Ciara White

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Pronoun: she
BAHons Counselling, Dip Psychotherapy, PGC Supervision MBACP
Waiting list for new clients
Waiting list for new clients

This professional is accepting new clients but may have a waitlist. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.

location_on Plymouth, Devon, PL4
Waiting list for new clients
Waiting list for new clients

This professional is accepting new clients but may have a waitlist. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.

About me

18 years practice with children, young people, adults & families in private practice, charitable, health, education and business settings.

Everyone has unique experiences and needs, therefore my approach is integrative and bespoke to each client, supervisee or organisation. My training and work draws on:  Solution Focused Therapy (SFT), CBT,  DBT, Transactional Analysis (TA) Psychodynamic therapy, Transpersonal, Person centred (PCA), Mindfulness, Trauma focused therapy, child & adolescent therapy and clinical Supervision.

Working integratively gives me a wide theory base, but the relationship with my clients is paramount in providing a positive, rewarding therapeutic experience. Traumatic life events can create sudden, urgent need for support. Equally, therapy can be a positive, planned act of self care, facing old wounds or barriers to growth and happiness. 

Some of the difficulties I work with include anxiety and panic disorders, depression & mood disorders; eating disorders, body dysphoria, OCD; neurodiversity: Autism, Dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD; addictions, self harm, suicidality; bereavement and loss; identity, sexuality, gender, kinks, alternative relationships; personality disorders; anger and rage; couples; life transitions, career change; low self-esteem; health anxiety. 


Everyone brings to therapy their own unique story and reasons for seeking support. My job is to interpret your needs accurately, formulate a shared vision of the experience of therapy/ supervision and work collaboratively towards your desired outcomes. Therapy should feel supportive, helpful and insightful, but can also be transformative.


Although most of my work continues to be one to one psychotherapy, my experience includes founding a mental health charity, setting up counselling in schools, delivering training, individual and group supervision and reflective practice. I also do Employment Assistance (EAP) work.  As a member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), I adhere to its professional ethical framework and complaints procedure.


I am deeply committed to equal opportunities and working with diversity.

BACKGROUND 
My training in counselling and psychotherapy began in 2003. Since then I completed a diploma in psychotherapy, honours degree in counselling, PGCert in supervision and numerous additional training courses including one year qualifications in counselling children and young people, mindfulness and solution-focused therapy.  


Between 2005 and 2008 I worked for MENCAP and Young Devon where I began my journey of understanding how to support people with Autistic Spectrum conditions, learning difficulties and young people with diverse needs.


In 2009 I began working on establishing a free counselling service for 5 to 25 year olds, called Tor Support Services. With the support of the local community the service was registered as a charity in 2011, and continues as a key mental health provider to children and young people in Devon. 

I also have experience of setting up a high quality, evidence-based counselling in education, where the college manages the referrals and has ownership of a well-run service; the quality and outcomes are monitored and improvements are implemented in a service which is responsive to the needs of the students and the college. Good organisation and ongoing student-led assessments and evaluations facilitate this process.

BEFORE COUNSELLING & PSYCHOTHERAPY 
For over ten years before training in counselling and psychotherapy, I worked in other sectors.  After studying accountancy and working in finance, I was drawn to a more creative and people-orientated career.  In the following years I worked in television & video production. This role was both creative and commercial, from developing stories and co-ordinating production teams, I also produced extensive marketing materials and was involved in selling productions to international markets. I then worked for an events management company where I organised large events such as seminars and festivals and promoted international speakers. 

Following a move to Hampshire, and becoming pregnant with my first child, I trained as a massage therapist with a particular interest in teaching baby massage.
These diverse roles gave me invaluable experience which directly influenced my decision to study counselling and psychotherapy.

Training, qualifications & experience

PGCert Counselling Supervision  (2012) University of Gloucestershire

  • BA (Hons) Counselling (2010) (University of Plymouth)
    Specialist areas of study: Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) Facilitating Groupwork; Working with Rage & Anger; Nurturing Soul (Transpersonal psychology); Contemporary Studies (diversity and difference); Extended study - School counselling in the UK.
  • Diploma in Integrative and Relational Transactional Analytic Psychotherapy (2007)(Ironmill Institute, Exeter)
  • Dip Counselling Children & Young People, Dartmoor Centre for Counselling & Psychotherapy (2015)
  • Mindfulness Certificate, 6-month course, Heartwood Training (2016)
  • Certificate in Working with Trauma & Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (2006)
  • Certificate in Solution Focused Brief Therapy (University of Plymouth) (2007)
  • Certificate in Counselling (2003) (Ironmill Institute, Exeter)
  • ITEC Diploma Massage Anatomy and Physiology (1999)

I have also undertaken many shorter training courses which include:

  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): A Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Approach (CBT)
  • Dialectic Behaviour Therapy (DBT) level 2 
  • Legal Issues in therapeutic work with Children & Young People
  • Higher Education Advisors conference Exeter University
  • Treating Anxiety The Fear Within
  • Working with Relational Trauma
  • Dissociation and Dissociative Identity Disorder 
  • Child Sexual Abuse: Hope for Healing
  • Understanding Child Sexual Exploitation
  • Creative counselling with survivors of child sexual abuse
  • Working with bereaved children and young people
  • Supporting SEND in Practice
  • Domestic Violence: Impact on Children and Young People
  • Dealing with Distress: Working with suicide and self-harm
  • Mental Health and the Body: Treating Trauma
  • Coaching 101 - Ironmill College
  • Suicide and Suicidal Clients
  • Introduction to Play Therapy
  • Cultural Aspects of integrative Psychotherapy
  • Understanding Systemic Thinking
  • Sand therapy
  • Safeguarding and Protecting Children: regular updates covering various - Thresholds,  child abuse, neglect, managing concerns etc
  • Substance Abuse Awareness
  • Depression and Anxiety in Children & Young People
  • Understanding the Mental Health and Emotional Needs of Children & Young People
  • Working with Children and young people with an Autistic Spectrum Condition
  • Health & safety and risk assessment

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

Areas of counselling I deal with

Fees

£80.00 - £95.00
Free initial telephone or online session

Additional information

Prices are for a therapy hour unless stated otherwise. 

Individuals  £90  (online/in person)

£75 telephone 

Couples/families £120 (online / in person) 

Supervision  £90   (online/in person)

EPA Employment Assistance programme, and insurance claims, please request for availability and price. 

ADHD assessments: please enquire as I can carry out shorter and longer assessments with recommendations and ADHD coaching. 

When I work

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Night

Please enquire about availability for online or telephone appointments, and supervision. Face to face appointments are currently only available in Plymouth, UK.

Further information

In 2022 I completed a trained in making ADHD assessments for adults. Contact me for more information about this process. 

Type of session

In person
Online
Phone

Types of client

Children (0-12)
Young people (13-17)
Young adults (18-24)
Adults (25-64)
Older Adults (65+)
Couples
Families
Groups
Organisations
Employee Assistance Programme

Key details

DBS check info

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

In person appointments are in ground floor rooms with several steps up to front door. Please let me know if you have any disability or additional needs so we can explore what accommodations I can make to support you.

Online platforms

Microsoft Teams
Skype
Whatsapp
Zoom
Google Meet

Supervision

In person
Online
Phone

Post graduate qualified in supervision, 13 years experience supervising individuals and groups, delivering training and consultancy to organisations.

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