Alena Quartermaine

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MBACP (Accred), MHGI Counsellor/Psychotherapist

About me

As a mental health practitioner with over 17 years of counselling experience, I have worked with a wide range of issues, including but not limited to anxiety, panic attacks, depression, anger management, burnout, stress, confidence and low self esteem issues, relationship, family, marital and parenting issues.      

I currently offer a free of charge initial 20min e-meeting/call, which gives you the opportunity to meet me and ask any questions you may have regarding my practice. I'll ask about challenges you've been facing and your goals for therapy to establish whether I can help you to reach your desired goals.  I would explain interventions that I can implement to support you with meeting your goals, so already in the first meeting, you can regain hope, feel more in control and start making positive changes.

I use Human Givens (HG) approach in my work with clients. The concept behind HG therapy is understanding that if one or more of our fundamental emotional needs (need for security, intimacy, community, attention, control, privacy, status, achievement and meaning) is not met in our environment, we can experience a considerable distress, quite often in a form of anxiety and/or depression symptoms.

My aim is to provide you with a positive and empowering experience of therapy and help you bring about long lasting, positive change in the least amount of sessions as possible. I explain and implement scientifically proven techniques that help you manage distressing symptoms. I will help you to identify current compromised needs and support you in meeting them using problem solution, practical, here and now approach, utilizing your inner and life resources to meet your desired future goals.

Why consider counselling?

There could be various reasons behind considering counselling. You may feel concerned about future decision making, feel low, stressed and/or anxious or perhaps experiencing panic attacks, excessive overthinking or having relationship difficulties. My aim is to gain a good understanding of the challenges you have been facing and your therapy goals. I can assist you by offering non-judgemental understanding and support, whilst working with you on your presented issues.  I will work in collaboration with you to set positive tasks towards your set goals so you can start to feel hopeful and more in control.

I believe that counselling is a way of reducing confusion and it can help you to discover your inner strength. It offers you an opportunity to gain better self-awareness and acceptance of yourself and others so you can lead more rewarding and fulfilling life.

Please feel free to email/call me to book your first free of charge initial introductory call.

Due to nature of counselling work, my phone may be on silent or switched off at times, however if you leave your name and number I'll call you back as soon as I can.

Training, qualifications & experience

I hold a Professional Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling and The Human Givens Practitioner Diploma.

Firstly, I had worked at the Fenix Centre (formerly known as Open Door Counselling Services) in Feltham and thereafter begun to work privately.

Apart from working privately, I'm an affiliated counsellor for Health Assured, UK and Ireland's most trusted independent health and wellbeing provider. 

I also work as a sessional integrative psychotherapist for Priory Hospital Woking.  If you'd like to use your private medical insurance to cover the cost of your counselling, please feel free to contact Priory Hospital Woking on 01483 489 211 to arrange therapy with me. 

As a fully insured and accredited member of The British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy MBACP (Accred) and a registered member of the Human Givens Institute MHGI, my psychotherapy practice meets the standard of a competent, ethical and independent practitioner.  I adhere to the BACP's and HGI's ethical frameworks for good practice.

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.

HGI
Human Givens Institute (HGI)

The Human Givens Institute (HGI) is both a membership organisation and a professional body representing the interests of those in the caring and teaching professions who have an interest in or utilise the human givens approach. Counselling Directory register Registered Members (MHGI) and Fellow Members (FHGI), who will have completed the Post Graduate Practitioner's Assessment (Part III) and who are fully qualified to practise as a human givens therapist or counsellor. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.

Accredited register membership

Human Givens Institute
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.

Human Givens Institute
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 per session

Concessions offered for

  • Low income

Health Insurance/EAP

  • Health Assured
  • Axa Health
  • BUPA
  • WPA

Additional information

I currently offer free of charge first, initial online meeting/call (approx. 20 min)

Individual therapy £60 per session (50 min)

*concessions available

I offer a lower cost online therapy for clients in difficult financial situation (£40 per session)

* available weekdays daytime and evening appointments (Mon to Fri)


Should you wish to use your private medical insurance to cover the cost of therapy with me as your integrative psychotherapist, please note this can only be accommodated by contacting Priory Hospital Woking on 01483 489 211.

When I work

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Early morning
Morning
Early afternoon
Late afternoon
Evening

Further information

My private practice is solely online.  Sessions are on regular or flexible basis depending on your needs and mine and your's availability.

Gaston Way, Shepperton, Surrey, TW17 8EX

Type of session

Online
Phone

Types of client

Young adults (18-24)
Adults (25-64)
Older Adults (65+)
Employee Assistance Programme

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

Sessions are online from a comfort of your own home.

Additional languages

Slovak

Slovak, Czech

Online platforms

Whatsapp
Zoom
Microsoft Teams