Stephanie Shortland
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
I offer Person-centred integrative counselling in the Street, Somerset area (BA16) to people aged 18 or over.
As a Person-centred counsellor I see an important part of my role as offering, a safe, confidential supportive and empathic space within which every part of a person is welcome. It is then, in an atmosphere of deep regard and respect, that my clients can feel safe enough to share their troubles, explore difficult and painful experiences, work towards a deeper understanding of their selves and discover the resources needed to find the way through to a more fulfilled life.
I have a Christian faith and have experience of working with clients of a similar background to my own and also with those who hold completely different or no personal faith beliefs.
This background leads me to believe that as well as physical beings people are spiritual beings and so I am also comfortable working with client struggles of a spiritual nature.
I am an Accredited Registrant of the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (MNCPS Accrd) and also a Registered Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP Reg).
As well as offering person-centred integrative therapy, I am trained in the delivery of the REWIND technique (RT), developed by Dr. David Muss (www.iartt.com). RT offers a way of permanently stopping the involuntary recall of a traumatic event by 'filing' it in a different part of the brain. Voluntary recall remains, as it does with any previous experience or memory, the difference being that post RT you are able to choose if you want to recall the information or not.
About counselling:
It is an unfortunate fact that some personal experiences impact negatively upon an individual, causing psychological or emotional struggles which can leave a person feeling lonely, isolated and unsure of the way forward.
This is where talking to someone outside of your own personal situation, in a safe and confidential environment, can help. Counselling can bring relief to even the darkest of days.
Working as a Person-centred Integrative counsellor allows me the flexibility to draw from a range of different approaches and equips me to offer my clients a service suited to their individual needs, what ever they may be.
Amongst others, some of the issues I have supported clients with are:
- Loss, Grief and Bereavement
- Self-harm
- Relational issues
- Work related issues
- Low self-image
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Anger
- Life Changes
- Childhood sexual abuse
- Disability and Learning difficulties
- Spirituality
What to expect in your first session:
The first introductory session will be shorter than subsequent sessions and it is during this time that I will share something of the counselling process and how I work, which I feel is of particular importance especially if you have not experienced counselling before. It is also an opportunity for you to ask any questions you may have, share your reasons for seeking counselling and decide if you feel that I am the right person to support you at this time.
If you decide to go ahead we will then make an agreement, called the counselling contract, which will set out the terms of the counselling. This agreement is a flexible document which can be revisited, amended or cancelled at any time.
Where I practice:
I practice in Street, Somerset and my counselling room can be found within easy reach of of the town centre. I have an off-road parking space and there is also unrestricted on-road parking available. There are also 3 bus stops within a five minute walk for those using public transport. My counselling room is accessed directly from the outside and as there is one step it is, unfortunately, not wheelchair accessible.
I generally work face-to-face in-person, and in order to safeguard my clients and minimise social contact during times of increased risk from Flu, Coronavirus or other viral infection I also offer on-line counselling, via the Zoom platform. For those who do not have an internet connection I can offer telephone counselling. I continually monitor situations that may pose a risk to the health of my clients and my blended approach to therapy (face-to-face, online, and telephone) ensures that my clients are safeguarded, whilst receive the support the need.
Training, qualifications & experience
As well as working as an independent counsellor and supervisor in general private practice I also work as a Bereavement Services Coordinator and supervisor for a local private charity.
I gained my counselling qualification with Network Counselling and Training, who are based at Elm Park, Filton, Bristol.
I completed my Supervision Training with CSTD Bath (Centre for Supervision, Training and Development) and have obtained a Diploma Award. CSTD Bath is endorsed by The United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy as a ‘Recognised Supervisor Training’ and meets all UKCP’s requirements for Supervision Training.
My qualification in Online Counselling is accredited by the NCPS and was gained through Counselling Tutor.
My relevant qualifications and professional memberships are:
- Diploma in Supervision - CSTD Bath (Centre for Supervision, Training and Development)
- Level 5 Diploma in Counselling - Network Counselling and Training
- Level 4 Certificate in Counselling Skills - University of Gloucestershire
- Certificate in Online Counselling - Counselling Tutor
- Certified Rewind Practitioner - International Association for Rewind Trauma Therapy (IARTT)
- Registered Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP Reg)
- Accredited Registrant Member of the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (MNCPS Accred)
Member organisations
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£40.00 per session
Free initial telephone or online session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
I offer a free 30 minute, no obligation first consultation.
Thereafter each 50 minute counselling session is priced at £40 with concessions for students and those on a low income also available.
Supervision sessions are priced at £50 per hour with concessions available for student counsellors and those working in the voluntary or charity sectors.
The fee for writing supervision reports for student counsellors is £45.
