Bay Whitaker MBACP Accredited Counsellor: couples and individuals
About me
I co-founded a successful private group practice in 2008, Sheffield Central Counselling. I love this job because I am genuinely interested in my clients' experiences, and I know that counselling is capable of transforming people's lives. It has been my privilege to be a small part of that process for hundreds of clients in Sheffield. My aim is to open the door for my clients, perhaps by helping them find a new perspective on their issues, perhaps by just listening, perhaps by offering a little bit of theory.
One of my specialisms is working with clients who have alternative sexualities, especially BDSM. I am a kink-knowledgeable counsellor and work in a non-pathologsing way with varieties of sexual and gender difference.
In addition I am experienced in work with trauma and abuse, depression and relationship difficulties. Over the years, I've worked with most life problems, from work-related stress, mid-life crisis, infidelity, empty-nest syndrome to simple boredom and anger issues.
Here is what some of my recent clients have said about our work together:
‘I sought counselling because my interest in kink had led me into real danger. I found that part of me an alien threat. Together Bay and I didn’t just eliminate a threat- we turned that part of me into an asset I now embrace. Our work also supported me successfully through one of the major battles of my life in my employment. I am very pleased with the work we did and it has helped me to enrich my life and my relationships.’
'I just wanted to say an absolutely heartfelt thank you for everything you've done. I'm in a hugely improved place now, and a large part of that has come from the insight and technique I've learned in our sessions.'
Training, qualifications & experience
Cert HE Counselling Skills, Dip HE Counselling, Sheffield Hallam University
MA Philosophy, BA (Hons) English Literature and Philosophy, Sheffield University
Certificate in Introduction to CBT, Manchester Centre for CBT
Certificate in Supervision, Manchester Institute for Psychotherapy
Participant in Advanced Clinical Discussion Group on Kink Issues in Therapy, Pink Therapy
In previous years I have worked as a befriender and advisor for Mental Health Charities and Trades Unions. My interest in philosophy informs my approach, which is integrative and humanistic, and I draw on both the analytic and existentialist philosophers to offer fresh perspectives to clients.
Member organisations
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.
British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy
BACP is one of the UK’s largest professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy. Therapists registered with the Association fall into a number of different membership categories such as Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP and Registered Member MBACP (Accred), each standing for different levels of training and experience. MBACP (Accred) and MBACP (Snr Accred) members have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by the Association.
Registered members can be found on the BACP Register, which was the first register to achieve Accredited Voluntary Register status issued by the Professional Standards Authority. Individual Members will have completed an appropriate counselling and/or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but will not appear on the BACP Register until they've progressed to Registered Member MBACP status.
All members are bound by a Code of Ethics & Practice and a Complaints Procedure. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
Accredited register membership
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.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Other areas of counselling I deal with
BDSM (more commonly known as S&M). I have experience and expertise in this area and offer sensitive counselling to those who wish to work with a BDSM-aware therapist. I take a non-pathologising view of BDSM, that is, I don't see it as any sort of emotional or developmental disorder. To find out more on this topic, you can read my article 'BDSM: a new sexual orientation?' on this website.
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
Standard fee = £45 per 50 minute session for individuals, £55 for couples
We have a number of subsidised places available for clients on a low income
Further information
Discreet premises near the centre of Sheffield, evening appointments available.
