way of working  CBT focuses on the problems and difficulties you have now, rather than your past. It looks for practical ways you can improve your state of mind. CBT can help you see how your thoughts effect your behaviour, which in turn relate to the way you feel, and how this might contribute to problems in your life.

As your therapist, we will work together to find ways to change your thought patterns and behaviour so you can cope with your problems and anxieties better. I will aim to educate you and give you handouts on your specific issue(s) I will also set homework for you to do between sessions.

CBT cannot remove your problems, but can help you to manage them in a more positive way. CBT is thought to be one of the most effective treatments for anxiety and depression. CBT involves weekly or fortnightly sessions. The number of sessions required varies greatly depending on your problems and objectives, with treatment usually lasting from six weeks to six months.

Person Centred Counselling (PCC) is a talking therapy. Counselling offers you the opportunity to explore your feelings, thoughts and concerns in a safe confidential environment where you won’t be judged. By taking an open approach to what you are experiencing in your life, I will help you to examine what is happening.

Counselling can be just a few sessions but most people find they want to continue over several weeks or months. This depends on your individual situation. It is always your choice to make and I will discuss this with you before and during your course of therapy.

You don’t have to commit in advance to anything beyond our first meeting. Choosing a counsellor is a very important decision, and you need to feel comfortable with whoever you choose.

I work hard to create an environment where my clients will find it easy to talk to me and will, over time, develop a trust in me. Sometimes it helps prospective clients to have a short chat on the telephone before committing to an appointment, other clients like to chat by email before making a decision. There are many counsellors from many different backgrounds and it is your right to choose one that best meets your particular needs.

Each client is special and unique and I work at your own pace to suit your individual needs, whether this is for a couple of sessions or more long term therapy. Whatever the problem, we work together, step by step with trust, respect and sometimes humour, to achieve your goals and build confidence and self-esteem. In the majority of cases, you can expect to feel better and make progress, from the very first session.

When you come to see me, you can expect to be given the opportunity to:

Examine the things that are important to you, the things that make your life meaningful.
Identify behaviours, attitudes, and ways of looking at the world that help you achieve the things that are important in your life, and those that get in the way of you achieving these things.
Make your own choices, based on what you discover.
What I will not do

Diagnose you with an ‘illness’ or identify ‘symptoms’ – a very wide range of human thought, behaviour and emotion is normal, and labelling you or your way of being in the world as ‘different’ or ‘abnormal’ is never helpful.
Tell you how to live your life – there is no one ‘right way’ to live. My approach helps you work out how you want to live in line with your values, and gives you the courage to take steps towards this outcome.
Insist on you making massive changes – you might decide to make some changes in your life, or you might decide not to make any changes. Often my clients find that the inward changes in their emotions, attitudes and ideas are enough to allow them to deal with the challenges they face.
First of all remember that seeing a counsellor doesn't mean that there is something wrong with you.   People usually bring a specific issue that they need help in understanding or resolving, this can potentially open up other factors that they were unconsciously aware of.


Person Centred Counsellor / CBT

I am 12 years post qualified, independent practitioner based in Congleton.

I am extremely approachable with a warm persona. I offer individual and couples counselling to adults.

I have gained experience working at St Helens and District Women's Aid and therapeutic services, working with victims and perpetrators of Domestic Violence. I also worked at BlueSCI in Old Trafford which covered a range of mental health issues.

I worked for Greater Manchester Police in their Welfare unit for 4 years (2012-2016). I worked with all employees of GMP (officers and staff) who suffered with any form of mental health issue or stress related issues. This included staff who were either off sick or still in work. I provided assessments and reports to their supervision to help the employee return to work or I provided support and proffessional knowledge to help keep the employee in work. I also provided annual 1-2-1s with officers who worked in specialist sections of GMP.

I worked closely with other professionals within GMP, providing reports for psychiatrists, and cross referring to specialists within the force who were there to provide trauma focussed CBT, EMDR or Counselling.

I was also part of a team who provided 24hr out of hours trauma support to officers and staff who were involved in serious incidents throughout the force 24/7 365 days a year.

I have worked with Place2be.  Place2be provide in house counselling through out the UK using play therapy with children within primary schools. I have experience in working with children who have suffered family relationship problems, bereavement, bullying and emotional problems such as mental, physical and sexual abuse and family dysfunction such as alcoholism, separation and divorce.

I am committed to Continuing Professional Development (CPD) in Counselling.

I am a member of the BACP http://www.bacp.co.uk/ I abide by the Ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling and Psychotherapy of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). I have supervision with my supervisor every month to ensure my work is to a high standard.


Training, qualifications & experience

Current Qualifications

  • Diploma - Theory And Practice Of Counselling
  • Diploma - Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
  • Certificate - Counselling Skills
  • Certificate - Counselling Concepts
  • Certificate - Sexual Minority Therapy
  • Certificate - Counselling children and young people
  • Certificate - Working with Couples - Relate Training Model
  • Certificate - Personal Coaching
  • Certificate - Further and Advanced Working with Couples  - Relate Training Model
  • Certificate - BACP - Certificate of Proficiency

Member organisations

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

Photos & videos

Fees

£55.00 - £120.00

Concessions offered for

  • Trainee counsellors

Health Insurance/EAP

  • Aviva
  • Axa Health
  • BUPA
  • Health Assured
  • Saga
  • Vitality

Additional information

Sessions are paid directly to me 24 hours prior to your session by cash, BACS or PayPal.

Sessions can be weekly , fortnightly or monthly depending on your needs.

£55.00 - £65.00 for individuals 50-60 minute session. 
£95.00 - £115.00 for Couples 90 minute session 

A sliding scale is in place based on earnings and affordability. 

You will have the opportunity to talk about what brought you to counselling, to see if you feel comfortable with me and that counselling is something which you think is right for you.

On your first session, time will be taken to talk through the counselling agreement and to carry out an assessment.

When I work

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Night

I offer face to face,  Zoom/Teams, telephone and walk&talk appointments.

Further information

2021 - A current Enhanced DBS certificate is held

Disabled access

I’m back working face to face as of 13th April 2021

Congelton, Cheshire, CW12

Type of session

In person
Online
Phone
Home visits

Types of client

Adults
Older Adults
Couples
Families
Organisations
Employee Assistance Programme

Key details

DBS check

In England and Wales, the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS, formerly known as CRB) carry out criminal records checks for individuals working with vulnerable groups, such as children. To find out more, visit gov.uk , or contact this professional directly

Wheelchair user access
Wheelchair user access

Wheelchair-accessible premises should have step-free access for wheelchair users and individuals who are unable to climb stairs. If a Counsellor's premises aren't step-free, they may offer alternative services such as telephone/web-based appointments, home visits, or meeting clients in different location, so you can choose the option that suits you best.

You can contact the Counsellor to discuss the options available.

Under the Equality Act 2010 service providers have a duty to make reasonable adjustments to ensure that individuals with disabilities can access their service. You can read more about reasonable adjustments to help you to access services on the CAB website.

Online platforms

Doxy
Google Meet

Social

Carla Cowling
Carla Cowling