Rachel McGovern

Verified Professional Verified Professional
Verified Professional

Every professional displayed on Counselling Directory has been independently verified by our team to ensure they have suitable credentials to practise.

MA, BSc (Hons), MBACP (Accred), UKRCP, STR-C, STR
No current availability
No current availability

This professional has no current availability for new clients. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.

Darlington, Co Durham, DL3
No current availability
No current availability

This professional has no current availability for new clients. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.

About me

Thank you for looking at my profile.  As a fully qualified, registered, and experienced BACP Accredited counsellor, my aim is to make clients welcome and at ease in a comfortable room in Central Darlington, where I offer a genuine, non-judgemental experience. I recall going to counselling myself, remembering what a scary yet brave step that was. It was inspiring and beneficial enough to make me become a counsellor myself so that says something! It wasn't always easy; some days I would wonder what to talk about, others I would never shut up. That's just how it goes, and that is fine. There is no "right way" to be in counselling, just "be". As a working mum, I can relate to the ups and downs of family life, and have dealt with a number of significant traumas and bereavements through my lifetime. This doesn't mean I know exactly how things are for YOU, but does mean I know the benefit of a non-judgemental ear.

I offer appropriate Counselling/Psychotherapy depending on my client's needs, working at relational depth. This might be just one or two sessions, or sometimes we enter into a longer term therapeutic relationship...everyone is unique and we work in whatever way is most advantageous for the client.

No problem is too big or too small, and you can be assured that we would work to give you the best experience.  And if we are not-you can tell me! I firmly believe my clients hold the answers within themselves. I can walk alongside and share in the laughter and the tears-both are fine.  Yes, therapy can be hilarious as well as hard work.


With over 22 years experience I offer an ethically bound service. Being Accredited means I have met the exacting requirements for BACP which is our major UK professional body. I have monthly supervision to ensure I am always working at my best for the clients in my care, and am committed to always inform and improve my practice, and hold Professional Insurance.

I am also a Consultant in Sandplay Therapy (STR-C) and a Registered Sandplay Therapist (STR), indicating that after many years of study and experiential work I have met the exacting standards of the Association Sandplay Therapists. I offer Sandplay and my extensive collection of miniatures for clients to create their own "Stories in the Sand". This might be a "one off", or as part of therapy-the choice is always yours.  You might be surprised at its' simplicity and potency. I work in whatever way is appropriate for my clients, and am open to the use of other creative methods, paint, crayons, clay, toys, stones etc.

Mindfulness is very popular these days, and I have studied for a Professional Training in the Therapeutic use of Mindfulness with British Mindfulness Institute, as well as studying The Mindful Therapy Programme with Graeme Armstrong.

Within a busy private practice I work with self-referral, for a number of EAP's and offer counselling/supervision  to students on courses throughout the country. I have previously worked as a Counsellor at Durham University.  Part of my current work is also in the Diocese of Durham, working with clergy and their families, and also with the Salvation Army,  the Churches Ministerial Counselling service, and with the Methodist Church.  I welcome working with those of all Faiths and none.

I have previosuly been a Trustee of Bridge Pastoral Foundation (Clinical Theology Association), where I was an Authorised Tutor, delivering their Modular Pastoral Care and Counselling course.  At conferences, I co-faciliated small psychotherapeutic groups.

Much of  work is underpinned by a training in Psychoanalytic Group Work with Institute of Group Analysis.


I am happy to answer e-mails and supply a CV if you require any more information.

Training, qualifications & experience

MA Counselling (Leeds University)- Distinction and Postgraduate Prize.
Training with PODS; (Positive Outcomes for Dissociative Survivors); "Trauma, Dissociation and the Body", "Working with Relational Trauma".
I regularly attend Conferences and training conferences run by Bridge Pastoral Foundation.
Professional Training in Therapeutic Use of Mindfulness
Mindful Therapy Programme with Graeme Armstrong at Jesmond Therapy Centre.
Foundation training- Institute of Group Analysis
Qualified Supervisor
Intermediate and Foundation Certificates Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (Teesside University)
Accredited Cruse Bereavement Counsellor-Adults and children
Training Modules with Bridge Pastoral Foundation
Diploma Counselling
Further Education Teaching NCFE 7407.
BSc (Hons) Botany Manchester University

Registered Sandplay Therapy Consultant STR-C with Association Sandplay Therapists, offering consultation to experienced and trainee Sandplay Therapists.

Registered Sandplay Therapist-Association of Sandplay Therapists offering Sandplay Therapy to those requiring process, as well as many who love to use Sandplay in their work.


I have many years experience, working with clients of all ages in diverse areas; Universities, Schools, Private Practice, EAP's, Organisations, and in Diocesan/Pastoral settings.

I have seen clients of all ages presenting with diverse issues including anxiety, depression, loss of all kinds, work and home stress, abuse-all kinds of issues.
As I trained with Cruse, I provide bereavement counselling for children and adults. 
As an Authorised tutor with Bridge Pastoral Foundation I was authorised to deliver training in Pastoral Care,and I also co-facilitated Psychotherapeutic groups with the same organisation.

My core counselling training is Person Centred, but I have enriched my work with considerable additional training including; Group Analysis, CBT, Psychodynamic, Solution Focused Brief Therapy, Human Relations, Pastoral Care and Pastoral Counselling, Bereavement and Loss, Working with Children and Young People.
I worked for some time as a Counsellor, Supervisor and Trainer with Cruse Bereavement Care where I was also a Young People's/ Children's Counsellor and set up a play therapy room.

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.

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

£50.00 - £60.00

Concessions offered for

  • Students
  • Trainee counsellors

Additional information

A counselling session of around 50 minutes is £50 per hour

Supervision for qualified Counsellors is £50 an hour or £75 for the required 1 1/2 hours per month.

Students pay £40 an hour for personal therapy, and £40 for an hour's supervision and £60 for an hour and a half's Supervision.

Costs are always under review, so please check.

When I work

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Night

Mainly daytime as above, and I occasionally include Tuesday, Friday and some weekends.

Darlington, Co Durham, DL3

Type of session

In person
Online
Phone

Types of client

Children
Young people
Adults
Older adults
Organisations
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

My room is up two flights of stairs so I regret my Sandplay is not available to all. If you are unable to manage stairs I can make provision to meet on the ground floor, but could not manage the Sandplay in those circumstances.

Online platforms

Skype
Whatsapp
Zoom

Supervision

In person
Online
Phone

I offer clinical supervison to experienced and trainee therapists, as well as Consultation to Sandplay Therapists .

View supervision profile

Social

Rachel McGovern
Rachel McGovern