Caroline Riddell, BSc(Hons)Psych, MBACP (Senior Accredited)

1 Garden Cottage Newbury Lane Penton Mewsey Andover Hampshire SP11 0RN View map
01264 771543 / 07862 295891 www.carolineriddell.co.uk Click here to Email me

Profile

Welcome.  As an Integrative Psychotherapist/Counsellor of 27 years standing my aim is to help you (individual or couple) resolve your issues as beneficially and harmoniously as possible.   Using a variety of therapies I help you interpret more clearly how our thoughts affect emotions, behaviours and health (mind over mood).
I qualified some 27 years ago.   I incorporate the use of Counselling, Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Solution-Focused-Brief-Therapy (SFBT), Hypnotherapy and Guided Imagery, Gestalt,  Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and Psychosomatic Therapy (for further information about these, scroll down to Qualifications).
Your Needs: You may come to see me individually, as a couple or as a group.  My aim is to help you, in a non-judgmental way, become more aware of and understand any attitudes and/or behaviours which have been holding you (or your relationship) back.   Such understandings open doors to new ways of being which benefit you individually and within relationships at home, at work  and socially. 
From the start of our therapeutic relationship I listen and, using my non-judgmental professional skills, repeat back to you how I hear you speak in order that you can reflect upon how your own thoughts and words sound and make you feel. The aim is that we work together to widen your perspective about your mental, physical and spiritual lifestyle at home, work and socially.   Depending upon what you want to resolve, our work may involve exploring your past as well as your present and future. People have described the ‘talking cure’ like taking a journey. Any journey has to begin with the first step. Therapy is a matter of personal choice. You choose the steps you wish to take.
It is you who decides to begin your journey of exploration and you also decide how long you want your journey to be.   Therefore, we work for as long as is necessary to achieve your aims and objectives. Everything we talk about is completely confidential. I abide by the ethical framework of the British Association for Counsellors and Psychotherapists through which I am accredited and insured.
I also supervise trainee, volunteer and experienced counsellors, psychotherapists and those working in caring professions.

Training, Qualifications & Experience

I am an Integrative Psychotherapist with over 25 years experience.
- I have several Integrative Diplomas and an Advanced Diploma in Psychotherapy.
- I have a First Class BSc Hons degree in Psychology
- I am an NLP Practitioner.
- I have a Diploma in Supervision
- I have a Certificate in Teachers Training Stage I from City & Guilds.
- I am a Life Coach


I am frequently asked the following questions: 

What is an Integrative Psychotherapist? It means that I have trained in a number of therapeutic orientations and disciplines in order to offer a lot more choice in how to help you resolve your issues.     

What therapies do you practise?

Counselling: a reflective style of therapy which involves the counsellor having an open mind, listening to your history in a non-judgmental way and using skills to help you widen your perspective about yourself.

Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) focuses upon your thoughts and how they influence your moods, emotions and behaviours.  Change your mind and you can change your mood for the better. Change your mood for the better and your ability to lead your life more positively and harmoniously occurs quite naturally, and your confidence within yourself about yourself grows stronger.

Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) focuses upon goal setting and how to achieve, in your own way, in small stages, a well formed outcome in order to resolve your problem. It is often used to help you overcome unwanted habits, fears, phobias, anxiety, stress and tension.

Gestalt is a humanistic, existential therapy which takes a holistic perspective. It follows a creative and experimental attitude to life and the process of therapy. It is especially valuable in helping you understand how to heal and complete any ‘unfinished business’ and unresolved issues in your life.

Hypnotherapy.   Hypnosis is a state of altered awareness that we allow ourselves to enter naturally many times every day. It is a relaxed, day-dream-like state somewhere between ‘consciousness’ and sleep, during which time our senses and concentration are heightened. Whilst we relax in a hypnotic state we can open our eyes, talk, move around, do anything we want. Using clinical hypnosis as a therapeutic tool allows us to focus on a problem and, using our heightened awareness, ‘look’ for our inner resources, abilities and capacities which are there, but may be ‘blocked’ by misunderstandings, anger, grief, trauma, etc.  These ‘blocks’ are set up by the mind which mistakenly believes they will help us survive. Unfortunately, these 'blocks' all too often hinder us in some way.

Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) A practitioner of NLP uses techniques, interventions and tools that clarify how powerful and resourceful your mind is and helps you find ways to overcome the negatives.  Using NLP is the precursor to Life-Coaching. It is an optimistic, forward-thinking style of therapy that helps you achieve the most of your relationships, your career and your lifestyle.

Psychosomatic Therapy (PT) is mind over matter. Many medical conditions (e.g. Irritable Bowel Syndrome, migraine, psoriasis, hernias, heart conditions) are believed to be induced by stressful, worrying thoughts and the physical tension these create. PT helps you learn how to re-order your lifestyle to eliminate stress and achieve a balanced and happier way of being mentally and physically fit.

