Carole Gallagher MBACP

Luton Bedfordshire LU2
07919 578 838 http://lutoncounselling.co.uk Click here to Email me

Profile

Sometimes a person may know that they want their life to be different, but they don't know how to change things or in some cases they don't know what to change.   The person can feel 'stuck', numb or 'bogged down' in life.  In other cases, people sometimes may feel chained to past sad, painful or difficult situations from which they cannot escape, no matter how much they try.  Yet again, for others, some event may have recently occurred which has turned their world upside down and the change or loss that it has brought about seems frightening, isolating or even threatening.

Some may ask themselves why they seem to repeat the same pattern when it comes to love or why they remain in a relationship which they sense is just not working.   
As a qualified and experienced counsellor, I offer you a non-judgemental space in which you can explore areas of your life which are causing you difficulty, anger or sadness−whether the cause of it is from your past or whether it is because something has just occurred.

How I work:
My aim is to understand you and your situation and to ethically and empathically help you to build your own self-value and inner reserves (even if you don’t feel you have any left right now) so you can start to feel better about life.  My style of working is not to give you advice nor follow a model of silent listening, but instead I offer you an opportunity to explore and resolve your problems and concerns in an environment which offers a compassionate, respectful and sensitive response.

My approach seeks to enable you to develop your own coping skills in a way and at a pace which feels right for you.

My main theoretical model is Transactional Analysis (TA) which looks at the conscious and sometimes sub-conscious choices and influences in our life and how we ‘came to be’ the person we are now.  TA also looks at how and why we react to situations the way we do and what choices are available to us in life.  However, I use techniques and approaches from other models because I believe that just as each client’s personality and situation is unique to them, so too will be the process by which it feels right for the client and I to work together. 

If you have never had counselling before:
For some, it can be difficult to even think about the prospect of counselling, especially if you have always been led to believe that you should be able to solve all problems alone.  However, it takes strength, courage and insight to acknowledge that some situations in life cannot be resolved single-handed or that the unhappy feelings you have now are not going away, despite everything you have tried to forget them or change them so far.  Counselling is not about telling you what to do or passing judgement.  It is about working with you ethically, non-judgementally and sensitively to make life better. Counselling is about finding and strengthening your own inner resources; and can be the first positive step forward to improving your current situation.

Training, Qualifications & Experience

I hold a Diploma in Transactional Analysis Psychotherapeutic Counselling and I have undergone additional training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).

I trained at the Metanoia Institute in Ealing; and I am a member of the following organisations and follow their code of ethics: Metanoia Institute; British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP); European Association of Transactional Analysis (EATA) and Institute of Transactional Analysis (ITA).

Over the past years I have worked with counselling agencies in Ealing, Hitchin and Watford and I have experience of working with clients with a variety of issues, such as, bereavement, phobia, depression, low self-esteem, abuse, anger management, anxiety, relationship difficulties, life crisis events, disillusion, work based difficulties, loneliness, family illness, stress, addiction, gender issues, sexuality, panic, betrayal, eating issues, general emotional loss and grief. pet bereavement

Areas of counselling I deal with

• Abortion
• Abuse
• Affairs and Betrayals
• Anger Management
• Anxiety
• Bereavement
• Cancer
• Career Counselling
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ME
• Couples Counselling
• Depression
• Eating Disorders
• Family Issues
• Gambling
• Gender Identity
• Generalised Anxiety
• Infertility
• Internet Addiction
• Low Self-Confidence
• Low Self-Esteem
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Phobias
• Pre-nuptial Counselling
• Pregnancy and Childbirth
• Relationship Issues
• Self Harm
• Separation and Divorce
• Sexuality
• Smoking
• Spirituality
• Stress
• Trauma
• Work Related Issues

Fees

Individual Counselling: First two sessions cost £15 each per session; after that each session costs £40.

Couples Counsellng:  First two sessions cost £20 per session; after that each session costs £50.

Further Information

Individual Counselling: The first session is a consultation which can take from about 30 mins to 1 hour, after that each session lasts 50 minutes.

Couples Counselling: The first session is a consultation which can take about 30 minutes to 1 hour; after that each session lasts 1 hour 15 minutes.

I live about 10 minutes (4 miles) of a drive away from Luton Town Centre, just off the A6 and about 10 minutes (4 miles) of a drive away from Junction 11 of the M1.

There is a small flight of stairs to my therapy room.

Parking is available at my premises.

Anger Management:  Please note while I provide therapy dealing with anger management issues which will allow you to explore anger in your life,
I do not run an anger management course at the moment.

Member Organisation(s)