Charlie Whiteford
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
I am a Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist living and working in West London, fully accredited with the BABCP.
I am currently training at the Metanoia Institute to become a Counselling Psychologist and consequently integrate humanistic and psychodynamic theory into my clinical practice.
Sometimes we just need a safe space to explore our feelings. Alternatively, we may realise we need to change the way we see ourselves or work on important relationships that are struggling. Whatever the difficulty, I aim to work with you creatively and collaboratively to help you feel better and achieve your goals. I believe that a relaxed, warm and honest space is what's needed to help us work best.
What I can help with
Having worked in both public and private settings, I am able to offer effective evidence-based treatment for depression, grief, low self-esteem, stress, relationship issues and a range of anxiety disorders (including but not limited to PTSD, OCD, phobias, Panic Disorder and Health Anxiety). Frequently behind many such problems may lie deeper rooted feelings of guilt, shame and anger. I incorporate theory and practice from Compassion-Focused Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help clients explore and come to terms with such feelings.
I gain great enjoyment in being able to work with a diverse range of clients; taking interest in the impact that individual experiences, cultures and relationships have on a person’s psychology and ultimately how these factors colour the way we cope with distress. I have had the privilege of working with clients ranging in age from 16 to 102 and never fail to learn from their rich life experiences.
What to expect
Before our first meeting, I am very happy to offer a free 15 minute telephone consultation to make sure I am the right person to help, scheduled at your convenience.
The first session will be an initial assessment to talk about your main difficulties and what you would like the focus of treatment to be. Depending on your needs, I may ask questions about early life and family, to help me understand your circumstances better.
The length of our time together will be dependent on your individual needs and will be decided jointly, however NICE guidelines stipulate a minimum of 12 sessions of CBT as a therapeutic dose for depression and anxiety disorders.
Professional conduct
As a fully qualified psychotherapist I adhere to ethical guidelines laid out by my accrediting body (BABCP). I routinely discuss my cases with my clinical supervisor to ensure high standards of care, whilst maintaining client confidentiality. My duty of care as a health professional to the individual may mean I discuss (with consent) important matters with clients' GPs. Clinical notes are held securely within an online caseload management system ('bacpac').
How to get in contact
Please contact me via telephone or email to arrange a free 15 minute consultation. I look forward to hearing from you.
Training, qualifications & experience
Current employment
I currently practice privately online, providing evidence-based CBT to adults experiencing a range of difficulties. I am registered with various private health insurers and work as an associate of Psyma, providing therapy to NHS employees struggling with stress, anxiety and depression.
Previous experience
Most recently I worked within higher education, as part of the counselling team at a leading London university. I offered individual therapy to undergraduate and post-graduate students often struggling with academic stress, disordered eating, depression and issues relating to race, gender and sexuality.
I worked within NHS Talking Therapies services for 7 years. Within these roles I delivered therapy in a variety of formats (including individual, group, telephone and online) and worked as a clinical supervisor to junior colleagues.
Although I no longer practice art formally, I have a continued interest in the creative arts, not only for the relaxation and inspiration they give me personally, but also the potential therapeutic benefits they hold for those in psychological and physical distress.
Qualifications
- Practitioner in Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) Anna Freud National Centre for Children & Families (2019)
- Foundation Certificate in Humanistic Counselling Metanoia Institute (2018)
- Post Graduate Diploma High Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy University of Royal Holloway (2017)
- Ken Laidlaw Training in CBT with Older Adults Charlie Waller Institute (2015)
- Post Graduate Certificate Low Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy University of Essex (2013)
- Bachelor of Arts Art and Psychology University of Reading (2011)
Member organisations
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.
The BABCP is the lead organisation for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in the UK. Membership is open to anyone with an interest in the practice, theory or development of CBT. BABCP also provides accreditation for CBT therapists. BABCP accredited members adhere to the Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics in the Practice of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies, and are willing to be scrutinised in this adherence as required.
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
Life changes and transitions
Loss and grief
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£65.00 per session
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
Sessions last 50 minutes.
I am unfortunately unable to offer concessionary rates at this time whilst I am undertaking my doctoral training.
When I work
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I am currently only offering online therapy.
Please contact me for up to date vacancies.
Further information
About CBT
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy is a group of evidence-based strategies and techniques used to treat depression, stress and anxiety disorders. Since its inception in the late 1960s, CBT has grown and developed greatly, but the key aims and principles remain the same: the way we think affects the way we feel and what we do, creating a vicious cycle of negativity. CBT helps people learn to break these cycles by empowering them with increased awareness of their difficulties and new tools to manage unhelpful thoughts and behaviours.
As public awareness of mental health issues has increased over the last ten to fifteen years, so has the provision of CBT within various sectors of health care. Its popularity could be accounted for by a few different factors- its time-limited nature, structured approach or focus on goals- but what is crucial is its accessibility, no matter what age, background or learning needs there is a very good chance that it will be able to help.
About IPT
Interpersonal psychotherapy is an evidence-based therapy for depression. It is a structured approach lasting 16 sessions with three clear phases of treatment: assessment, middle and ending. It is a good alternative to CBT for those who think their depression stems from or is maintained by difficulties in their relationships. Within IPT we consider ways to improve important relationships whilst also processing difficult feelings about ourselves and others.
Examples of problems that IPT is really good at resolving:
Transitions (such as becoming a parent, retiring, separation)
Grief (when struggling to get over someone that you had an important relationship with)
Disputes (where one relationship is stuck or in crisis)
Isolation (where there is difficulty in many relationships)
