Craig Coventry

I am a registered and accredited member of the BACP and an EMDR practitioner. I work in private practice in Guildford and Woking. I also provide remote therapy online via encrypted email or video call.  Along side generic counselling and psychotherapeutic practice, I specialise in trauma therapy and work regularly with what I call trauma based diagnoses: PTSD, BPD/EUPD, Dissociative issues and C-PTSD (C-PTSD is a commonly used term but is not yet a formal diagnosis). Trauma covers a wide range of situations, it is more of a physical and psychological response to distress rather than a the event/s itself and stem from singular or multiple traumas of commission (something happening) or traumas of omission (something not happening which should have or was needed for personal development) it does not need to be diagnosed to be considered as trauma and can be very subjective- see additional info at bottom of the page for more. I also provide EMDR therapy (Eye-Movement, Desensitisation and Reprocessing)  and I am registered with several health insurance companies. My Primary training consisted of a BSC in Psychology and Counselling, plus an MA in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy. Since then, I have undertaken several other courses and continue to do so as part of my professional development. Many of the trainings have been focused around Trauma work.

What can I offer you?

As a Humansitic therapist, my approach to therapy is to help you to unravel and connect to your lived experience in order for you to be able find inner clarity, direction and healing. My approach is therefore primarily non-directive, however, I will use my experience and knowledge to actively suggest areas of exploration. Being non-directive does not mean passive, it means that you are in the driver’s seat, in control of the process, and my role is to help guide you in your journey through deepening the process, and sometimes challenging decisions. I may at times, depending on the situation, offer direction in regards increasing certain activities and practical management techniques. As a therapist, I cannot tell you the best way to deal with the situations in your life. I can, however, help to bring the answer out of yourself and help you to find confidence in your own decision-making process.

Sometimes, my clients are not able to enter into this process fully due to the severity of symptoms, such as in cases of high anxiety or trauma for example. In which case, I may integrate other approaches to therapy, mindfulness, grounding, Psycho-education and self-soothing techniques to aid emotional regulation so that you can find a level of safety within yourself; which can then enable the process to continue and work towards the inner healing.

Initial Discussion

I offer a free, 20-minute telephone discussion prior to booking the first appointment. This is for me to get an overview of why you have decided to make contact and how I can help. It is also for you to ask any questions that you have for me before booking in the first appointment. Sometimes, people cannot make the timeslots in which I am free for the initial call. In which case, we can book in the first session, however, it is chargeable. This remains even if it is clear at the beginning of the session that we cannot work together; whether that be you need a different service, or a practitioner with different or specialist areas of expertise etc. I do advise to try and make the time for the 20 minute discussion.

Sessions

I usually offer weekly sessions, which last for 50 minutes and are at the same time each week. Some clients with more severe trauma opt for double sessions or twice weekly or similar, however, this is limited to people suffering trauma or people going through a particularly distressing situation.  EMDR therapy is best using 90 minute sessions in which the fees are doubled- although processing should be quicker thus shortening the length of therapy. 50 minute EMDR sessions are possible and will be ok but 90 mins is the ideal if funds and diary space are there.

There is limited scope for fortnightly or flexibility in regards to days/times of appointment, please check prior to booking the initial discussion; I do try to be as flexible as I can- diary permitting.

Working Agreement

As with most therapists, I do have a working agreement in place for all ongoing work. This includes my commitment to you and your commitment to therapy and cancellation policy. All agreements are open-ended: ongoing until I am given 1 week’s notice. I will give you a copy of the agreement at the first session (or email it over prior to) and then hold your slot for 3 days for you to reflect on the session and make a decision on whether it’s right for you to commit to the process. There is no obligation at this stage, if you feel another practitioner/service may be better suited for you, then I support your decision. I feel it is important for you to take this time to reflect, your well-being is important and worth thinking about seriously. Sometimes people are unsure at the beginning, I would say there is always the option of starting for a couple of weeks and then ending the agreement if you feel it is not for you.

