Bridget O'Connell
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This professional has no current availability for new clients. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.
This professional has no current availability for new clients. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.
About me
My name is Bridget and I warmly welcome you.
I am a warm, approachable, committed and fully qualified Humanistic and Integrative Counsellor. I believe that the power of the therapeutic relationship is key to the success of therapy and as such, from a strongly relational stance, offer a safe, nourishing and nurturing environment in which to explore any issues you may be currently facing. It may be that life has thrown you some unexpected challenges, it may be that you are asking Who Am I? Alternatively you may want to celebrate your successes and would like to be witnessed and supported in this.
Whatever the reason for bringing you to my page I offer a collaborative and supportive environment in which to explore your current situation. I provide 1:1 face to face, short and long term counselling and psychotherapy from my private therapy room in Whitchurch, South Bristol (near to the ring road and surrounding areas of Totterdown, Hengrove, Knowle, Brislington and Keynsham).
I have extensive experience working with stress, anxiety, depression, abuse, trauma, PTSD, bereavement and relational and anger issues. I also have experience working with pre and perinatal issues including Vanishing Twin Syndrome, fertility and pregnancy issues, miscarriage and postnatal depression.
As a former piano teacher I am also very interested in using creative techniques in the therapy room such as moving, singing, drawing and shouting. This can help with feelings of shame and accesses emotions and experiences that are too difficult to talk about initially.
I invite you to be 'deeply heard, supported and understood' .
TESTIMONIAL FROM PREVIOUS CLIENT (permission given to use the following and state his name) :
"I can't thank Bridget enough for the help she has given me.
Throughout my initial sessions Bridget primarily focussed on listening to what I had to say. Further down the line we began to tackle my issues and really unravel them into real solutions/ new mindsets. Some of them I had no idea were even bothering me.
My outlook on life has never been clearer and I can truly say I'm the happiest I've been in a very, very long time. Given the place I was in when I started attending my sessions, it truly is a 180% night and day.
I have no doubts in Bridgets ability to help anyone, as well as being a great listener and not afraid to give an honest outlook.
Would definitely recommend to anyone.." Declan
Training, qualifications & experience
I have a Postgraduate Diploma in Humanistic and Integrative Counselling (Distinction) from BCPC (Bath Centre for Psychotherapy and Counselling).
I have a Foundation Certificate in Counselling from BCPC.
I have a BSc (Hons) Degree in Psychology from Middlesex University.
I am a registered member of BACP and adhere to their code of ethics and also attend regular supervision.
I am committed to my professional and personal development and as such regularly attend workshops to further develop my knowledge and practice. My additional qualifications and experience include:
Certificate in 'Eating Disorders In the Therapy Room'.
'Managing Generalised Anxiety Disorder and Panic Attacks'
'Healing our Shadow' - Jungian Archetypes
'Weekend Anger Workshop'
'Using Music in the Therapy Room'
'Transactional Analysis'
'Finding One's Voice in the Therapy Room'
My work experience includes:
Bristol Mind - working with individuals who came with a range of issues including, bereavement, isolation, trauma, financial and relational issues.
The Southmead Project - working with clients who had current addictions and came from abusive backgrounds.
Weston College - working with individuals aged 16+ who were suffering with exam related stress, depression and anxiety.
I was also a Samaritan for a number of years.
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
Other areas of counselling I deal with
I have extensive knowledge and experience working with pre and perinatal birth wounds and their impact in later life. I welcome anyone interested in working through this early stage of life and its impact on us as adults.
As a piano teacher for over 15 years I am also interested and have extensive experience working with creative techniques in the therapy room, for instance using music, art and movement as an alternative method of expression.
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£50.00 - £55.00
Free initial in-person or telephone session
Concessions offered for
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
I charge from £55 per 50 minute session. I offer a concessionary rate for those that need it which depends on a number of factors. Please contact me if you would like further information and to see if I have any concessionary rates available.
When I work
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I work Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 to 3pm.
Further information
I offer a free 30 minute session with no obligation to book further sessions. This gives us a chance to get to know each other and decide whether we want to work together. If we decide to go ahead we will book in regular weekly slots. If not I will endeavour to point you in the direction of another suitable counsellor.
