Lester Chern

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MBACP Accred, Dip Counselling, Dip Supervision, Cert Couples
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

location_on Thame, Oxfordshire, OX9
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

About me

I am a professionally qualified and experienced therapist working with individuals and couples. I have been  BACP Accredited since 2008 . I am also a qualified clinical supervisor.

My core approach is person centred. What this means in practice, is that I treat you as a  individual who has your own unique perspective on the world. I do my utmost to understand your feelings empathically and without judgement. I provide a warm, caring and secure space for us to explore whatever is troubling you.

In my experience, we are all capable of healing and growth, if we are understood and feel safe to express thoughts and feelings that we may suppress for fear of hurting or angering others. 

 I have extensive experience in a wide variety of therapeutic and organisational settings including being part of the Staff Counselling team at the London Fire Brigade for almost 9 years.

I work in person or online with people aged 18 upwards and I have considerable experience of working with clients from a wide range of backgrounds, and ethnicities. My level of both qualifications and experience allows me to individualise therapy to meet your specific needs. 

I am professionally qualified to work with couples. Together, we can work to improve your understanding of one another and clarify those miscommunications that can lead to conflict. Couples therapy can be helpful for you to improve your relationship by exploring unhelpful patterns of behaviour. I provide a non-judgemental and neutral place for you to safely explore your relationship. 

You may want to continue your relationship or you may wish to attend so that you can end in a mutually satisfactory way.

Couples counselling can achieve all these objectives if there is mutual desire for change.
I have long experience of counselling clients on a range of issues including sexual, psychological, emotional or physical abuse,  low self esteem,  depression, anxiety, relationship difficulties, family issues, bereavement and loss, unemployment, separation and divorce, affairs and betrayals, low self esteem, workplace, domestic  and racial bullying. I also specialise in childhood  abuse.
Counselling can be short (6-12 sessions) or longer term according to your needs or preferences.

 I work face to face or online using Zoom or WhatsApp  as well as offering telephone counselling too.

I am both BACP Accredited and Registered and I work in accordance with the BACP 'Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions'. I also have professional Liability and Indemnity insurance.

My practice is in Thame and I am within easy reach of Aylesbury, Haddenham, Princes Risborough and surrounding villages.

Parking close to my practice is free and there are few restrictions. There is also a bus stop within 100 yards for buses to Aylesbury or Oxford.

Testimonials

"Lester was absolutely incredible.  He was so intuitive and drew such accurate conclusions about us, both individually and as a couple.  It stunned me."

Couple (mid thirties)

"Lester has made a profound difference to our lives.  He has helped us put our family back together and to be happier and more harmonious."

Couple (late thirties)

"Lester is a fantastic counsellor and an amazing person. He has always been non-judgemental and offered helpful observations. I could not have resolved my issues without Lester's help and support".

Male (early forties)

"I am very grateful for the support, understanding and techniques shown to me by Lester, to help me rebuild my confidence and give me the tools to deal with my problems in the future.  I am extremely grateful for his invaluable help and kindness."

Female (mid thirties)

Training, qualifications & experience

Diploma in Person Centred Counselling 2003
Diploma in Integrative Supervision 2010                                                              Certificate in Integrative Couples Counselling 2017
Certificate in Play Therapy Skills 2009
Primary Certificate in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy 2009
Certificate in Introduction to Transactional Analysis 2016
MBACP (Accred) (Accredited Member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy) 2008
BACP Registered


Previous experience:

I was employed by the London Fire Brigade to work as part of the Counselling & Trauma Service. I provided individual and couples counselling sessions to members of the brigade. Issues were very varied and covered both workplace and personal anxieties.

As part of a specialist team working holistically with clients affected by issues such as childhood trauma and addictions.

As a counsellor for Hampstead Counselling Service, a  charity providing counselling on many life issues to adults living in the London Borough of Camden. 
At an NHS sponsored IAPT "Complex Grief" counselling service providing counselling to people affected by suicide or other forms of sudden death.
At Signpost Counselling Agency for 10 years as a young person's counsellor and at an inner city academy as a school counsellor.

I am a qualified counselling supervisor. I currently clinically supervise the work of individual counsellors at differing levels of training and experience.

Member organisations

school 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

Areas of counselling I deal with

Therapies offered

Fees

£60.00 - £70.00
Free initial telephone session

Concessions offered for

  • check_circle Trainee counsellors

Additional information


£60 per full hour for Individual Counselling or Clinical Supervision 

£70 per full hour for Couples Therapy, £`100 for a 90 minute long session.

Payable by Cash,  or Bank Transfer


When I work

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Night

Tuesdays from 9.30am to a final appointment time of 5.45pm

Fridays from 2 pm to a final appointment time of 6 pm

Further information

If further information is required please contact me via email or phone. All in strictest confidence.  

Thame, Oxfordshire, OX9

Type of session

In person
Online
Phone

Types of client

Young adults (18-24)
Adults (25-64)
Older Adults (65+)
Couples
Organisations

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

There is plentiful free parking close to my practice as well the bus stops to or from Aylesbury or Oxford

Online platforms

Whatsapp
Zoom

Supervision

In person
Online

I have a Diploma in Integrative Supervision and I have worked as a supervisor with both individuals and groups since 2010.

View supervision profile