Kirstin Bicknell

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MA, UKCP, MBACP, Individuals & Couples
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB23
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

About me

I'm an integrative counsellor and psychotherapist offering therapy that's right for you. I provide a supportive, confidential environment for individuals and couples in a private home office room for you to explore and work through issues you are facing. I'm based in Elsworth, which is easily accessible from the A14 and A428 and provide off street parking. I offer online or in person sessions (see my website for my Covid-19 policy).

As an integrative counsellor and psychotherapist there are a number of elements that therapy may include. The ones we use will depend on what you want to work on and your preferences. These can involve:

  • Exploring how you're feeling, why you're feeling that way and how you can manage challenging feelings.
  • Exploring how your past influences your present. What we see as children can lead us to make assumptions about the world that we sometimes aren't aware of. Knowing some of the reasons you feel the way you do can help you move forwards.
  • Exploring what blocks you from doing the things that make you happy.
  • Exploring current relationship dynamics and what you can do to make positive changes whether that be with your family, partner or friends.
  • Working with past trauma in a safe, contained manner.
  • Exercises and specific strategies for you to take away to deal with areas you want to address such as building confidence and self-esteem, decreasing anxiety etc.
  • CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) based techniques. Exploring negative thought patterns and using strategies to identify and change them.
  • EMDR, the NHS recommended treatment for PTSD.
  • Elements of Internal Family Systems (IFS) parts work where we work with different parts of yourself such as an inner critic to resolve inner conflicts.

I'm currently offering weekly one hour long counselling and psychotherapy sessions either long term or over a short term period, (6 - 12 weeks).

For couples I offer relationship counselling providing a confidential space to work through relationship issues. This may be to build a stronger relationship, work through difficulties or to work with a relationship ending.

My practice is inclusive of different belief and value systems, neurodivergence and gender and relationship differences.

I am a fully accredited member of the UKCP (UK Council for Psychotherapy) registered member of the BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) and am DBS checked. As well as my private counselling experience I worked for Lawrence Way Community Counselling Service providing short term counselling through NHS GP referrals in Cambridge between 2010 and 2019. I have the NHS NICE recognised Certificate in Counselling for Depression and a Certificate in Couples Counselling. I'm fully trained in EMDR and have completed courses in Attachment Informed EMDR and integrating EMDR with IFS. I've worked with EMDR since 2020.

I also offer low cost counselling with Evolve Counselling https://evolvecounselling.org.uk/ (NB you would not necessarily see me as a counsellor through Evolve).

Training, qualifications & experience

Counselling Qualifications:

Integrative Psychotherapy and Counselling MA, Minster Centre, Middlesex University accredited (2015)

Advance Diploma in Integrative Psychotherapy and Counselling, Minster Centre (2015)

Integrative Counselling Diploma, Minster Centre (2011)

Counselling for Depression Certificate (2015)

EMDR training parts one to three (2020)

Other Qualifications:

PGCE, MA(cantab)

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.

UKCP
UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)

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
British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP)

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

UK Council for Psychotherapy
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.

UK Council for Psychotherapy

Photos & videos

Fees

£65.00 - £75.00

Additional information

£65 per session for individuals, £75 per session for couples

Initial consultation for reduced fee: £35 for individuals, £45 for couples

When I work

Limited availability, contact me with your availability for details

Further information

For my full terms and conditions so you can make an informed decision about whether counselling with me might be for you, please see my website (listed above).

Private home office with ramped access, off street parking in front of home office.

Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB23

Type of session

In person
Online

Types of client

Adults
Older Adults
Couples
Employee Assistance Programme

Key details

Wheelchair user access
Wheelchair user access

Wheelchair-accessible premises should have step-free access for wheelchair users and individuals who are unable to climb stairs. If a Counsellor's premises aren't step-free, they may offer alternative services such as telephone/web-based appointments, home visits, or meeting clients in different location, so you can choose the option that suits you best.

You can contact the Counsellor to discuss the options available.

Under the Equality Act 2010 service providers have a duty to make reasonable adjustments to ensure that individuals with disabilities can access their service. You can read more about reasonable adjustments to help you to access services on the CAB website.

Access up a ramp with small patio door ledge into home office. Online therapy.

Kirstin Bicknell
Kirstin Bicknell