Ben Amponsah MBACP (Accred), MBPsS
About me
I am a friendly experienced BACP Accredited Counsellor and Counselling Psychologist (in Training) who operates from a fully serviced office close to Manchester's Piccadilly Station. I have, since I was very young, been interested in what makes people tick and that is why I chose Psychology as my first degree. After a stint as an Army Officer and then a Recruitment Consultant I landed back in the world of counselling and psychology by joining an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) Work based counselling organisation. I worked in that industry for over 13 years before branching out as a private practitioner counsellor, having gained my counselling qualifications some years earlier.
My main areas of speciality have traditionally been counselling in the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT), Human Rights (with victims of torture/serious trauma) and Workplace arenas (EAP) but I have counselled outside of these with young people (14 and older) and Groups as well.
I can work either face to face or over the telephone.
I work with 6-12 sessions and then review with my clients. This is to get a focus on the work. I do work with some of my clients in an open-ended way.
Always happy to have a free initial consultation/assessment to see whether we are a fit and then take things from there.
Training, qualifications & experience
I have been counselling since 2002 and to date have completed more than 2400 counselling hours.
I have a Post Graduate Diploma in Advanced Studies in Counselling, University of Manchester, 2006; Certificate in Coaching, University of Middlesex, 2012; BSc (Hons) Psychology, University of Bristol, 1991.
I am currently part way through a Doctorate in Counselling Psychology.
I am an Integrative Counsellor working with my clients on the best therapeutic approach for the issues that they bring. I mainly use Gerard Egan's 'Skilled Helper' Integrative framework with a humanistic base and strong influence of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Psychodynamic and Solution Focused approaches.
I am also an EMDR (Eye Movement, Desensitisation and Reprocessing) qualified therapist-this is only one of 2 NICE approved therapies for working with people struggling with PTSD/Trauma.
I am experienced in assisting clients in the following areas: AIDS/HIV, Anxiety and generalised anxiety, Bereavement, Cultural issues, Depression, General counselling, Identity problems, Life Coaching, Loss, Mens Issues, Mental health issues, Obsessions, Personal Development, Post-traumatic stress, Redundancy, Relationships, Self Esteem, Self Harm, Service Veterans, Sex related issues, Sexual identity, Sexuality, Stress, Trauma, Work related issues.
Member organisations
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.
British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy
BACP is one of the UK’s largest professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy. Therapists registered with the Association fall into a number of different membership categories such as Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP and Registered Member MBACP (Accred), each standing for different levels of training and experience. MBACP (Accred) and MBACP (Snr Accred) members have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by the Association.
Registered members can be found on the BACP Register, which was the first register to achieve Accredited Voluntary Register status issued by the Professional Standards Authority. Individual Members will have completed an appropriate counselling and/or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but will not appear on the BACP Register until they've progressed to Registered Member MBACP status.
All members are bound by a Code of Ethics & Practice and a Complaints Procedure. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
Accredited register membership
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.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Therapies offered
Fees
My fees are £60/session but this is negotiable dependant on circumstances i.e. concessions for students and unemployed or retired are available.
Further information
My counselling office is in a building with serviced reception and full accessibility.
