About me
Hello, I'm Brenda, the founder of Elephant Counselling, based in Bispham. I'm a fully qualified Integrative Counsellor, offering a warm, supportive, and non-judgemental space for children, young people, and adults aged 5 and over. I aim to help you feel safe, heard, and understood as we work together at a pace that feels right for you.
Taking the first step towards counselling can feel daunting, and finding someone you feel comfortable talking to isn't always easy. I understand how important it is to find a counsellor you feel safe with, which is why I offer a free 20-minute telephone consultation. This allows us to have an informal chat about what has brought you to counselling, what you're hoping to gain from therapy, and whether we feel like the right fit for one another. It's also a chance for you to ask any questions you may have about the counselling process or what to expect.
My Approach
As an Integrative Counsellor, I believe there is no "one size fits all" approach to therapy. Every person is unique, with their own experiences, strengths, and challenges, so I tailor each session to meet your individual needs.
I draw on a range of therapeutic approaches, including:
- Person-Centred Therapy
- Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Play Therapy Techniques
- Creative and Expressive Methods
- Mindfulness
By combining these approaches, we can work together in a way that feels right for you, helping you to make sense of your experiences and move towards the changes you would like to see.
Whether you're experiencing anxiety, low mood, relationship difficulties, grief or loss, emotional overwhelm, low self-esteem, life transitions, or simply feeling stuck, you don't have to face it alone. I will work alongside you with warmth, empathy, and compassion, supporting you every step of the way.
A Safe Space to Explore and Grow
I see counselling as a journey, one where you don't have to have all the answers before you begin. Sometimes life can leave us feeling overwhelmed, uncertain, or disconnected from ourselves, and that's okay.
I aim to offer a safe, welcoming, and non-judgmental space where you can be yourself, feel heard, and explore whatever is important to you without fear of being judged or rushed.
Together, we'll work at a pace that feels comfortable, helping you gain a deeper understanding of yourself, build on your strengths, develop resilience, and create meaningful, lasting change. My hope is that you leave each session feeling listened to, supported, and a little more able to move forward with confidence.
Training, qualifications & experience
Experience
I work with children, young people, and adults, supporting people through a wide range of emotional, behavioural, and psychological challenges.
Alongside my private practice with adults, I have extensive experience as a school counsellor in both primary and secondary schools. In these settings, I have supported children and young people experiencing anxiety, low mood, emotional regulation difficulties, low self-esteem, bereavement, family changes, friendship difficulties, and neurodivergence. I also have experience working with children and young people with Special Educational Needs (SEN), adapting sessions to meet each individual's needs.
My work with adults includes supporting people through anxiety, depression, stress, relationship difficulties, loss and bereavement, life transitions, low self-esteem, emotional overwhelm, and the challenges that can arise from balancing work, family, and everyday life. Whether someone is facing a specific difficulty or simply feeling stuck, I offer a space to explore their experiences, develop greater self-understanding, and work towards positive change.
These varied roles have strengthened my ability to build trusting therapeutic relationships and provide a warm, compassionate, and personalised approach to counselling.
Qualifications
- BA (Hons) Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy
- APT Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
- NCFE CACHE Level 3 Counselling Skills
- NCFE CACHE Level 2 Counselling Skills
- NCFE CACHE Level 2 Mental Health Awareness
- NCFE CACHE Level 2 Helping Skills
- NCFE CACHE Level 2 Safeguarding and Prevent
- City & Guilds Level 2 Functional Skills Mathematics
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
£50.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
Fees:
- Individual counselling session: £50
- Trainee counsellors: £40
- I also offer a free 20-minute telephone consultation before beginning therapy.
Payment: To confirm your appointment, payment is kindly requested at least 24 hours before your scheduled session by bank transfer.
For face-to-face sessions, if agreed in advance, payment can be made in cash immediately before the session begins.
When I work
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Further information
Professional Membership
I am a fully registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), adhering to their ethical framework and professional standards.
I also have an enhanced DBS, and full professional insurance and a member of the ICO
Sessions are available: Online or Face to Face, with appointments lasting 50 minutes.
I also offer counselling within educational settings and can provide school-based counselling services where appropriate.
