John Baker

Verified Professional Verified Professional
Verified Professional

Every professional displayed on Counselling Directory has been independently verified by our team to ensure they have suitable credentials to practise.

Adv. Dip. Counselling. MNCS Accredited and Registered
Limited availability
Limited availability

This professional is accepting new clients but may have a waitlist. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.

Fareham, Hampshire, PO15
Limited availability
Limited availability

This professional is accepting new clients but may have a waitlist. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.

About me


I have thirty years experience as a counsellor, and offer sessions in a safe and confidential environment where you can talk through difficulties, or things that are troubling you. I will work with you in a supportive and non judgemental way, towards helping you understand yourself, your needs, and your situation better. This can enable you to make changes in the way that you think and feel about your circumstances, and can lead to new choices in the way that you take decisions. And that can help you to change the way you live your life!

Counselling can take place in the short term, or on a long term basis, according your individual needs. You can terminate the arrangement for counselling at any time. Appointments can take place on a weekly basis, or can be arranged as your schedule permits. I am available during the working week for daytime appointments.

I see people in a confidential setting, at my home in Whiteley. An initial assessment session will allow you to meet me, and to explore what you would like to achieve in your counselling process. If you decide to go forward with a series of sessions, we will agree how many times we would meet before reviewing the process, and discuss a schedule for your appointments. Your counselling process will be individually tailored to your own needs, and you can end the arrangement at any time.

The following unsolicited comments are from clients who gave me permission to publish them at the end of their counselling process: "I'd like to thank you for your help, and as I say, it has been extremely useful in shaping my perspective on life over the last few months and I feel far more capable of informed logical choices than perhaps I was. So thank you." And "....life is so much more healthy for me now....my relationships are stronger....my finances are healthier...."

Please feel free to telephone me for an informal discussion, if you would like to know more about the service I offer, or if you have any questions that you would like to ask me. I work with a very wide range of issues including stress management, relationship and family issues, depression, addiction, abuse, bereavement, and also personal growth and development.

Training, qualifications & experience

I am an experienced Counsellor and Groupworker, having provided counselling in Doctors Surgeries as an independent provider to the National Health Service from 1997 to 2011. I have run a private practice since 1994, working with individuals with a very wide range of issues. I facilitated Drink Drive Rehabilitation courses for a national organisation from 2014 until 2020, and have experience of working in residential Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation. I have also been an independent provider of Counselling for other organisations, including Social Services.

Advanced Diploma in Integrative Counselling (AEB validated) 1998

Central School of Counselling & Therapy, Centre 13203

Level 2/3 in Theotherapy 1997
Resource Christian Counselling, Havant, Hampshire.

Foundation Certificate in Psychotherapy. (AEB validated) 1996
Central School of Counselling & Therapy, Centre 13203

Guildford College Introduction to Groupwork Certificate. 1994
Guildford College of Further & Higher Education, Guildford, Surrey.

Level 1 in Theotherapy. 1994
Resource Christian Counselling, Havant, Hampshire.

R.S.A Certificate in Counselling Skills. 1994
Guildford College of Further & Higher Education, Guildford, Surrey

Professional Memberships Held:

Accredited Member of The National Counselling Society.  Registered on NCS Accredited Register.  https://nationalcounsellingsociety.org

An Accredited Register is the result of a programme set up by the Department of Health, and administered by the Professional Standards Authority. The Authority oversees statutory registers such as the General Medical Council and Nursing and Midwifery Council. The National Counselling Society's register is accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.

The Authority is an independent body, which is accountable to Parliament and is responsible for overseeing the UK's nine health and social care regulatory bodies. The programme was set up by the Department of Health to ensure that the public are able to choose safe, ethical and competent professionals for their health and social care needs.

The Department of Health has offered a new endorsement for the programme, saying in an official statement:

"Patients need to know that health professionals are properly qualified and safe to practise. But statutory regulation is not always the best way to achieve this and in some cases could create costly red tape without making care safer. Health and social care practitioners can now voluntarily apply to join a register which is then independently assessed and approved. We encourage employers and patients to choose practitioners who have done this."