I also practise Mindfulness and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)  

                                                                  
Are you a member of a professional body?

Yes, I am a Senior Member and Accredited Practitioner with the British Association for Counsellors and Psychotherapists  (MBACP Acc)
Being Accredited means that this highly regarded professional body has examined my qualities as a psychotherapist and accepted that I adhere to and practise strictly within its rigorous Code of Conduct and Ethical Framework. You can browse the Association's website at www.bacp.co.uk.

Essential parts of this Ethical Framework are:

• that I keep everything you tell me completely confidential
• that I am properly insured
• that all my work is supervised by another therapist who is a qualified supervisor
• that I keep abreast with new research, development and literature
• that I upgrade my professional knowledge for a minimum of 40 hours every year.

• Further Experience:     
  - Opening and managing an independent practice since 1984.
  - I worked for some years as Consultant CBT Psychotherapist at Wokingham Community Hospital     
  - Working with Employee Assistance Programmes. (Behavioural Health, Motorola, Red Arc, Oakdale)
  - I work with children (from the age of ten), men, women and those from different cultural backgrounds to my own. 
  - I have considerable experience with relationship, couples and sexual issues. 
  - I work with borderline personality disorders and all related pathologies.
  - I work with long or short term clients.
  - I create and give workshops in a variety of subjects, e.g. stress/worry/anxiety management; anger/rage management; self-hypnosis. 

Areas of counselling I deal with

• Abortion
• Abuse
• Addiction(s)
• ADHD
• Adoption Issues
• Anger Management
• Antisocial Personality Disorder
• Anxiety
• Asperger's Syndrome
• Avoidant Personality Disorder
• Bereavement
• Bipolar Disorder/Manic Depression
• Borderline Personality Disorder
• Bullying
• Cancer
• Career Counselling
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ME
• Couples Counselling
• Debt Management
• Dementia
• Depression
• Disabilities
• Domestic Violence
• Eating Disorders
• Emotional Abuse
• Gambling
• Gender Identity
• Generalised Anxiety
• HIV/AIDS
• Infertility
• Internet Addiction
• Learning Difficulties
• Low Self-Confidence
• Low Self-Esteem
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder
• Panic Disorder
• Paranoid Personality Disorder
• Personality Disorders
• Phobias
• Physical Abuse
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Postnatal Depression
• Psychosexual Therapy
• Relationship Issues
• Schizophrenia
• Seasonal Affective Disorder
• Self Harm
• Separation and Divorce
• Sexual Abuse
• Sexual Issues
• Sexuality
• Smoking
• Spirituality
• Stress
• Tourettes Syndrome
• Trauma
• Work Related Issues

Other areas of counselling I deal with

Further Areas of counselling I deal with:

Therapies Offered

• Cognitive and Behavioural Therapies
  - Behavioural Therapy
  - Cognitive Therapy
  - Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

• Psychoanalytical and Psychodynamic
  - Psychodynamic Therapy

• Humanistic Therapies
  - Person-Centred Counselling
  - Gestalt Therapy

• Other Therapies
  - Integrative

Fees

Psychotherapy:   
- I offer free of charge an initial meeting lasting 20 minutes (during the hours of 11am-3pm).  
-  For individual therapy I charge £50 per session which lasts for one hour including hellos and goodbyes.  (Session times range from 10am-6.30pm).
-  I offer two discretionary places for those who are experiencing short or long term financial difficulties, students or old aged pensioners.   
- For couples therapy I charge £60 per session. 

Supervision: 
- I offer supervision for trainees, volunteers and experienced psychotherapists, counsellors, key workers, welfare officers, health professionals, cancer-carers and anybody else in the caring profession.   My charge ranges between £40 to £70 per session depending upon your personal situation, how long the session lasts and whether you are restricted to the company or agency's discretion. 

Groups:  
-  Your description of the group therapy or training package you require is necessary before agreeing a fee.  A meeting to establish your needs would be free of charge.  

Further Information

For further information please give me a ring or email me.      Whilst I am working I rely on my Answering Machine to act as my helper, so please leave your name, telephone number  (slowly and clearly) and any message.       The machine records your message confidentially, others are unable to hear it.   I will return your call promptly and discreetly.

My work-place is in Penton Mewsey, SP11, a village which is a very short drive from the Charlton (hospital/station) area of Andover SP10;   there also is a bus service to the village.   Parking is free.

The consulting room is on ground level and easily accessible for those with walking disabilities.   If you need to use your wheelchair this is fine, but it will need to be one of the narrower, folding types of chair.

• Online, email or telephone counselling available

Member Organisation(s)

Location Map