Vivienne Gordon-Graham

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MA, UKCP reg, MBACP
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

Reigate RH2 & Roehampton SW15
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

About me

but, first, more about you .....

Are you presently facing challenges in your personal or work life or dealing with the 'givens' of life or with issues you have no control over, such as loss or health, or any crisis (however big or small)?  Are you at a cross road and unsure which path to take?  Would you like to regain more meaning and purpose in your life?  Have events knocked all the beliefs you previously held about yourself, others and life in general?

Are you looking to work with someone who will respect, understand and validate you and your unique circumstances and who will offer an environment of trust and safety where together you can work collaboratively to reach your aims?

What will the therapy involve?

It is a journey.

The therapy is a forum in which  we can discuss your areas of difficulty and set realistic achievable goals.  On the therapeutic journey, as you develop your inner resources and resilience, and explore different perspectives you may become aware of enhanced self efficacy and this will guide you towards making choices to improve your quality of life.  We cannot control what life presents us with but we have a choice on how we can respond.

Who am I?

I am a UKCP accredited psychotherapist and BACP registered counsellor and subscribe to BABCP as a CBT Therapist, with over 25 years' clinical experience as a psychotherapist, CBT therapist, counsellor, supervisor, lecturer/trainer and mediator.  In my time I have helped people and their presenting difficulties, for example, anxiety, depression, perfectionism, and PTSD.  As a lecturer and trainer I set up and delivered counselling training programmes in colleges of further education.

Furthermore, I set up and delivered a counselling provision service for all staff in one NHS trust in 3 hospitals,  I set up and delivered counselling provision for 20 years for pupils and staff at Charterhouse (School).  My clinical counselling work experience also included the private sector in my capacity as psychotherapist, CBT therapist, counsellor, supervisor, life coach, and supervisor to psychologists in the HMP service and provide therapeutic input to firearms police officers following traumatic events.

Before training in psychotherapy and counselling and CBT, I delivered language training programmes in colleges of further education and the British Airports Authority and airline companies. I also lectured on aspects of business/management at a university.  This can be helpful when clients presenting for counselling are seeking direction after redundancy or facing a mid life crisis.

That said, the quality of the therapeutic relationship is paramount and it is vital that the provision reflects the pace of the clients in a climate of authenticity, trust and acceptance.

Life can be like a dance - the music can be fast or slow, loud or soft, soothing or disturbing, sad or joyous; how we may dance to the music and all that is evoked are unique to us and may depend on our mood, perspectives, disposition and life experiences

Where I work - at present remotely

I have a private practice in Reigate where I work with adults individually, couples, adolescents and families for therapy. I supervise other therapists and I offer life coaching.  At present I am working remotely only (telephone or online/video).

I work with most areas of mental health and rather than list all of them, I can provide more information on contact.  It may be that people may find themselves questioning their present position and not knowing how to proceed and are now seeking new directions to re-evaluate their meaning and purpose in life

How I work

Whilst I am rooted in CBT and integrative approaches (drawing also from the psychoanalytic, humanistic  models), I have explored extensively in other fields, such as Existential, Jungian and Transpersonal approaches. I do not believe that any one theory or way of working is uniquely correct or the best. Rather, I draw from all of the above, according to what I find most helpful for the individuals who seek help.

What happens in the First Session

What brings you to counselling?  What are your expectations?  Areas that are causing difficulty will be explored - Realistic goals will be discussed and the number of sessions will be agreed.  Most importantly, we can discuss how we can collaboratively work together so that I can help you reach your aims.  Repeated patterns may be linked to early histories and links can be made in order to make "more sense" of the present.

I am registered with most insurance companies.  If the therapy will be funded by your insurer, this needs to be arranged and authorised by the insurer prior to the first session.  Normally the authority is for one assessment session to begin with.  Depending on what is agreed on our first session, authorisation can be then sought for further sessions.

My special interest in trauma and PTSD led me to specialist training in trauma, PTSD and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), the latter being helpful for intrusive thoughts and flashbacks associated with the traumatic experience.

I hold  enhanced DBS clearance and I am registered with the ICO for data protection

Training, qualifications & experience

Qualifications:

  • MA Psychotherapy & Counselling
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
  • Diploma in Integrative & Transpersonal Couples Psychotherapy & Counselling
  • Diploma in Counselling for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
  • EMDR Levels 1 & 2 (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
  • Certificate in Mediation: Alternative Dispute Resolution
  • Clinical Supervision
  • Diploma Person-Centred Counselling training
  • Certificate In Psychodynamic Counselling
  • Further & Adult Education Teacher's Certificate.

Additional training:

  • Transpersonal/Psychosynthesis
  • Cognitive Analytic Therapy
  • Jungian Psychology
  • Dreamwork
  • Existential psychotherapy and philosophy.

Experience gained over 25 years in various settings as a counsellor, psychotherapist, cbt therapist, supervisor, lecturer, mediator and life coach:
Private Practice, NHS (Primary & Secondary Care), Priory Hospitals, Charterhouse (School), HMP Service, McLaren Formula 1, Fire Rescue Services, Firearms Police Force and other organisations.

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

Other areas of counselling I deal with

  • Artists: Performance anxiety
  • Blocks to creativity
  • Dreamwork
  • Mediation
  • Life Coaching
  • Workplace Stress
  • Clinical Supervision

Fees

Concessions offered for

  • Keyworkers
  • Students
  • Trainee counsellors

Additional information

£60 for individuals - sessions are 50 minutes

£70 for individuals - EMDR sessions are 60 minutes

£80 for couples - sessions are 1 hour 15 minutes

Concessions are available for counselling trainees

Concessions are also available for supervisees working on placements and also for qualified therapists working in Charities.

Fees reflect qualifications and areas and depth of experience

When I work

I am available on weekdays between 9.00 a.m. and 6.00 p.m. and some Saturday mornings from 9.00 a.m. to 12.00 noon

Further information

Further information about who I work with

Although I have a special interest in working with individuals from the arts, music and performance sector,  I work with trainee counsellors, clients who present with issues round mid life crises, trauma and PTSD, childhood abuse, low mood, low motivation, anxiety, struggling with perfectionism, loss, bereavement, workplace issues.  I also offer mediation.

Reigate, Surrey, RH2

The Priory Hospital, Priory Lane, Roehampton, London, SW15 5JJ

Type of session

Online
Phone

Types of client

Young people
Adults
Older adults
Couples
Organisations
Employee Assistance Programme

Additional languages

Italian and French

Supervision

In person
Online
Phone

I offer supervision to qualified psychotherapists and counsellors and also to trainees.

View supervision profile

Vivienne Gordon-Graham
Vivienne Gordon-Graham