Arabella Russell

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she/her
MA Relationship Therapy, MBACP (Accred)
Accepting new clients
Accepting new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

location_on Dorking, Surrey, RH4
Accepting new clients
Accepting new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

About me

I am an experienced and well qualified relationship counsellor offering support to both couples and individuals across Surrey and Sussex.  I worked for Relate for many years and now have a private practice in Dorking.   I also work in the NHS as a Psychosexual therapist as part of an advanced qualification that I am currently undertaking with Tavistock Relationships.  I work with all aspects of sexual difficulty - both within the couple relationship and for an individual. Issues around sex and intimacy can be the hardest topics to raise.  Opening up that conversation with the help of a trained therapist can lead to very powerful change.

Individual Therapy

Life can feel difficult at times. I see individuals who are experiencing profound sadness, loneliness, depression, anger, major life change, stress and anxiety, low self-esteem and loss or bereavement.  Exploring these issues with an experienced counsellor can offer great relief as well as giving you understanding and insight about how to manage things differently.

Couple Therapy

Feeling secure, happy and connected in our couple relationships is crucial to our emotional well-being. My expertise is in helping couples to address the issues that are causing pain, conflict and unhappiness in their lives.  These can include feelings of disconnection and incompatibility, loss of respect or understanding, lack of intimacy, the aftermath of an affair, resentment, repeated arguments and other communication issues.

Psychosexual Therapy

Talking about sex and sexual difficulties can be very difficult, even with our most intimate partner.  I provide a space where these difficulties can be gently explored and understood and where solutions can be found.  It can be unhelpful to think of sexual issues as purely physical dysfunctions.  There may be a physical component that will need investigating, and I will direct you to your GP if necessary.  Psychosexual therapy is about understanding the psychological and emotional aspects of the issue and working together to find a solution. 

Common issues which bring couples and individuals for psychosexual therapy include:

  • lack of sex in the relationship and desire discrepancy
  • Erectile dysfunction
  • Ejaculation issues such as rapid or delayed ejaculation
  • Vaginismus
  • Vulval pain conditions
  • Dyspareunia (pain during intercourse)
  • Anxiety and fear around sex and intimacy
  • Orgasmic or anorgasmic problems 
  • Impact of the menopause on sexual confidence and sexual functioning 
  • Impact of illness on sexual and intimate relationships

How many sessions will I need?

Everyone is different.  Some couples and individuals feel ready to leave counselling after a short time, whilst others benefit from a longer period of support.  My focus is providing you with the time you need.

Training, qualifications & experience

MA Relationship Therapy, University of Hull 
Post Graduate Diploma Relationship Therapy, University of Hull
Certificate in Psychosexual Studies - Tavistock Centre for Couple Relationships
Certified Relate Practitioner, Relate Institute
MBACP Accredited


I regularly attend intensive workshops and courses which include:

Advancing Skills in Couple Work  - Tavistock Centre for Couple Relationships (TCCR)
Infidelity and the Sexual Relationship - TCCR
Affairs - The Impact on the Couple Relationship - TCCR
The Stuck Couple: Managing disappointment, Blame and Conflict in the Couple Relationship - TCCR
Attachment Theory - The Impact of Attachment Security on the Couple Relationship - TCCR
Understanding and Recognising Sexual Addiction - Relate Institute
Emotionally Focussed Therapy - Relate Institute
Mental Health and Couple Counselling - Relate Institute
Counselling Young People - Youth Access

Member organisations

school Registered / Accredited

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.

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

Areas of counselling I deal with

Fees

£70.00 - £80.00

Additional information


Couples - £80
Individuals - £70

All sessions are 60 minutes




When I work

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Night

Daytime and Evenings

Type of session

In person
Online
Phone

Types of client

Adults (25-64)
Older Adults (65+)
Couples

Key details

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