Derek Williams
Every professional displayed on Counselling Directory has been independently verified by our team to ensure they have suitable credentials to practise.
This professional is temporarily unavailable and will not be responding to enquiries until they return.
This professional is temporarily unavailable and will not be responding to enquiries until they return.
About me
Hello and welcome to my site. My name is Derek Williams and I am a UKCP accredited psychotherapist and ensure that my work is not limited to one school of therapy. I try to ensure my approach is unique for each client. My various qualifications (both commercial and psychotherapeutic) coupled with recent past experience of working as a solicitor in the City of London enables me to work with clients in an innovative and creative fashion.
I work remotely over the internet using Zoom, Skype or FaceTime.
I also provide supervision for psychotherapists as required by the BACP and UKCP see my website at www.psychotherapy-supervision.co.uk for further details.
I work with both individuals in one to one therapy and with couples in couple or relationship counselling.
In therapy we will address both the conscious element of personality to assist appropriate behavioural changes and the unconscious, to understand the reasons for feelings, thoughts and behaviours. In that way you will be able to contemplate change or growth in a balanced and appropriate way for you.
It is of vital importance for you to be listened to in a strictly confidential, secure and safe setting so that issues can be analysed, understood and then appropriate solutions identified as quickly and appropriately as possible. In order to ensure that there is maximum confidentiality I always put in place safeguards some of which are outlined on my website www.psychotherapy121.com (the pages called "Dual Relationship" and the "Contract" give an outline of those procedures). If additional safeguards are needed then these can be discussed at our first meeting.
My aim is to assist in enabling you to make informed decisions about issues you face whilst providing tools for you to use so that the problems associated with those issues may be managed or reduced. In this way you should then be free to choose the course you take in life without being “pushed” in any particular direction. I firmly believe that awareness of why and how we behave or make decisions enables us to have choices so that we are then able to take decisions and modify our behaviour in our best interests when it is appropriate for us to do so.
Some of the issues that I work with are listed below from stress through anger management to drug and alcohol abuse:
- Work related stress
- Conflicts between work and private life
- Low self esteem
- Lack of confidence
- Redundancy
- Bullying
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Generalised Anxiety Disorder
- Stress
- Changes in behaviour
- Anger and anger management
- Relationship issues
- Family Issues
- Issues arising from divorce or separation
- Sexual orientation
- Issues related gay, lesbian and bi-sexuality
- Gender identity
- Sex addiction and out control sexual behaviour (including chemsex issues)
- Sexual and psychosexual issues/problems
- Internalised self dislike
- Homophobia
- Internalised Homophobia
- Conflict resolution or mediation
- Phobias
- Personal development and growth
- Bereavement or loss
- Addictions
- Drug, alcohol or other substance misuse
- Lack of motivation
My clients include many who work in the City or other high pressure environments. I also work with members of the LGBT/GSM community, particularly people who experience a tension between their work/home environment and the fact that they are lesbian, gay, bi or trans.
If you are interested in finding out more about any of the above or others please visit to the page called "Issues" on my website at www.psychotherapy121.com
Training, qualifications & experience
Qualifications: I hold an M.A. in psychotherapy from the University of Northampton, a post graduate Diploma in Transpersonal and Integrative Psychotherapy from the Centre of Counselling and Psychotherapy Education (CCPE); a Diploma in Clinical Hypnotherapy from the London College of Clinical Hypnosis (LCCH), a Diploma in Supervision (CPPD), a Diploma in Gender and Sexual Minority Therapy and I have a degree in law (LLB). I previously worked as a Solicitor (now retired) in a large City of London firm for many years before retraining. I adhere to the rules of professional conduct for UKCP, BACP and BSCH. I firmly believe in continuing education and attend specialised courses on a regular and frequent basis.
Professional Bodies: I am a member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP), am registered and accredited as a Psychotherapist (and also a registered Supervisor) with the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP). Aditionally I am a full member of the British Society of Clinical Hypnosis (MBSCH).
Experience: In addition to my private practice as a psychotherapist I also work with the NHS in a secure mental health unit in south London facilitating group work for patients.
In the past I have worked as a volunteer with various mental health, sexual health and minority organisations providing both long and short term psychotherapy and counselling. In addition I am a trustee and director of a small community interest company which provides low cost psychotherapy for those unable to afford the cost of private treatment. Prior to qualification as a psychotherapist I was a partner of and departmental head to a firm of Solicitors in the City of London and so have personal experience of working in pressured and stressful environments.
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.
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.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Other areas of counselling I deal with
In addition to working with individuals, couples and groups I also advise businesses and professional practices on how they are able to reduce anxiety and stress in the workplace for all of staff. The reduction of stress and anxiety in the workplace is beneficial to all who are involved in the business; financially, creatively and by encouraging staff retention. After all, the greatest asset that most service businesses have is their staff. Fees for this consultation service are agreed prior to engagement.
Finally, businesses (mostly situated in the City and West End of London) may purchase a set number of "therapy hours" in advance so that their staff may arrange therapy/counselling within the therapy hours bought at nil cost to employee. This is particularly popular with businesses that are "high stress", such as legal practices, accountants, bankers and city traders.
Hours are purchased in blocks of 10 or more. A specific time/day is then agreed; e.g. if 50 hours are purchased, 1 -2 pm on (say) Mondays for 50 weeks is then available to one member of staff to attend. The attendee may be 50 different individuals or the same person for all or part of the 50 sessions. Strict confidentiality applies and no information is given to the business other than that the individual has attended. Individual employees who subsequently become clients will then benefit from a 2.5 per cent reduction in fees for a period of 12 months.
Therapies offered
Fees
£85.00 - £95.00
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
The standard fee is between £85 and £95 per session depending on the time of day for the regular appointment. Evenings (after 4 p.m.) and weekend appointments are more expensive than daytime ones. Fees scales for couples are £95 per session (or £120 if on either Saturday or Sunday). Groups rates are available upon request.
Payment is in cash, electronic transfer or cheque. I do not accept credit or debit cards.
I am registered with BUPA (my BUPA profile is at http://finder.bupa.co.uk/go/mr_derek_williams) and CIGNA and several other medical insurers
When I work
Weekday mornings, afternoons and evenings and limited times at weekends (please note that I only work remotely)
Further information
Therapy Services offered: I work with individuals, couples, groups and facilitate workshops. I also advise employers on procedures and action to be taken to reduce employee stress.
Where I Practice:
I work online using various platforms (Zoom, Skype, FaceTime, WhatsApp and so on)
Also you can follow me on twitter https://twitter.com/therapy121
