Merry Gibbons

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.

Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

Grayswood, Surrey, GU27
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

About me

Welcome.
I am an Integrative Humanistic Counsellor, Coach and Holistic Wellbeing Specialist.

I can offer a purely counselling, or purely coaching approach. However, through working with a blend of counselling and coaching I can also support both a therapeutic journey, along side a more problem solving goal orientated one. The choice is what ever resonates for you.

I use Person-centred, Existential, Gestalt and Mindfulness counselling approaches to work with a broad range of issues. I also work with a problem solving/goal orientated coaching approach that incorporates positive psychology, health and wellbeing coaching, life coaching and how to just feel like you have taken back the reins of your own life and choices.

I offer you a non-judgemental, empathic listening ear in a calm, confidential environment in which you can share and explore the things on your mind. This can lead to your deeper understanding and acceptance of things, enabling you to make changes from within, work to heal from past difficulties or loss, or just be able to let go, move on and live the life you wish to live. I believe you carry your own answers, that you have the ability to be the change you wish to see, the author of your own life and that counselling can support you in achieving this.

How will we work together
Life can get tough at times. You may find yourself dealing with difficult experiences, thoughts and feelings. It can sometimes be hard to cope and you can find yourself looking for answers or seeking change. This need not be something you undertake alone. Being received without judgement, by someone committed to hearing, supporting and understanding your experience can be immensely comforting and support your ability to achieve clarity on things that may feel confusing, unsurmountable or overwhelming. Identifying different choices and responses to any challenges supports your ability to move forwards and create positive change within your self, your quality of life and your relationships.

I offer you a supportive therapeutic relationship in which we work together to explore more deeply the situation or issue you choose to work with. I do not judge you nor make assumptions regarding the experiences and thoughts you share, just accepting them openly and unconditionally for the difficulties they bring you. Through exploring these more deeply we can support your ability to build a deeper more accepting relationship with yourself, others or your life generally.

I work with your whole person focusing on what is happening in our session from one moment to the next. This supports your ability to build greater self-awareness as sometimes negative thoughts, beliefs or behavioural patterns limit our self-awareness, our clarity and the choices we make, which in turn impacts how we live and the quality of our day to day life. Becoming aware of how you feel, act and think in the present moment is key to you seeing where you can make positive changes that support your personal growth and fullfillment.  I support your potential to tap into your resilient powerful self so you can recognise different choices you can make in the face of life’s challenges. This way you can work towards being the positive change you wish to see.

If you choose to we can work creatively using drawing, objects and images, or mindfulness and guided imagery techniques.  It is important you feel safe within our work together and therefore I offer you an environment where you are able to make the choices that are right for you.

What to expect when you contact me
  When you first contact me I will ask you to share a little about yourself and why you are considering counselling.  This will help me know if I am going to be the best counsellor for you. If we are both happy to proceed we will arrange a time and date for our first session and discuss fees and payment. 

The first session
 In this session we further explore your reasons for seeking counselling or coaching and your hopes and expectations of therapy.  In this session we can also address any questions you may have.  This way I can begin to understand how best we will work together as we begin to build our therapeutic relationship. 

How long will we work together 
Counselling or coaching is a journey therefore it is often difficult to gauge an exact estimate of how many sessions you will require.  Therefore we will review every 6 weeks.  This enables us to assess where you feel you are and reflect on the choices and changes you believe you have made. This is also a chance to hone in on anything you may feel you would like to work further on or introduce into our sessions. At the end of the review session you can make a decision how you would like to proceed from there.

Ending therapy
At any time you can choose to end our sessions, however I will always encourage an end session.  This is so as we can review the work you've done during our time together and the changes you have made. This allows you to mark the end of your therapeutic journey, affirm and acknowledge what you are taking away from it and what your commitment to this process and the work you've put in has achieved.

