Adrian Spencer
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
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.
Training, qualifications & experience
I am a UKCP accredited pychotherapeutic counsellor.
I have 3 Diplomas and a BSc(Hons) in Integrative Counselling.
A level 5 (intermediate) Diploma in Supervision.
I am a EMDR clinician.
I have trained as Deep Release Counsellor and Life Coach.
I have over 20 years experience in counselling and in excess of 18000 supervised counselling hours, working in most areas of emotional distress, increasingly in Anxiety, Panic Attacks, Depression, Marriage/Relationships, Food Disorders, OCD, Self worth/confidence and Anger related problems.
I have specific training in Trauma Related Areas including DID, PTSD, Dissociation, Childhood Sexual Abuse, Ritual Abuse and SRA.
I have training in Sensory Motor Psychotherapy.
I have a certificate in training and education, I am also a registered CACAB trainer and train counsellors and professionals in Attachment, Mindfullness, Boundaries, Inner Child, Creative Listening, Anger/ Anger management in families and individuals and the Care Certificate.
Member organisations
school 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.
The UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) is a leading professional body for the education, training and regulation of psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors. Its register is accredited by the government's Professional Standards Authority.
As part of its commitment to protect the public, it works to improve access to psychotherapy, to support and disseminate research, to improve standards and to respond effectively to complaints against its members.
UKCP standards cover the range of different psychotherapies. Registration is obtained by training or accrediting with one of its member organisations, or by holding a European Certificate in Psychotherapy. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
Accredited register membership
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
Compulsive Hoarding, Post Cancer, Phobias, Marriage/ relationship Counselling, Mindfulness,
Therapies offered
Fees
£60.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
£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)
When I work
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My working hours are;
Tuesday to Friday 8.00 AM and my last session is 5 PM
Further information
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.