Lesley Hurst
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
For most of us, there are times when we need support to deal with difficult emotional issues or a personal crisis. Finding someone you can trust and feel at ease with is important as research tells us that it is the quality of the relationship between counsellor and client that is the key to successful therapy. To help you with this decision, I offer an initial free session. This provides an opportunity to ask any questions, explore what it is you wish to gain from therapy and to decide if I am the right counsellor for you. I am also happy to speak to you by phone about any queries or concerns you may have if you prefer.
I have been qualified as a therapist for 15 years and I am registered member of BACP.
Through the experience of working with others, I have come to understand that much of the pain and distress in life is rooted in a disconnection from personal meaning, a sense that we are cut off from ourselves in some way. When we lose contact with our deepest needs and what really matters to us we can feel lost, unable to believe in ourselves and may find that we are less able to trust others. It becomes harder to find meaning in life, we can lose direction and relationships may suffer.
My aim is to provide a safe and respectful therapeutic relationship where painful life events and limiting patterns which may be preventing you reaching your full potential can be explored and this connection to self can be strengthened. Obstacles to this could include defenses that have outlived their value and a lack of trust in your own process. With greater self-trust and acceptance, we begin to discover our own voice, things become clearer and we can begin to live a more fulfilling life. Often, creating a more compassionate relationship with ourselves is also a positive step in healing relationships with others. Counselling provides a place to free up restrictions, helping to unearth deep personal wisdom to help you make sense of yourself in the world, establish healthy boundaries and return to a more balanced place within yourself.
Whatever your needs, I will provide support to help you make sense of things and deepening your self-awareness. Moving at your own pace, I will work with you to help to identify and build upon your strengths, which in turn may empower you to make better choices for yourself.
My core practice is rooted in the Person- Centred / humanistic approach and I have expanded my learning through further training to include Mindfulness and some aspects of the CBT model, integrating these when it feels most helpful.
I work from rooms in Withdean in Brighton. Parking is free and it is easy to reach on public transport. I offer one to one sessions on a time limited or long term basis with adults and older adolescents. My consulting room is on the ground floor so relatively accessible but if mobility is a problem please call me and we can discuss the possibility of having sessions at your home. As well as face-to face, I also offer online therapy via 'Zoom' and telephone sessions.
Testimonials
I am hugely grateful to Lesley for helping me to reconnect with myself and for facilitating my growth as a person. I saw Lesley over a number of years - she was initially recommended to me by a friend when I was going through a crisis in my life - and through our work together I gained a stronger sense of self and orientation to the world. These have been meaningful and lasting changes for me. I believe that Lesley's warmth, openness, empathy and unconditional positive regard created the conditions for a trusting and inquiring relationship which enabled me to flourish
KH
"I have lived with an eating disorder for 30+ years. In the past I have tried working with various therapists but even though I came to understand why I behaved the way I did, I was not able to overcome the ED. Just over a year ago I started working with Lesley and I have found her more holistic, person centred approach to be much more successful. For the first time someone was trying to get to know the person behind the ED. The person that had been forgotten and ignored for years. I began a journey of self discovery which has brought me to a place where I feel I can challenge the beliefs of my ED and move on from them."
PH
"I arrived completely broken, lost and unable to look forwards, faced with multiple challenging events in my life that overwhelmed me. Lesley's approach to my needs helped me break those items down into manageable chunks that I could understand and view from an outsider's perspective. She provided me with life long tools to keep myself afloat and to rebuild, without fear of voicing what I need... firstly to myself but also to others. Not to feel responsible for all around me...I've become stronger than I have ever been and for that I'm eternally grateful. Lesley's approach was exactly what I needed. Thank you.I have no reservations in recommending Lesley to anyone and would not hesitate to see her again should a need arise."
JM
“I worked with Lesley for around 6 months and found the entire process a life changing journey. We took things at my own pace and Lesley allowed me to guide her as to the speed at which we worked. After coming to the end of my counselling sessions I feel as though I have a new lease of life. I put this down to the courage and willingness I had within myself to keep on fighting to resolve my inner issues and also the gentle, warm and reliable relationship that myself and Lesley built over the course of our sessions. I will be forever grateful to her for the service that she provided me with.”
ET
Training, qualifications & experience
Post-Graduate Diploma in Person-Centred Counselling
(University of Brighton 2009)
Certificate in counselling (Birkbeck University)
Mindfulness MBCT
CBT (multi modal model) training
Cruse bereavement training
ASSIST suicide intervention training
In addition to my private practice I have worked for a low cost counselling service where I have provided therapy for adults with a wide range of issues including depression, self esteem problems, trauma, eating disorders, suicidal thoughts, sexual abuse and childhood neglect amongst others. I also have experience of specialist bereavement therapy within the Cruse service. I have an Arts background and have worked for West Sussex County Council providing counselling for children and young people where exploration through creative mediums is central to the work. I have found that adults too can benefit from this expressive approach. I am increasingly interested in mindfulness practice and the benefit this approach to life can bring in helping us deal with difficulties. As a practice we currently provide short term workplace counselling for staff within a Brighton college.
Member organisations
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
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
Therapies offered
Fees
£45.00 - £55.00
Free initial in-person session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
Appointments are charged at £55 per 50 minute session.
There is no fee for the initial session. I also offer a limited number of reduced cost appointments for trainees or anyone who would struggle to pay the full fee.
When I work
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Further information
I work from a welcoming consulting room in the Withdean area of Brighton
Parking is free and bus 27 stops nearby.
Daytime and evening appointments are available.
If you have limited mobility I may consider seeing you in your own home. Please call me or email to discuss this further.
I am a member of the BACP and adhere to their ethical framework.
I undergo regular clinical supervision with a qualified and experienced supervisor and I am fully insured in line with BACP guidelines for best practice.
I am committed to my ongoing professional development and attend regular training and workshops to broaden and deepen my practice.