Training, qualifications & experience

Qualifications:

BSc (Fnd)  Humanistic Counselling (BACP accredited)

PGCert in Contemporary Healthcare for Teenagers and Young people with Cancer

BMus (Hons) (with specialisation in music therapy in palliative care)

Diploma in Coaching ('Counsellor to Coach' training- Trish Turner, EMCC accredited course)

Additional Training

Mindfulness, visualisation and meditation training

Holistic Cancer Coaching training

Living with dying

Reiki Master

Experience

I run a private practice working with children, young people and adults with a wide range of issues.  I also work as a counsellor and psychotherapist for both the NHS and Macmillan. I run the Macmillan Teenage and Young Adults Wellbeing and Counselling service at the Royal Surrey County Hospital, St Lukes Centre and also for their Macmillan Cancer Outreach Team working in the wider Surrey area.  Alongside this I work at an independant Counselling Agency in Midhurst and run private practices based in Guildford, Haslemere and Grayswood.  I have also worked as a complementary therapist both at the Royal Surrey and privately since 2008.

Memberships

I am an accredited member of EMCC UK and subscribe to the EMCC Global Code of Ethics. This supports both my counselling and coaching. I have Professional Indemnity Insurance and am DBS checked.

Location

I have a private practice based in Grayswood. 

Member organisations

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

Living with a life limiting or challenging condition or illness

Living with chronic illness
Caring for someone with a life limiting or challenging condition or illness
Caring for a terminally ill child, family member or partner

Fees

£60.00 per session

Concessions offered for

  • Low income

Additional information

My fees are as follows:

Adults: £60
12-18 year olds: £45

How will you make a payment

I kindly ask for payment after each session either by bank transfer or cash.

When I work

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Night

Further information

Working with children and young people

I offer young people a safe and confidential space in which to share and explore any anxieties and concerns they may be holding onto.  Hearing and receiving them with total acceptance and without judgment can support their ability to feel comfortable and safe enough to disclose any worries they may be holding onto.  Many young people hide their real thoughts and feelings causing increased anxiety and unhappiness.  Being able to open up, share and explore any concerns helps them reduce feelings of confusion or distress, supporting their ability to feel more in control, find their own solutions and make choices. As a counsellor and coach I can offer purely counselling our purely coaching. However, I also offer a blend of both to support both a therapeutic journey, along side a more problem solving goal orientated one.

For young people talking can sometimes feel too difficult but working creatively offers them other ways to communicate e.g. drawing, objects, sand or cards and pictures. In my work with young people witnessing their commitment to the therapeutic and coaching process supports my belief that working creatively, non-judgementally and non-directively empowers young people to create positive change in their lives, ultimately creating the life they wish to live.

Teenagers and young adults are at an especially critical point of their development physically, emotionally and socially.  They are readying them selves to become independent adults and start out on their own life path. Counselling and coaching can support their ability to gain a deeper understanding and acceptance of themselves, supporting their ability to evolve into an adult who comes from more self-accepting, happy and confident place.

Working with those living with cancer or other challenging conditions

Living with cancer or other challenging conditions can be an isolating experience. You can feel vulnerable and out of control. Counselling and coaching can help it all feel more manageable. I provide a calm, confidential space in which you can share your feelings, thoughts, explore difficult choices and issues or voice unspoken fears you maybe holding onto. These may not necessarily be illness related but have become more prominent as a consequence of it. By talking through the things on your mind you can deepen your understanding of your experience. Talking about it can make it feel more manageable, supporting your ability to tap into your natural reservoir of inner-strength and resilience.  This can help support your ability to maintain positivity, your sense of self and wellbeing during this time.

Other ways I work

If you choose, we can also work with breathing, mindfulness, guided imagery or relaxation techniques to support your therapeutic journey and growth. This is especially powerful when dealing with anxiety, fatigue, low concentration, depression and issues of low self-esteem and confidence. These approaches also offer you practical tools so you can create a tool kit of tried & tested techniques that work for you to support you manage any anxiety or challenges life throws at you.

Grayswood, Surrey, GU27

Type of session

In person
Online

Types of client

Children
Young people
Adults
Older adults

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

There is parking but not always right outside the house. There is also a step up into the house.

Online platforms

Whatsapp
Merry Gibbons
Merry Gibbons