For further information on the Register, see:  http://www.nationalcounsellingsociety.org/our-regulated-status/

or the Professional Standards Authority web site:   http://www.professionalstandards.org.uk  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GZN-OL-5CI#action=share

Member of:

Hampshire Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy.

Member organisations

Registered / Accredited

Registered / Accredited

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.

NCPS
National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society (NCPS)

The National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society

This Not For Profit association of counsellors and psychotherapists aim to support the counselling profession, members and training organisations.

In 2013 the NCS register was accredited by the Professional Standards Authority under the Accredited Voluntary Register Scheme. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.

Accredited register membership

National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society
Accredited Register Scheme

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.

National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society

Other areas of counselling I deal with

Abandonment.

Alcohol intake, and related issues.

Alcohol and health.

Alcohol and driving.

Ageing.

Assertiveness.

Bereavement.

BDSM relationships & issues.

Codependence.

Coping with change.

Control issues.

Cross cultural issues.

Dating.

Direction.

Drug problems.

Exploring and working with your inner child.

Family relationships and stresses.

Fears.

Financial pressures.

Goals and goal setting.

Hatred.

Loss.

Making sense of your emotions.

Personal development and direction.

Prejudice.

Racism.

Retirement.

Road rage.

Self esteem.

Self help.

Sexual preferences and practices, and their affect on relationships.

Stress management.

Understanding and changing patterns in your life.

Violence.

Work / life balance.

Working with partners / relatives / friends of people with addiction problems.


What Is Depression? Let this animation from the World Health Organisation shed some light on it:

Fees

From £50.00

Concessions offered for

  • Students
  • Trainee counsellors
  • Unemployed

Additional information

£50.00 per one hour appointment, payable at the appointment, when you see me at Whiteley.  My fee is the same for the initial assessment appointment.  I can accept payment by bank transfer, cash or cheque, but am unable to accept payment by card.

When I work

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Night

Appointments are available during the working week.  Please contact me for further details.

Further information

In private practice since 1994. From December 1997 working as an associate with the Primary Care Counselling Team at St Luke's Surgery, Hedge End, Hampshire. Continuing from May 1999 to provide counselling services as an independent provider to the N.H.S. At Blackthorn Health Centre, Hamble, Hampshire, and Botley Healthcare Centre, Botley, Hampshire until the termination of these services in 2011 as a result of NHS reorganisation.

Serving as a member of the Executive Committee for Hampshire Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy since 2008.

Co-opted on to the Primary Care Mental Health Sub Group of the Local Implementation Team of the Eastleigh & Test Valley South Primary Care Trust from 2004 to 2005.

Previously employed by Alpha House Ltd for four and a half years, from 1994-98, facilitating groupwork and individual counselling for residents within the therapeutic community at Droxford, Hampshire, who were recovering from substance misuse problems. Responsible for court reports, liaising with Probation, Social Services and the Courts and other involved professionals where the needs of clients required this.

Experienced in carrying out assessment interviews with potential clients of Alpha House, both at the Droxford project, and in various prison service establishments. Also involved in presentations to publicise the Alpha programme to groups of professionals at Droxford, and at other locations as far away as Scotland.

Also providing Counselling sessions for clients of Hampshire Social Services with substance misuse problems, and referrals from other organisations as an independent provider.

Previous voluntary experience in pastoral work with students, and on a pastoral counselling team. Also court and client based work as an accredited Voluntary Associate with Surrey Probation and Aftercare Service in the 1980's.

Whiteley, Fareham, Hampshire, PO15

Type of session

In person

Types of client

Adults
Older adults
Groups
Organisations

Key details

DBS check

In England and Wales, the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS, formerly known as CRB) carry out criminal records checks for individuals working with vulnerable groups, such as children. To find out more, visit gov.uk , or contact this professional directly

My study is at the top of the stairs at my house. There is no lift available.

John Baker
John Baker