Cara Hitchcock

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she/her
(Dip. Counselling) MBACP
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

Chesham HP5 & Aylesbury HP19
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

About me

Private Practice

Hello, my name is Cara and I am an experienced (10 plus years) Therapeutic and Certified Online and Telephone Counsellor currently working with individuals and groups in Private Practice (Chesham) and for Cruse Bereavement Care (Aylesbury).  With my work in Private Practice and through Cruse I have experience of seeing clients for a number of different reasons in various settings including in the home, in centres and in schools; primary and secondary.

As of 2023 I now currently work from my private location in Chesham and online.

Counselling

I am very aware how we can all struggle on day after day or even years without ever seeking out any proper support for ourselves. Counselling can offer the support and provide the space in your life during these difficult and challenging periods. These periods of our lives could include times when we may be feeling a bit down or ‘blue’, confused, may feel a bit stuck, may have recently been bereaved, given a diagnosis or developed anxiety, depression or an illness.  Counselling can also be beneficial if you are experiencing concerns about an upcoming life event, the future or something is troubling you from the past.

We all experience and process feelings, emotions, thoughts and life events in individual ways.  The way I work with you will therefore be unique and tailored to you whether it’s short term, 1 session, a few sessions or longer term.  I work in collaboration with you to identify and address your needs this could be working in the ‘here and now’, with past events and/or future worries.

How Counselling Can Help

By choosing a person-centred therapeutic relationship I will ensure we build a therapeutic space individual to you where you will feel safe to talk, supported to explore any thoughts and feelings you may be experiencing and accepted for any changes you want to make.

Counselling can help you pinpoint and understand meaning behind your feelings, thoughts, emotions and behaviours.  It can also help you make sense of your relationships and any relationship difficulties you may be experiencing. It can help you focus on any concerns you may have, it can provide clarity and personal understanding, gain personal insights, develop strategies, identify goals and increase self-acceptance, self-awareness, self-esteem and self-expression.

What to Expect

As a counsellor I am fully aware that talking about yourself, your problems, your thoughts and your feelings can be a daunting, uncomfortable and sometimes a fearful situation to find yourself in.

I will try to help, support and ease you through this process as much as possible in my warm and friendly manner, giving you as much clear information as I can as we go along. I will go through with you prior to our first meeting what to expect and I will answer any questions you may have regarding our first meeting and the process as a whole.

During our first session we will explore at your pace the reason/s you have decided to come to counselling and agree together a way forward which suits your needs.

Counselling can address a wide range of problems or issues in your life.  As we work together and as you experience the 'autonomy' within the counselling room, you may find it becomes less daunting and as a result you may feel that you want to address other issues or problems as and when they come up for you.

My part in the process is not to evaluate, judge or give you advice in any way because each client and each situation is different and unique.

Please visit my website or contact me via telephone or email for more information about myself and where and how I practice.

I will try to return your call or reply to your email within the same working day but if you do not hear from me please check your spam folder.

Training, qualifications & experience

ABC Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling

Certificate in Online and Telephone Counselling (ACTO Approved)

BA (Hons) Social Housing & Development

Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Skills

Foundation Course (Level 2) Awareness in Bereavement Care

Certificate - Working with Children and Young People Training Course - Cruse Bereavement Care

Accredited Member - The Foundation For Infant Loss Training

Contract Counsellor at Adoption Services for Adults which is an Ofsted Outstanding Adoption Service. (Ofsted reg no: SC463447).

Associate Counsellor with PAC-UK (Ofsted reg no: SC066981).

Associate Counsellor with Professional Help Ltd

EduCare Child Protection in Education:

Child Protection

Child Protection in Education Level 2

Child Exploitation & Online Safety Level 2

Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Awareness

Ongoing CPD

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

Other areas of counselling I deal with

This list is just a guide to some of the areas where I have supported adults, young people and children so please contact me to discuss your own personal concerns and needs.

Fees

£50.00 per session

Concessions offered for

  • Low income
  • Keyworkers
  • OAPs
  • Students
  • Trainee counsellors
  • Unemployed

Additional information

£50.00 (£35 first session).

I provide a limited number of spaces at concessionary rates for students and those on a reduced income.

When I work

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Night

Daytime availability Monday - Friday. Evening availability (Chesham only) Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday

Garden Room, Chesham, Buckinghamshire, HP5 2QT

Fairford Leys Centre, Hampden Square, Fairford Leys, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP19 7HT

Type of session

In person
Online
Phone

Types of client

Young adults (18-24)
Adults (25-64)
Older Adults (65+)
Groups
Organisations
Employee Assistance Programme

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.

Social

Cara Hitchcock
Cara Hitchcock