Anna Bampou

Verified Professional Verified Professional
Verified Professional

Every professional displayed on Counselling Directory has been independently verified by our team to ensure they have suitable credentials to practise.

MSc, Adults/Children/Young People Counsellor and Supervisor
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

Guildford GU2 & Godalming GU7
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

About me

About me

I am an experienced counsellor, having practiced since 2001 and a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).

I also supervise counsellors and other healthcare professionals on a 1:1 and group basis privately and as an external supervisor to various organisations in the public, charitable and private sectors. Please visit my supervision profile for more details.

Before I professionally trained to be a counsellor, I obtained a BA in English Literature and worked as an English teacher.

My interest in counselling was sparked by my own experience of having counselling in my 20’s, to deal with challenging life experiences. As a result, I not only got the support I needed but also I experienced personal transformation and growth in all areas of my life. This created a real passion and interest for me to become a counsellor, strongly believing that with the right professional support and care, I can help others to recover and lead happy, healthy and fulfilling lives.

Counselling Approach

I strive to create a safe, supportive environment where you can explore your concerns, thoughts, and feelings. My aim is to assist you in developing a better understanding of your issues, difficulties, and who you are at a deep level, moving towards developing a better relationship with yourself, and others, going forward in your life. I am trained as an Integrative Counsellor and I draw from many therapeutic modalities, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Person-Centred, Psychodynamic, Creative, Motivational Interviewing, the 12 Step Minnesota Model, Coaching, and Play Therapy among others, tailored to each client’s specific needs.

Training, qualifications & experience

Qualifications

2001 – BA in English Literature, American College of Greece

2002 – Certificate in Chemical Dependency Counselling Vocational Training, Western Counselling Services

2005 – Post Graduate Diploma in Counselling, University of Bristol

2009 – MSc in Counselling, University of Bristol

2015 – Level 4 Certificate in Children Counselling Vocation Training, Place2Be

2019 - Post Qualification Diploma in Counselling Supervision, Surrey Counselling              Training

I have undergone long term personal therapy and I am committed to continuing professional development, having attended professional training in various areas over the past years, including:

Bereavement and Loss

Safeguarding Children

Addiction

Attachment Theory in Clinical Practice

Relapse Prevention

Family Counselling

Art Therapy

Play Therapy

Somatic experience

Trauma


Experience

I have 15 years of clinical experience working with substance based addictions, such as alcoholism, drug addiction, pill addiction, as well as process based addictions, such as co-dependency, love addiction, gambling, food addiction, exercise addiction, workaholism, shopping/spending addiction, and internet addiction.

In addition to this, I am well skilled in treating cross-addiction and relapse. I have worked as a counsellor and team leader within different settings, including charity and community organisations, prison based settings, and within the private sector.  My skills include one-to-one client work, group therapy and delivery of psychoeducational lectures and experiential workshops.

In recent years, my new role as a mother inspired me to re-train in counselling children including young children. Alongside my training, I worked in a primary school in London, helping children through talking, creative work and play in a therapeutic environment. I worked with them to create the opportunity for them to be heard and seen, and to express their thoughts and feelings. At this vital early stage of development, offering support to deal with emotional and behavioural issues is proven to have a positive impact on the rest of their lives and the lives of those around them.

What I Treat

Through my career as a counsellor I gained extensive knowledge in treating issues such as:

  • Anxiety

  • Depression

  • Self-esteem

  • Work related stress

  • Loss and bereavement

  • Anger and anger management

  • Relationship difficulties

  • Addictions

I also offer counselling for self-development, supporting those who look for a way of empowering themselves to become the person they wish to be, through profound self-exploration and by developing or learning new life skills.

Specialism in Addiction

Whatever the form of addiction, I can help you to explore and increase your awareness of the underlying reasons driving your addiction and addictive behaviour and support you to develop new skills and establish supportive relationships that will lead you towards a life of sustainable abstinence. If during your assessment, or one-to-one counselling sessions together, we feel that medical detox and/or residential treatment is required, I can help you make these arrangements.

I understand that addiction affects the friends and family of the person who is in active addiction. Because of this, I offer counselling to friends and families, supporting them to explore their experiences and feelings associated with a loved one’s addiction. This helps with maintaining health and helps with the process of setting the necessary boundaries to help their loved one to seek help and recover. I incorporate within my counselling psychoeducation around the disease of addiction, family and addiction, effects on the family, breaking patterns such as enabling through the acquisition and use of new tools, like tough love and boundaries.

Specialism in Children

As a children’s counsellor, I see young children between the ages of 4 and 11 years old, with a range of presenting issues such as loss and bereavement, low self-esteem, bullying, family breakdown, trauma and domestic violence. I use play therapy, which is children’s natural medium to learn, communicate and explore their worlds. Through play I help them express themselves, explore their feelings and make sense of their experiences, empowering them to create solutions and increase their self-esteem by managing their individual situation. Alongside helping the child, I extend the support to their parent(s) and family, through regular review meetings where progress of the child in therapy can be discussed and/or additional support can be offered to enhance the changes and developments achieved by the child. I take serious consideration of safeguarding issues and confidentiality, and I have firm procedures in place to ensure this. I also have a well-established referral network in association with my colleagues at the Healthcare On Demand clinic.

Professional membership

I am a registered member with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and I am currently in application process of becoming an accredited member.

I am committed to ongoing professional and personal development and work within the BACP ethical framework for good practice.

I undertake regular independent supervision.

I carry full professional liability insurance.

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

Fees

Concessions offered for

  • Low income
  • Students
  • Trainee counsellors
  • Unemployed

Additional information

Please contact me to discuss fees.

We will collaboratively decide and regularly review the frequency and length of sessions.

Payment

Payment can be made by cash or bank money transfer.

Cancellation policy

After a session has been booked it is chargeable, unless cancelled with 48 hours’ notice.

When I work

I am available at The Eaves in Guildford, Godalming and Farnham. Please contact me to discuss availability.

Further information

I am fluent in French language and expert in Greek language.

The Eaves, 3 Paris, Parklands, Railton Road, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 9JX

The Eaves, The Lodge House, Catteshall Mill, Catteshall Road, Godalming, Surrey, GU7 1NJ

Type of session

In person
Online
Phone

Types of client

Children
Young people
Adults
Older adults
Couples
Families
Groups
Organisations

Key details

Wheelchair user access
Wheelchair user access

Wheelchair-accessible premises should have step-free access for wheelchair users and individuals who are unable to climb stairs. If a Counsellor's premises aren't step-free, they may offer alternative services such as telephone/web-based appointments, home visits, or meeting clients in different location, so you can choose the option that suits you best.

You can contact the Counsellor to discuss the options available.

Under the Equality Act 2010 service providers have a duty to make reasonable adjustments to ensure that individuals with disabilities can access their service. You can read more about reasonable adjustments to help you to access services on the CAB website.

Additional languages

French and Greek

Supervision

In person
Online
Phone

I am an experienced and qualified counsellor and counselling supervisor.

View supervision profile

Anna Bampou
Anna Bampou