Ruth Baker

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BSc Hons Psych, MA, Adv Dip Couns Totnes,Torquay, Newton Abbot TQ12
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

Newton Abbot TQ12 & Totnes TQ9
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

About me

I work  in Totnes  and a venue close to Newton Abbot, Teignmouth and Torquay.

I am passionate about individuals and organisations developing their full potential

Counselling and Psychotherapy

People seek psychotherapy and counselling for a number of reasons. For many it can feel like a last resort seeking help or that in some way it is an admission of failure that they cannot deal with the situation on their own. Others recognise that simply talking something through in a confidential impartial setting can be really helpful.

Many people come for help when life has become difficult and they need support in making new decisions and finding different ways of living. They are looking to resolve grief, losses, difficulties in living, or some kind of problem or issue life has presented. Sometimes these may be rooted in earlier life experiences. The role of the counsellor and psychotherapist is to help a person gain a fresh perspective, feel better about themselves or the situation they are in, form new goals or ambitions which will then enable them to live feeling more fulfilled and positive about life.

Sometimes people may simply be looking for a way of getting to know themselves better. Or they have recognised unhelpful repeat patterns in their lives and want to change them.

People seek help for a wide range of issues here are some examples:

  • Couples counselling
  • Relationship issues
  • Affairs and betrayals
  • Physical sexual and emotional abuse
  • Trauma
  • Deep unhappiness
  • Life transitions
  • Depression and anxiety
  • Bipolar and other mental health problems
  • Post natal depression
  • Addiction issues including alcohol, drug problems and gambling
  • Anger management
  • Eating disorders
  • Bereavement and loss
  • Spiritual crisis
  • Feeling isolated
  • Low self esteem
  • Chronic physical conditions
  • Unexplained medical symptoms
  • Menopause
  • Child raising issues
  • Infertility
  • Sexuality and gender identity
  • Boarding school issues
  • Redundancy issues
  • Trainees

You name it any area where someone is unhappy in their lives.

People also come simply to explore themselves and get to know themselves better in the context of personal growth.

Counselling contracts tend to be shorter term.

Psychotherapy contracts tend to be longer term and work at greater depth.

Supervision

I enjoy working as a supervisor and supporting other professionals practice – be they at the beginning of their journey as a trainee or highly experienced. I   provide supervision and a place to reflect and process in a range of contexts including: private counsellors, psychotherapists and coaches; hospices; drug and alcohol agencies; doctors; complementary health practitioners and a range of other organisational settings where there is a therapeutic element to the work etc.

Training, qualifications & experience

I am an experienced counsellor and psychotherapist.

My major training includes: a first degree in psychology, a masters degree in social work and probation studies, an advanced diploma in integrative counselling, four years further training in integrative psychotherapy a diploma in supervision. I have also studied a post graduate diploma in organisational development and executive coaching and a postgraduate diploma in couples work . Ruth has studied to an advanced level with The Association of Integrative Sandplay Therapists in both integrative sandplay studies and therapeutic art. She is a teacher and supervisor with AIST.

I have been in private practice as a counsellor, psychotherapist and supervisor for many years. In addition to this I have worked in a variety of settings including: hospices, probation, drug and alcohol services, mental health services, Devon County Council. I am therefore used to and experienced in working with people from all walks of life.

Each person requires an individual response to their unique difficulties. As an integrative practitioner I am able to apply different theories and styles according to each individuals needs. I am trained in a range of theories including: cognitive behavioural therapy, transactional analysis, gestalt, attachment theory, developmental psychology and psychodynamic theory. I am also interested in our relationship to the transpersonal in whatever context that emerges for us as individuals.

Alongside my therapeutic background, I have also practiced tai chi for 25 years and trained as a tai chi teacher. Through this experience I have become attuned to the body, somatisation and how we hold our physicality in response to daily living and life traumas. Tai chi is essentially a mindful practice and I apply these techniques and body awareness to my therapeutic work. I am curious about the moment by moment unfolding somatic experience and its relationship to the therapeutic work.

Human beings operate in a social context, problems usually emerge out of relationships and it is the intentional use of relationship in the therapeutic relationship which has been demonstrated as the main healing dynamic. I aim to provide a safe, confidential space where it is possible to explore difficulties and grow from them. The therapy room can also be a space of laughter, joy and celebration.

My qualifications include:

BSc Hons Psychology
MA Social Work
Diploma in Social Work
Advanced Diploma in Integrative Counselling
Attended a Certificate in Supervision completing Diploma in Supervision
Four plus years advanced training in Integrative Psychotherapy
Foundation in Group Analysis
Post graduate training in couples counselling
Post Graduate training in Organisational Development and Executive Coaching.
School of Living Movement Instructor

Advanced qualifications in Integrative Sandplay and Therapeutic Art

Ruth has recently completed Babbette Rothschilds Somatic Trauma Training .