Trauma Therapy

Traumatic experiences cover a large number of experiences such as sexual or domestic abuse, bullying and violence, accidents and ongoing manipulation, neglect and even bereavements and surgery to name but a few. Trauma is a subjective experience, one person may not experience a lasting trauma response while others would do. It is not the event which dictates trauma, it is more about the effect, the lasting response and the disruptions in daily life which can often decrease an individual’s sense of trust and safety. This is also influenced by the age when the event/s happened, if it happened over a prolonged period of time, and the level of support received at the time.

What differentiates Trauma therapy from standard Therapy, is that, in Trauma work, there is an initial phase of safety and regulation, prior to coming to terms with (or processing) traumatic memories and current experiences. There is a lot more needed in this process than "standard therapy" and will usually involve more psycho-education, management and grounding techniques and more of a structure to keep you safe and building skills re-orientate to present moment instead of being pulled into traumatic memory intrusions. After this, standard therapeutic approaches are used along side trauma informed theories, in order to heal underlying wounds and relational disruptions and integrating new experiences and knowledge into daily life. Returning to the safety phase is often a regular and natural part of this work. EMDR can be used depending on client preference and readiness.

Many people who have survived traumatic experiences often get diagnosed with BPD/EUPD, PTSD, C-PTSD or DID and other dissociative disorders.

*Optional free 20 minute telephone consultation

Woking (Mondays  until 10pm and Fridays until 8pm.)
£65 per 50-minute session, or, £130 per 90-minute sessio

Guildford (Tuesday 5pm-9pm, Thursday 6pm- 10pm)

£70 per 50-minute session, or, £140 per 90-minute session.

Video sessions

£55 Tuesday daytime, or, £65-£70 depending on the office I am usually in (refer to the above).

EMDR Therapy

50-minute sessions as above, 90-minute sessions fees are doubled.

Covered By Health Insurance?
I am a registered practitioner with BUPA, AXA PPP, Cigna, Allianz Healthcare Worldwide, WPA, Aviva, Healix and Vitality Health. I can also provide invoices for clients to claim back fees from other healthcare providers- please check with your individual healthcare provider as each provider works differently.

Concessions
Limited concessions may be available for those on low wages or have financial difficulties, please call to discuss prior to the initial consultation.

Ongoing Sessions

Depending on your situation, the work could mean reviewing how past events and relationships have shaped who you are, how you view the world and how you respond to life's challenges. It could also mean looking at different parts of your personality and the level of conflict between the different parts (e.g. a part of you that wants to succeed and a part that feels incompetent and unworthy). Many of my clients have also found it beneficial to work through negative perceptions of reality which have been 'internalised' from negative experiences and working towards a more accurate view of reality.

As human beings we acquire an ideal picture of ourselves, and how our life should be. However, at times these can be at odds with the reality we are faced with or sometimes even unrealistic for anybody to achieve. This can give rise to states of depression, anxiety, low self-esteem and difficulties with stress and anger. Understanding your self-concept and beliefs of how life should be, and finding acceptance of the life you currently have is a prerequisite for growth and change and this is often one of the central tasks in therapy.

Trauma Therapy

I have a particular interest in working with trauma. Trauma is a psychological state which can arise from one-off events such as car crashes or ongoing events such as sexual, physical or emotional abuse, neglect, and many other situations. Trauma can simply be defined as someone 're-living' their past experiences as if the past is actually happening in the 'here and now'; it is a 'whole person response' including mind, brain and body. Trauma often happens when an individual's experience is overwhelming and the individual feels stuck, helpless, powerless and unable to escape or prevent the situation from happening. There can also be attachment and neglect trauma which disrupts the ability to form a sense of self, to form healthy relationships, and the ability to regulate emotions which can lead to addictions, difficulties controlling behaviours, severe anxieties and a wide range of presentations. Much of my CPD (Continued Professional Development) is centred around working with trauma survivors, the effects it can have on their lives and, more importantly, how individuals can recover from it. For more info on trauma and trauma therapy please visit my website: https://craigcoventrycounselling.co.uk/common-concerns/trauma-therapy/