Dena Darling
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
I provide counselling, psychotherapy and personal development sessions in Felixstowe. Sometimes clients ask me whether there's a difference between counselling and psychotherapy, and I usually describe it like this: If your life was on track until recently, perhaps you were made redundent or a relationship broke down two or three months ago, and you want to get back on track where you were prior to that, counselling (including CBT) is appropriate. However. If your life has never been on track, or if you want a completely new set of tracks, psychotherapy is more appropriate.
Psychotherapy goes deeper into your history and is usually longer-term.
I see individuals in Felixstowe, Suffolk. I work with clients on a range of issues including relationship difficulties (with partners and also with family members), low self-confidence, jealousy, insecurity, self-esteem, communication skills, self-development and awareness, depression and repetitive patterns of unhealthy behaviour. I also work with clients who are struggling to come to terms with loss, and others who are survivors of childhood abuse (sexual, physical and/or emotional).
I provide therapy in a friendly and safe environment and offer flexible appointment times. I am happy to send you written information or to respond to questions by email.
I offer a free assessment consultation to explore whether counselling or psychotherapy would be useful to you, and this is also an opportunity for you to find out whether you would feel comfortable working with me. There is no obligation or pressure to book further sessions - this is simply an opportunity to talk about whether therapy is appropriate and to discuss your options. This session usually lasts 30-45 minutes.
If you have an interest in psychology and want to understand yourself and your relationships better, but do not feel that counselling or psychotherapy is appropriate for you, it might be worth considering personal development sessions. A course of six training sessions can provide you with the tools and techniques for understanding, predicting and changing your own patterns of behaviour, and also help you to build healthier relationships.
My style of therapy is informal and friendly, and I believe that we are equal partners in the therapy work: my clients bring a long and deep understanding of themselves to the work, and I bring skills and techniques that can help them to make the changes that they want.
I usually start off by asking clients if they have a 'shopping list' of what they'd like to get out of therapy, and then I ask about their experiences from childhood onwards in order to get to know them and to understand some of the events that have shaped their personality. Communication during my style of therapy is not one-sided: it is a two-way process. These sessions can feel much like having a conversation with a friend: I ask a question and my client responds as long as they're comfortable to, I ask another question and my client responds etc. Sometimes my client asks me a question, and I respond, just as we do in a normal conversation. It isn't just a question-and-answer session though: I offer practical strategies, tools and techniques, and I also work with clients to develop or update their 'view of the world'.
During the Covid-19 pandemic my practice was inspected by a Chartered Safety Consultant, and after implementing their modifications I was able to return to face-to-face working (without masks) very quickly in 2020. If you are immuno-compromised or particularly vulnerable to Covid-19, please let me know and I will be happy to take a lateral flow test prior to meetings.
My practice room is on the ground floor. Unfortunately I cannot offer toilet facilities on the ground floor, but they are readily accessible up a single flight of stairs. There is ample parking in front of my drive, and I am on the 75 bus route which runs between Felixstowe and Ipswich (alight outside Grange School on Grange Road, approximately 100 yards from my practice).
I offer bottled water to clients and I'm happy for you to bring your own thermos or flask. Please let me know if you have hay fever so that I can remove any cut flowers from the practice room prior to your arrival.
Training, qualifications & experience
Diploma in Transactional Analysis Counselling (2006)
Masters' Degree in Transactional Analysis Psychotherapy (2015)
Registered with U.K.C.P. (United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy)
Member of U.K.A.T.A. (United Kingdom Association for Transactional Analysis)
I did my first two years training in Manchester, and then transferred to the Oxford Centre for Psychotherapy Training for a further five years. I completed my Counselling Diploma in 2006 and then embarked on advanced training at The Berne Institute in Kegworth where I completed my Masters' Degree in Transactional Analysis Psychotherapy.
I'm UKATA Registered (United Kingdom Association for Transactional Analysis) and I'm also registered with UKCP (United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy). I receive regular supervision, and I adhere to the UKCP and UKATA codes of ethics.
I have over 6000 hours of experience with clients gained over 15 years.
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
Sometimes clients are unable to explain why, exactly, they feel they need help, and sometimes they feel that their issues are too 'vague'. The following are some typical issues:
"I feel guilty even when I know it's not my fault"
"I'm not sure what I want, but I'm sure life shouldn't be like this"
"I get angry really easily - I'm afraid I might lash out"
"I don't know whether I want to leave my partner or not... I feel confused"
"I'm such a people-pleaser that I don't even know what I want for myself anymore"
"I have to make a decision and I'm scared I'll get it wrong"
"I know my partner loves me, but I still get jealous all the time"
"Everything always seems to be my fault and I'm fed up with it"
"I'm afraid I might have a compulsive personality"
"My partner died over two years ago and I still can't get over it"
"I spend money to make myself feel better, and I'm afraid I'm getting into serious debt"
"I feel anxious all the time"
There are many other reasons why people come into therapy. If you're not sure whether therapy is appropriate for you then the assessment session is an opportunity to discuss whether it is, and to explore your options.
If you are interested in self-development you might also consider a course of self-development sessions. During these one-to-one classes I can teach you some psychology models and techniques that can help you to examine and understand your own behaviour, and provide you with skills that can help you to have healthier relationships.
Fees
£45.00 per session
Free initial in-person session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
There is no charge for an initial consultation - this meeting gives us an opportunity to discuss whether counselling is appropriate for you at this time, and also an oppotunity for you to see whether you feel comfortable with me. This introductory session usually lasts between 30 and 45 minutes.
My standard fee for full sessions (60 minutes) is £45.
If you would find the full fee difficult, I offer a reduced rate (£35) for up to 12 sessions. If you require long-term therapy and cannot afford to switch to £45 for weekly sessions (after 12 weeks at £35), it may be an option to then have sessions fortnightly. Please see my website at www.dena.org.uk for full details including prices and terms & conditions.
When I work
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I offer morning, afternoon and evening sessions, Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Appointments can be booked for the same day each week, or varied to accommodate shift patterns.
Further information
My style of psychotherapy is informal and friendly, and I believe that we are equal partners in the therapy work: my clients bring an understanding of themselves to the work, and I bring skills and techniques that can help them to make the changes that they want.
I usually start off by asking clients if they have a 'shopping list' of what they'd like to get out of therapy, and then I ask about their experiences from childhood onwards in order to get to know them and to understand some of the events that have shaped their personality. My style of therapy is a two-way conversation, and can feel much like having a conversation with a friend: I ask a question and my client responds, I ask another question and my client responds and possibly talks at more length about a certain incident. Sometimes my client 'dries up' and prefers me to take the lead in the converstaion, and sometimes my client asks me a question, and then I respond, just as it is in a normal conversation.
Most people don't realise that there is no statutory regulation of counsellors or psychotherapists: whilst someone calling themselves a dentist or a physio has to be trained and qualified, there is no such regulation of people advertising themselves as a counsellor or psychotherapist. Anyone at all, without training or qualification, can advertise themselves as a counsellor or psychotherapist. Those who are registered with UKCP or BACP will have to meet certain training requirements, and there are other registers that will also demand high standards: price is not an indication of expertise. A personal recommendation can be useful, but if you have not been recommended to a particular practitioner, then when you contact a practitioner it is safest to enquire after training and experience.