Dr Bernice Sorensen


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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
I am an experienced senior accredited integrative Psychotherapist, Counsellor and Supervisor and offer a warm and open approach to people, to explore the best way forward for them. I specialise in working with individuals and couples, face to face, by telephone and online. I work with all types of life-crisis, relational difficulties, sexuality, low self-esteem, adoption issues etc. Apart from private practice, I have worked in Education, the NHS, Youth Work, Employment Assistant Programmes and charitable agencies.
Whilst different therapists work in a variety of ways I would describe my approach as fundamentally relational and uses the therapeutic relationship as a mirror to the way a person engages or relates to other people with whom they live, work and meet. I believe that a good therapeutic relationship aims to make positive change so many people find therapy not only challenging but also very empowering and confirming.
I work from my consulting rooms in Chideock which is a few yards from the A35, in a quiet rural setting with parking. However increasingly I offer telephone counselling where I ring you because many people find they prefer not to travel or they live in larger towns and find it hard to find the time to travel with busy work schedules.
I can offer either short term counselling or longer term psychotherapy. I suggest a preliminary meeting so that you can see if you would like to work with me, and we can discuss the best way forward for you. I am available Monday-Friday, during the day, and in the evening to 7.00pm
For further information please visit my website: www.listeningcures.com by clicking the link.
Training, qualifications & experience
I have been in practice for over 40 years working in colleges, universities, schools, hospitals, GP surgeries, voluntary agencies for young people, Women's Refuge, Drug & Alcohol Agency, Osteopath Clinic and a variety of Employment Assistance Programmes.
Registered Psychotherapist with UK Council for Psychotherapy until 2015.
Senior accredited Counsellor and Psychotherapist of British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy.
Senior accredited Supervisor of British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy.
Doctorate in Psychotherapy- The Metanoia Institute
MA in Psychotherapy- Regents College
Diploma in Counselling- Middlesex University
Diploma in Group and Individual Supervision- Cascade Associates
Certificate in EMDR
I am also professionally trained in:
Diploma in Person-Centred Art Therapy
Certificate HIV & AIDS Counselling
Adoption & Post-adoption Counselling
I have also completed short courses on
Systemic therapy
Post traumatic Stress
Counselling and the Law
I am also a professional trainer and have run workshops on many subjects:
Assertiveness
Stress management
Art therapy
Caring for the Carer
Death and Dying
BACP Accreditation
Supervision continual professional development days
Member organisations
school 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.

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.
Accredited register membership

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.

Areas of counselling I deal with
Other areas of counselling I deal with
I also offer Therapeutic Life Coaching www.TherapeuticLifeCoaching.co.uk
I have a Diploma in Group and Individual supervision and offer supervisor training with Cascade Supervision Training
I have many years experience of working with young people of secondary age.
Therapies offered
Fees
£60.00 - £70.00
Free initial in-person, telephone or online session
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
£85 couples,
some concessionary rates for low income and trainees.
Supervision £70
When I work
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My main work mornings are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. However I can work around shifts. I do not work weekends.
Free initial meeting on or off line are approximately 20 mins.
Further information
I have completed several trainings in psychodynamic, existential and person-centred approaches. They all inform the way I think and work, although in the room I am primarily a humanistic practitioner, engaging with my client in an encounter where the focus is on his/her exploration. I see my role as a facilitator in a process to promote understanding and to find new ways of being in the world. I seek to establish a partnership with my client rather than attempting to deliver a solution. My approach focuses on the relationship between myself and my client to find creative ways forward.
PUBLICATIONS
Mabey, J. and Sorensen, B. (1995) Counselling Young People OUP
Sorensen, B. and Mabey, J. (1997) Never Again: Surviving Emotional Abuse
Sorensen, B. (2008) The Only-child Experience and Adulthood. Palgrave
Sorensen, B. (July 2006) Not Special but Different - Self and Society Journal
Sorensen, B. (April 2006) Spoilt or Spoiled: the shame of being an only. Counselling Psychotherapy Journal.
Sorensen, B. (October 2006): Only-child Challenges and How Counsellors Can Help. Journal of Counselling children and Young People.
Sorensen, B. (2008) And when the therapist or supervisor dies.... In When Death Enters the Therapeutic Space Ed. Barnett, L. London, Routledge.