Paul West

I have 17 years' experience in the field, having been trained in integrative counselling and psychotherapy. I work with a wide range of clients, both individuals and couples, dealing with short-term challenges through to deep-rooted historical issues requiring longer term therapy.

I have also long-term experience working with dissociation of both male and female survivors of rape and childhood sexual abuse, along with using my long RAF career, experience and understanding of the military to work with serving and veterans who have mental health issues.

My academic training includes a BSc (Hons) in Psychology and a further degree in Integrative Counselling from the University of Hull. I also trained as a UKCP Integrative Psychotherapist, meaning that I am able to draw on a range of approaches in working with my clients ranging from exploring how their past experiences, such as childhood, are influencing the present, through to understanding how people make meaning in their lives.

I also hold PG diplomas in Body Language, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT).

I am also trained to work with:

IAPT L1 and L2 Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).  This is an empirically based psychological intervention that uses acceptance and mindfulness strategies mixed in different ways with commitment and behaviour-change strategies, to increase psychological flexibility. 

Association for Psychological Therapies (APT) L3 (Accredited) Dialectical Behaviour Therapist (DBT).  This is aimed to help a client understand and accept difficult feelings, learning skills to manage them and become able to make positive changes in life - primarily for working with Borderline Personality Disorder, self harm and binge eating. 

Association for Psychological Therapies (APT) L3 (Accredited) Compassion Focused Therapist (CFT). Developed by Dr Paul Gilbert to integrate techniques from CBT with concepts of evolutionary psychology, social psychology, developmental psychology and neuroscience - primarily for working with high shame and self-criticism.

I have completed the European Society for Trauma and Dissociation (ESTD), UK Network Foundation Course in Dissociation and Trauma.

I worked for 8 years within a counselling service for the NHS 'Let's Talk' Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) banner.

I am involved with several employers with the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) internationally, nationally and locally.

I also provide Mental Health Wellbeing Mentoring Support to students at several universities nationally and locally.

Supervision:

As a qualified CPCAB L6 therapeutic supervisor, my model is based on Hawkins and Shohet’s "7 eyed model" working with, holding and considering the 7 focus/aspects of therapeutic work of: the client; the interventions; the client and therapist relationship; the therapist’s process; the therapist-supervisor relationship; the supervisor’s process; the wider context (both organisational and societal) within which the counselling is taking place.

Additionally, I also use aspects of Page and Wosket’s, 1994 "Cyclical model" which incorporates:

1. Contract – between stakeholders, for the supervision.

2. Focus – for the work and the session.

3. Space – for reflection, exploration, emergence.

4. Bridge – from supervision back to coaching.

5. Review – of the supervision session, relationship, contract, etc.

£50.00 per session

0830 - 1930 hours. Weekend appointments are no longer available.