Lorna McKenzie

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MA, MBACP (Accredited) UKRCP Reg. Counsellor/Psychotherapist
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

Ashington, Northumberland, NE63 9JZ
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

About me

I trained at Durham University, as a Person Centred counsellor and I work within the ethical framework of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).  I am an Accredited Member of the BACP.

I worked as a counsellor within an NHS hospital for many years and have well over 3500 hours counselling experience in a wide number of areas.

These are a few of the types of difficulties in which I have experience in counselling:

  • Abuse
  • Anger management
  • Anxiety
  • Bereavement
  • Death of a baby by miscarriage, stillbirth or neonatal death
  • Depression
  • Gynaecological problems, e.g. Dyspareunia (painful sexual intercourse) or Vaginismus (spasm in the muscles of the vagina)
  • Hysterectomy
  • Infertility
  • Low self esteem or confidence
  • Phobias
  • Post natal depression
  • Post traumatic stress
  • Psychosexual problems
  • Relationship
  • Stress
  • Termination of pregnancy decision making and the aftermath of the decision
  • Work related issues


For a long time I was a Samaritan volunteer speaking with Callers both on the telephone and face to face.  As a Samaritan I was privileged to be with the people who called when they were at their lowest ebb, when they were despairing and very often suicidal.  Sometimes it was through talking and sharing the difficulties that we were able to find ways or techniques for tackling the problems and finding solutions.

I learned much as a Samaritan volunteer and it was partially due to my experience in that Organisation that I decided to learn more and take Counsellor training.

What will happen when we meet?

If you haven't attended for counselling before, and even if you have, you may
like to know what will happen when we meet.

Initially, after introductions we will discuss the practicalities and our
expectations of each other such as:

  • Domestic issues regarding health and safety etc.
  • Length of counselling sessions and how many sessions may be required.
  • How we maintain contact.
  • Procedure to follow if a session has to be cancelled.
  • Confidentiality.
  • Duty of Care.

After this the time will be yours to outline what benefit you hope to gain
from counselling and we will work together to find the best way of improving
your emotional well being.

Sometimes simply telling me how it is for you can clarify your thinking and
solutions can emerge from the telling.  At other times it may be that some
techniques can be learned that will help in dealing with difficulties you are
experiencing.

At all times I will respect the responsibility you have for your own life and
will support and encourage you to have the confidence to follow the route that is best for you.

At the end of our time together I would hope that you would have gained
skills that will help at times of future difficulties and that you will feel
better equipped to deal with life.

My hours of working are negotiable Monday to Friday.

Training, qualifications & experience

  • Diploma in Counselling - Durham University
  • MA in Counselling - Durham University
  • Counselling Supervision - NCFE
  • EFT Level 2 Accredited Practitioner - AAMET
  • Accredited Bereavement Counsellor - CRUSE Bereavement Care
  • CBT - Newcastle Cognitive & Behavioural Therapies Centre
  • Professional Certificate in Management - Open University

Over the years I have become more varied and eclectic in my approach to counselling as I have gained experience in a variety of counselling interventions such as:

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT), and Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP).

Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) - I have found EFT to be very effective in all sorts of situations.  I am a Level 2 Accredited AAMET EFT Practitioner and have found EFT to be helpful with a variety of emotional difficulties including, anxiety, trauma, bereavement and phobias to name but a few.

Supervision - I have been a qualified NCFE Supervisor of Counsellors for a number of years.

Bereavement - Over the years, I have supported people who have been bereaved in a variety of ways.  I am an Accredited counsellor in Bereavement Support with Cruse and have counselled people bereaved by illness, sudden death, trauma, suicide as well as the death of a baby due to miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal death. Cruse is a charity which offers counselling support to anyone suffering from the effects of a bereavement.  I have been a voluntary counsellor and supervisor for Cruse for a number of  years.

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.

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

British Association for Counselling & 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.

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy

Other areas of counselling I deal with

Stillbirth, Miscarriage, Neonatal Death, Psychosexual, Hysterectomy, Women's Health, Vaginismus, Dyspareunia, Menopause

Fees

£50.00 per session

Concessions offered for

  • Low income
  • Students
  • Trainee counsellors

Additional information

My fees are: £50 for a fifty minute individual counselling session Monday to
Friday and  £60 for couples.

I do have special rates e.g. for students, and will be happy to discuss


When I work

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Night

I counsel via video, telephone or in person, normally at the Age UK Building in Ashington.  I try to be flexible regarding the days I work but mainly prefer Monday, Wednesday, Thursday. 

Further information

Testimonial: I was delighted to receive the following testimonial from a client seen recently. I have been given permission to publish the content on my profile.

"I believe the start of my counselling with Lorna did coincide with my reaching a point where I was more open and receptive to help, having said that I do feel without Lorna's support and guidance I would not have moved forward as well as I have.

Lorna has allowed me the opportunity to initially offload emotions that had become deeply embedded over years.

With Lorna's help I have been able to identify instances that I have found traumatic and upsetting in the past.

She has helped me process and evaluate the triggers of the depression.

She has developed my self-awareness introducing me to tools like journalling.

To take ownership but accept that there are imitations.

I have found the whole experience very positive.

I would like to thank Lorna for her gentle approach and patience."

NR  - Tyneside.

The Round House, Lintonville Parkway, Ashington, Northumberland, NE63 9JZ

Type of session

In person
Online
Phone

Types of client

Young people
Adults
Older adults
Couples
Employee Assistance Programme

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

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.

Online platforms

Zoom

Supervision

In person
Online

As a Counsellor I know how much I value the time I spend with my own supervisor.

View supervision profile

Lorna McKenzie
Lorna McKenzie