Catherine Aikin-Sneath
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
I am one amongst a team of independent counsellors operating from rooms in the Guildford Institute, situated just off North Street in Guildford town centre. My approach is humanistic with an existential outlook but above all I aim to provide a warm and comfortable atmosphere in which to talk without fear of being judged.
Your counselling sessions offer a space away from everyday life where you can talk about things on your own terms. During our time together, you will be invited to raise anything you wish to talk about or explore. On occasion I offer creative ways of working or techniques related to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) where we agree these may be helpful. However, the work we do together will be led by your unique perspective.
At times you may wish to explore practical solutions to a situation in your life but generally you will be supported in spending time sharing and working towards a deeper understanding of areas in your life. This can lead to looking at different options available to you in addressing something or living life differently.
The first session
At the beginning of our first session, we will discuss mutual expectations. I will give you a sheet outlining our terms for signing if you are happy with them and will seek to answer any questions you have. You’ll then be invited to share what has brought you to counselling and the rest of our session will be led by you. At the end, there will be time to reflect on how it felt and whether you would like to continue.
Training, qualifications & experience
Over 1000 hours of counselling experience, over 900 of which was spent working both with young people aged 12-24yrs within an NHS service and with adults struggling with addiction problems, or their close relatives, in a Guildford charity setting.
BA Hons degree in Counselling (Greenwich/Guildford 2013); foundation degree in Humanistic counselling. An Enhanced DBS certificate is available to view on request.
Working with young people has raised issues such as anxiety and depression, suicidal thoughts, self-harm, anger, school pressures, bullying, friendships/relationships, low self-esteem, family relationships, low self-esteem, abusive experiences, sexuality, gender, difficulty eating, living with health problems and thoughts about the future they would like.
A further ten years spent within hostel environments working with clients in difficult life situations arising from trauma, loss, addiction, poor wellbeing, offending, substance use or other addictions, adoption, gender matters, sexuality and risk. Experienced in liaising with other services where needed and can support clients in linking in with other specialist support where appropriate or requested.
Additional training: Diversity ; Child Safeguarding level II ; Adult safeguarding ; Domestic and sexual abuse ; Exploitation ; FGM ; Suicidal Ideation ; Substance Use ; Adoption ; SEN (Special Educational Needs) ; Data Protection.
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
Older people
People who have moved area
People who have moved into the country
Therapies offered
Fees
£50.00 - £55.00
Concessions offered for
Additional information
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£50 - sessions starting before 5pm
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£55 - sessions starting at or after 5pm.
Please raise with me if you are experiencing financial struggles.
When I work
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Fridays between 1pm and 9pm.
Thursdays between 5pm and 9pm.
Further information
The counselling room is found on the second floor, accessed via the right-hand front door and up the wooden stairs. If you will need to use the lift, please request the code from me prior to your first visit as this will be needed to proceed to the second floor. Please take a seat in the waiting area just beyond the wooden door and I will come out to meet you at our allotted time.
If you would like a bite to eat before your session, there is a vegan restaurant on the first floor providing food 12-2pm.
For people attending with larger-style wheelchairs, there is a convenient room available on the ground floor subject to prior agreement with Events staff.
