Lynda Rolington

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Reg.MBACP(Accred) Counsellor; Adoption Counsellor & Supervisor
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

Tonbridge TN10 & Sidcup DA14
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

About me

I have had many years experience working closely with young people, adults and couples of all ages in counselling and in education.  This experience and the knowledge that people can, with support, find a way forward in difficult times reinforces my belief in the importance of counselling in helping people to change their lives for the better. 

Life has the habit of presenting us with many challenges and stress, problems or crises which can seem overwhelming, lead to feelings of despair, loss of control or low self-esteem. Most of the time we cope with difficulties, but sometimes we need support and talking to a professional counsellor in confidence can help us to deal more successfully with those problems. Through understanding and empathy, problems, anxieties or troubling feelings can be worked through; clients develop insights, move forward and make choices for themselves. By taking back control of their lives people feel empowered and happier.

As a Person-Centred and Humanistic Counsellor, I work in a non-judgemental way, gently exploring with a client what is troubling them. However, we are all unique individuals and each client has different needs. I believe that it is important to work in a holistic way and I will use an integrated approach, incorporating different humanistic models of counselling if I think it is appropriate, and may incorporate cognitive behavioural therapy too if it helps.

What is best for the client at the time is always at the heart of the therapy.

I work with a range of issues, including working with individuals, couples and young people. Issues vary from relationship difficulties, separation and divorce, adoption, stress, abuse, bereavement, anger management, depression and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), to anxiety, generalised anxiety and panic disorders, eating disorders and self-harm. I also provide therapy for students studying counselling. See below for a full list.

Couples Counselling and Relationship Issues are mostly about how people relate and communicate. It is aimed at helping partners gain a deeper understanding and insight into these issues, enabling couples to understand each other better and engage more creatively with the challenges of relationships. Sometimes the work is about dealing with the painful outcomes of affairs and betrayals. There are times when differences cannot be reconciled and counselling can help couples through separation and divorce.  Children and family are an important consideration in family break-ups and difficult relationships. Talking through what they may be experiencing and having insights into how to help them can also be a part of that work. 

Children especially often find it difficult or embarrassing to share their innermost feelings and fears with a family member. Child related issues can result in difficult behaviour patterns, low self-confidence or self-esteem, sometimes eating disorders or self-harm. Being able to talk to a counsellor in confidence helps to overcome those barriers. My aim in working with young people is to help them explore sensitive issues before they become long term problems and enable them to feel more confident and enjoy fulfilling and happy lives.

I am also an Adoption and Attachment Therapy Counsellor, pre and post adoption, registered with LINK Adoption Support, part of Barnardos registered Adoption Services London East and South East. To work with Adoption issues it is a legal requirement that the counsellor is a Registered Trained Adoption Counsellor. This ensures the counsellor is experienced and has a clear knowledge and understanding of all adoption issues.  The work may involve working with children and adults who have been adopted themselves, prospective families prior to adoption and post adoption, or birth families who have had a child or children adopted.  The counselling may be of a therapeutic nature with individuals, or it may be working with families. Post adoption work includes working with Attachments, Life Story, or My Life work.

I see many people of all ages with issues relating to adoption. These can affect any member of the families involved, from the Adoptee and Adoptive family members, to the Birth family and siblings. Many personal difficulties may stem from someone being adopted. Adoptees often suffer from a lack of self-esteem or confidence, worry about abandonment or rejection; they often struggle with relationships and attachments or around contact with birth families. Adoptive and Birth families often need support and help post adoption. Talking to a trained Adoption Counsellor can help with exploring all of these issues and concerns.  Any adoptee wishing to make contact with a birth family should seek professional adoption support/counselling first.

I recognise that the current economic climate may mean many people are experiencing extra anxiety or stress. This can lead to depression and anger, even addictions. If this applies to you and you would like help but are finding it financially difficult to afford private counselling, then please call to discuss whether special rates are available to help you.

Students of Counselling may also apply for a special rate for counselling as I know they too often find the level of therapy commitment to be expensive.

As a Post Grad Qualified Supervisor, I am also available to offer Supervision to other qualified Counsellors and Counsellors in training.

Training, qualifications & experience

I have a Post-Graduate Diploma in Person-Centred Counselling, an Advanced Certificate in Couple Counselling, a Post-Grad Certificate in CBT and a Cert. in Systemic Counselling (working with families).

I am a Trained and Registered Counsellor with Barnardo's Adoption Agency which is registered to provide adoption placement and support services. This also includes Therapeutic Counselling, Attachment Focussed Counselling, Life Story and My Life work.

I am a qualified Counselling Supervisor with a Post-Graduate Cert in Supervision.

I am an Registered Accredited Member of BACP, (Reg MBACP (Accred)), A Registered Adoption Counsellor with Barnardo's, also a Member of GTC (General Teaching Council).

My other qualifications include:
Post Grad. Diploma in Education (DMS Ed.); Cert Ed.

I work with individuals, couples and young people. I currently run a private counselling practice from clinics in Tonbridge and Sidcup and take referrals from local schools, colleges, Barnardo's  and Employee Assistance Agencies.  I am also a Staff Support Counsellor for KCC and the NHS. In the past I have worked as a Student Counsellor at Brighton University, University of Creative Arts (UCA) and Bird College, and for West Kent Primary Care Trust taking referrals from GPs.

I am available as a Supervisor for other Counsellors, experienced or in training.

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.

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

Adoption Counselling - all persons related to adoption
Attachment Focussed Counselling
Panic Attacks
General anxieties
Self-harm
Bi-polar and manic depression
Low self-esteem
Low self-confidence
Eating Disorders
Work related issues
Relationship difficulties
Couples Counselling
Separation and divorce
Working with young people and children
Counselling Supervision

Fees

£65.00 - £80.00

Concessions offered for

  • Trainee counsellors

Additional information

From £65 - for one to one Counselling;
£80 for couples;
From £65 for Counselling Supervision
Special rates for Counselling students and for schools;
Special rates may also be available for unemployed.

When I work

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Night

Monday - Thursday daytime appointments

Further information

As well as having a private counselling practice, counselling in schools and for the local authority and NHS, I also do talks on Eating Disorders and Self-Harm.

I have extensive experience working with children, have been responsible for Child Protection within education and hold an Advanced Criminal Records Bureau Certificate for working with children and vulnerable people.

Clients can access counselling sessions face to face or online.

Greentrees Avenue, Tonbridge, Kent, TN10 4NE

Birkbeck Natural Health Clinic, Birkbeck Road, Sidcup, Kent, DA14 4DB

Type of session

In person
Online
Phone

Types of client

Children
Young people
Adults
Older adults
Couples
Families
Groups
Organisations
Employee Assistance Programme

Key details

Wheelchair user access
Wheelchair user access

Wheelchair-accessible premises should have step-free access for wheelchair users and individuals who are unable to climb stairs. If a Counsellor's premises aren't step-free, they may offer alternative services such as telephone/web-based appointments, home visits, or meeting clients in different location, so you can choose the option that suits you best.

You can contact the Counsellor to discuss the options available.

Under the Equality Act 2010 service providers have a duty to make reasonable adjustments to ensure that individuals with disabilities can access their service. You can read more about reasonable adjustments to help you to access services on the CAB website.

Wheelchair access is available in Sidcup. In Tonbridge there are two wide steps. Online/telephone counselling is available.

Supervision

In person

I offer Counselling Supervision to experienced counsellors and counsellors in training.

View supervision profile

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