Matthew Hughes

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Member Tavistock Institute of Medical Psychology and COSRT
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

Orpington, Kent, BR6
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

About me

Thank you for looking at my profile.  I am specifically trained and qualified in relationship and couple counselling and also as an individual counsellor.

I trained for 4 years in Couple Therapy and also 4 years in Individual Therapy and have over 15 years experience in both areas.

I am able to offer face to face therapy and also online sessions and telephone therapy.

I am also able to offer online and telephone counselling.

QUALIFICATIONS

Post Graduate Diploma in Psychodynamic Couple Counselling. The Westminster Pastoral Foundation

Post Graduate Diploma in Couple Counselling.  The Tavistock Centre for Couple Relationships


ACCREDITATIONS

COSRT  The College Of Sexual and Relationship Therapists

Member of the Tavistock Institute of medical Psychology


RELATIONSHIP AND COUPLE COUNSELLING

Through out a long-term relationship, we can face many important decisions and crossroads.  Sometimes, it is difficult to talk about these problems with our partners.  Couple counselling can be away of opening up communications through gaining a clearer understanding of what is really going on for each person.  Whether you are able to come with your partner, or alone; whether you are married or single, I will provide you with a safe and confidential place to talk about and explore your difficulties

Couple Counselling can greatly help in the following areas

  • Increased confidence
  • Improved and effective communication
  • Self knowledge
  • Better understanding of your partner’s needs
  • Stronger family life
  • Enhanced sexual life and affection

Fees £40 per session or a course of 12 sessions for £380

INDIVIDUAL COUNSELLING

Sometimes we know that the things we experience and struggle with are about us, our life and our past.  It can be very isolating to suffer without feeling that we are being heard, understood or helped. Here, in my counselling room, you will find a safe place to talk, to unburden and to feel heard and understood. We will be able to work together on the things that are troubling you. Counselling has the potential to help you achieve the following:

One to one counselling can help in the following ways

  • Understand yourself better
  • Change the way you feel about yourself
  • Change behaviours and your reactions to situations
  • Deal with conflict and angry feelings
  • Feel more confident and act with more confidence.
  • Understand the links between your past and your present situation and feeling
  • Have a sense a being heard and understood, leading to less stress and isolation.

Fees £40 per session or a course of 12 sessions for £380

PRACTICAL ARRANGEMENTS

We agree a regular weekly time and your counselling session will be available to you for as long as it is helpful. My practice is with in easy distance of Orpington, Bromley and Chelsfield and close to the M25 by road. Please call on the telephone number above or email me to arrange an initial consultation.

COUNSELLING FOR THOSE IN TRAINING

If you are considering training as a counsellor, I have experience in working with students and have had 10 years experience at two well-known training institutions, Westminster Pastoral Foundation and Tavistock Centre for Couple Relationships.  Reduced fees of £35 are available for those in training and an over all fee can be negotiated for course required hours

HOW DOES COUNSELLING WORK?

After you have made contact we will arrange to meet and talk.  If you wish to proceed we can then arrange a regular time.  Counselling works by creating a space for you to talk.  Over a period of time you will begin to make sense of the underlying reasons behind your difficulties and issues, leading to greater self awareness and real change. Effective counselling is never a quick fix solution and if you are using either drugs or alcohol then counselling will not work until you are clear of addiction.

Training, qualifications & experience

EXPERIENCE

Over 15 years experience working with individuals and couples

TESTIMONIALS FROM FORMER CLIENTS

'couple counselling really helped us to start talking again.  Before we were very stuck and arguing a lot.  Now we do not feel so angry with each other.'  Melanie and Stephen (names changed).

'Through our counselling sessions we have learnt to understand each others thoughts and feelings helping us to feel more confident about resolving our difficulties on our own'  Ray and Diane  (names changed)


Matthew helped me to come to terms with myself and the world after two miscarriages and other bereavements came all at once. He helped me to understand my anger so that I could deal with the underlying causes, which, with Matthew's guidance, we unpacked together. In a safe space, where I could think and have my thoughts gently but persuasively challenged, I understood for the first time the extent that a childhood trauma had affected my whole attitude to life. After a year with Matthew, I am facing the world with renewed vitality, confident in myself and my thoughts and feelings. I am forging new friendships and building relationships with my parents at a new level.

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

Fees

£40.00 per session

Concessions offered for

  • Students
  • Trainee counsellors

Additional information

  • Couples: £40 or 12 sessions for £400
  • Individuals: £40 or 12 sessions for £400
  • Students in training £35 - £350

When I work

Weekday day times and evenings Sunday afternoon, not Friday evening, or Saturday.

Orpington, Kent, BR6

Type of session

In person
Online
Phone
Home visits

Types of client

Adults
Older adults
Couples

Key details

DBS check

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

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.

Online platforms

Skype
Zoom