I regularly participate in continuing professional development. Recent courses I have attended are : using family constellations to work with trauma, a 5 day play therapy training, using nature as a co-therapist.

Experience across a wide range of services and settings.
Life experience

I am an experienced teacher and facilitator in a variety of settings including: Advanced Diploma in Counselling at the Iron Mill Institute; Plymouth University Faculty of Health, Education and Society; Devon Partnership NHS Trust; Devon Fire and Rescue Service; St Luke’s Hospice; third sector organisations and independently.

I work with individuals, couples and groups as counsellor, psychotherapist and supervisor and with all age groups. Privately and in organisational settings.

Member organisations

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

Other areas of counselling I deal with

  • relationship and intimacy difficulties
  • couples counselling
  • a loss of desire
  • sexual abuse, physical abuse, psychological abuse
  • stress, anxiety, depression
  • chronic health conditions
  • deep unhappiness
  • trauma and PTSD
  • life transitions
  • bereavement and loss
  • child raising issues
  • infertility
  • addictions: drugs, alcohol gambling, sex etc
  • eating problems
  • aggression and anger
  • gender and sexuality
  • medically unexplained symptoms
  • spiritual crisis
  • crisis of identity, meaning, isolation, fear of death
  • personal growth

Photos & videos

Fees

Additional information

Please enquire for fees

When I work

Daytime and evening appointments available. 

Further information

Counselling and Psychotherapy

I work  in Totnes and a beautiful location  between Newton Abbot, Teignmouth and Torquay.

People come for psychotherapy and counselling for a number of reasons.

Many people attend when life has become unbearable or in response to a crisis.   They need support in making new decisions in finding different ways of living. They may simply be looking for a way of getting to know themselves better.

The role of the counsellor and psychotherapist is to help a person work to gain a fresh perspective and enable them to live a more fulfilled and positive life.

Counselling and psychotherapy are similar in approach. Counselling is generally concerned with working through day to day issues which are of a more conscious nature. These issues are worked with in a sensitive, compassionate and non judgemental way.

Counselling contracts tend to be shorter term.

Psychotherapy is more concerned with getting under the surface of the problem or issues. It is concerned with a deeper transformation. People often present when they are feeling ‘stuck’ in a familiar pattern of thinking, feeling or behaviour. It may be the person does not know what is troubling them, but they are aware something is wrong. The work is often an exploratory process to support the person in finding new insights into their lives.

Psychotherapy contracts tend to be longer term and work at greater depth.

A good therapeutic outcome will always depend upon the quality of the relationship between the therapist and client.

Relationship and couples work

I believe that our most intimate relationships have the power to enable us to achieve our greatest potential. Yet they present us with the some of the most challenging aspects of ourselves and others. Society does little to support the transition from falling romantically in love, to a fulfilling life long relationship. Throw in children, infertility, life’s ups and downs and it often seems simpler to live alone. Sexual appetites and desires change over time in relationships. These can be difficult to make sense of and can often feel threatening and hard to resolve.  We need to understand ourselves and our partners in these relationships. From there we can learn to transform our relationships.

It is my observation that we repeat negative patterns of relating in relationships.  Couples work is an opportunity to do something different to look at these patterns and gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and our partners. Even if the result is separation to have deeper understanding of these processes is beneficial and often crucial if children are involved.

Couples often present when feelings of goodwill have gone out of the relationship, things are feeling desperate and separation seems to be the only option. This can be as a result of stuck repetitive patterns, lack of mutual support, feelings of isolation in the relationship, a loss of desire, issues of intimacy, sexual problems, betrayal and general life events.

Some couples also look for a forum for support when they are considering making a deeper commitment towards eg: living together, marriage, civil partnerships, having children. The time can be used to explore concerns and fears which arise from these steps.

Part of my task as a therapist is to support the re-engagement of each person with each other with the intention of finding a new way forwards.

I work with people in both straight and gay relationships

Newton Abbot, Devon, TQ12

The Nautilus Rooms, 35a Fore Street, Totnes, Devon, TQ9 5HN

Type of session

In person
Online
Phone

Types of client

Young people
Adults
Older adults
Couples
Groups
Organisations
Employee Assistance Programme

Supervision

In person
Online
Phone

Ruth offers consultation, supervision a place to reflect for counsellors and psychotherapists and other professions.

View supervision profile

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