J. Ounstead
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
I offer online individual and couples counselling on short-term contracts or on a longer term basis. My online counselling practice can include occasional face-to-face sessions in Tunbridge Wells when I return to the area. I am committed to providing therapeutic counselling in a safe, confidential and non-judgemental environment.
I have been in private practice since 2011 and have several years experience of providing counselling services to a number of leading UK national and local charities as well as working within an NHS setting. I work with a range of issues outlined below as well as specialising in psychosexual and relationship issues.
I take a holistic approach to counselling which is concerned with facilitating personal growth and empowerment. At the heart of this approach is a deep rooted belief that each of us has an innate tendency to grow to our full potential and an ability to determine how to live our life. I offer a practice that centres on the individual and which is concerned with building trust and confidence in the individual's own power to heal and grow themselves.
I am an Accredited member of the British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP) and abide by their ethical standards which see confidentiality as the foundation for therapeutic relationships. I am also a member of the College of Sexual and Relationship Therapists (COSRT), and a member of the Association for Counselling and Therapy Online (ACTO).
Training, qualifications & experience
I am a qualified counsellor in the Person Centred Approach and hold a Diploma in Integrative Psychosexual Therapy. In addition, I am fully trained in providing Online Therapy and Online Therapeutic Supervision. I offer both individual adult and couples counselling online via video calling providers such as VSEE and Zoom, and I can offer occasional face-to-face sessions when I return to Tunbridge Wells 3 or 4 times a year. My online practice also includes Instant Messaging and Email therapy for those clients who are suited to this medium and prefer to receive their therapy in this way.
My particular areas of expertise are in Psychosexual Therapy and Bereavement Counselling. I have several years experience of working with bereavement and loss issues in a Hospice setting and as counsellor for Cruse Bereavement Care. In addition, I have worked for the NHS Afterthoughts service where I provided counselling support to parents with young children.
I hold a Diploma in Integrative Psychosexual Therapy and am an Accredited member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). I am also a member of the College of Sexual and Relationship Therapists (COSRT), and the Association for Counselling and Therapy Online (ACTO).
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.
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
I am qualified in the provision of Online Therapeutic Supervision and my supervisory framework is rooted in the relationship between supervisor and supervisee.
For structure and process I am influenced by the Inskipp & Proctor, and Shohet & Hawkins models of supervision. This means that I offer support which incorporates the Normative (ethical, legal, professional 'norms'), Formative (education and professional experience), and Restorative (reflective and supportive) elements of supervision.
Therapies offered
Fees
£45.00 per session
Free initial online session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
Individuals: £45 per online session*
Couples: £60 per online session
Online Supervision: £50 for 60 minutes, £65 for 90 minutes
*I offer a limited number of low cost sessions for individuals which are separately negotiable.
When I work
Online Sessions - Weekdays daytime and evenings.
Further information
I currently offer online counselling via Zoom or VSee. For online counselling, clients need access to a computer with a webcam in a confidential space. Accessing counselling in this way is growing in popularity as it offers a degree of flexibility for individuals or couples who find it difficult to attend in person for a variety of reasons. If you would like to know more about the benefits of online counselling please contact me to arrange a no obligation initial consultation.
