Adrian Spencer

My name is Adrian Spencer, thank you for viewing my page.

I am a UKCP registered/accredited integrative Counsellor, with over 20 year's experience and having completed over 20,000 supervised clinical hours,

I am trained as an Integrative Counsellor/Therapist, where my core belief and work is based in the Person Centred--Humanistic approach. My framework also includes the other main counselling models, CBT, Gestalt, Creative and Psycho-Dynamic.

I work with people in both the short or long term, between 6 -20 weeks for short term work, (CBT--Mindfullness etc), or longer term work with people who have more difficult and deeper issues.

My integrated approach allows me to work holistically with the Mind Body & Spirit. This enables flexibility, where I can vary my counselling experience and skills around my clients and their unique and individual needs. .

In addition to the more general type of Counselling/Therapy, I incorporate working with Unresolved Body Pain-- Life Coaching---EMDR (for Trauma, OCD, Phobias, Panic Attacks etc.) ---Mindfulness--- Creative Work and Personal Growth.

I work towards the best long term benefits for people and believe this is possible when the therapeutic relationship is built on openness and honesty, where anything can be shared and is respected, no matter what. If there is little or no relationship/collaboration, the benefits to my clients may be limited. Therefore, all of my work is confidential and non-judgemental, it is offered in a safe and warm room where the priorities are compassion, empathy and unconditional positive regard.

I work to the UKCP/BACP code of ethics and my service is available to any one, regardless of culture, race, religion, sexual orientation or colour.

My experience and training is wide ranging,  Adults  and Couples. I have specific training and experience with Couples (Relationship), Depression, Anxiety, Panic Attacks, Fear, OCD, Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse, Different kinds of Trauma, PTSD, Dissociation, DID, (formally known as MPD), as well as Phobias, Hoarding, Anger, Anger Management and Attachment issues.

My personal philosophy is very much aligned to my counselling one. This is to help resolve/heal current or past issues, re-discover or become aware of, our true self, I.E. the person who is often buried or lost in life's difficult journey and experiences. Then, not only heal what is damaged, unresolved or broken but also help you find a more functional path through your life life, assisting Inner Peace, Relaxation, Confidence, Wholeness and nurturing personal growth.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me and I will be pleased to help you in any way I can.

Compulsive Hoarding, Post Cancer, Phobias, Marriage/ relationship Counselling, Mindfulness,

£60.00 per hour for individual counselling, (face to face, phone or Skype/Zoom.

£70.00 per hour for Supervision.

£ 70.00 for couples 

Most counselling sessions are up to 1 hour.  I do offer sessions of 90 minutes or 2 hours. (This would be arranged prior to each session).

£70.00 per hour for EMDR.
(These can be either 60-90 or 120 minutes in duration)

The theoretical concepts supporting my thinking are drawn together from various aspects of the three main schools of thought, Psychodynamic, Humanistic/Existential and Cognitive/Behavioural. Theories, humans and personalities constantly evolve, as do relationships. A fruitful, workable integrative framework and practice is a journey, never standing still, constantly developing and evolving. This framework remains flexible, moving this way or that by observing and keeping personal, moral and professional codes of ethics.

I do not think there is only one right counselling approach, firstly due to the many schools of thought, secondly, the complexity of humanity and infinite life experiences. If only two theories were available, each therapeutic outcome would differ; dependent not just the theory but the unique experiences brought into the therapeutic relationship.

General opinion holds that there are three main schools of thought; Psychodynamic, Humanistic/Existential and Cognitive/ Behavioural. Considering the clients uniqueness, remaining in one purist approach, in my mind would be doing a disservice to my clients. Different therapists interpret approaches in differing ways and clients have their own individual requirements which may change over time.

In my view the human condition cannot be viewed in one dimension, in a holistic approach every dimension is acknowledged and explored. One person's truth is another's un-truth and people learn and express themselves in different ways. A client, who is left brained, may work well with the logical, linear style of CBT but imagery, metaphor and symbols make no sense and visa versa.

All schools have strengths and weaknesses with over lapping areas, none possess the whole truth but they all have the common denominator of relationship. Even the Psychoanalysts in some cases have softened, moving away from the classical analytic style towards a more relational approach.

I have looked across the benefits and limitations of each school and put together a flexible framework which suits my style of counselling and personality. However, I am aware that blending differing orientations may not always be compatible. I try to identify core concepts and combine them to form a cohesive theoretical model, looking for similarities and resonances which make sense to me.