Christine Johnson

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Dip. Couns reg. BACP
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

location_on Bristol, BS11
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

About me

As a qualified counsellor, registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), I offer you a safe and confidential environment where you can explore and discuss your concerns at your own pace, without fear of judgement.

I passionately believe in the power of listening, empathy, acceptance and giving opportunities to clients to explore whatever they are experiencing patiently and supportively. With greater insight and care, clients can see their self-confidence improving and feel empowered to make the decisions that are right for them. My approach is non-directive, which means that you decide what and how much you tell me and together we can embark on a journey of self-discovery, self-acceptance and potential change.

I embrace diversity and differences and I have been privileged to work with people from different walks of life, ethnicities, religions, cultures and sexualities. I can offer counselling in German as well as English.

How counselling can help:

Most people look for counselling or therapy because they are experiencing some crisis. There is an habitual feeling, maybe anxiety or anger; or intrusive thoughts, or distrust or confusion; or particular behaviours, maybe around alcohol or drug use or ways of behaving towards others, that no longer fit with how this person wants, or maybe needs, to be. Others feel that their choices, for example, of partner or of work, are not working out as they want, but they are unsure of how to respond. Some people reading this may be only too painfully aware of trauma that they have experienced.

Some may be survivors of abuse. Most of my clients have had troubled upbringings and are struggling to find independence and an adult identity and often find that breaking old patterns is difficult.

Others can point to no single event that allows them to understand their discomfort. They have often experienced a kind of cumulative trauma caused by an emotional absence, and maybe excessive criticism or harshness in the carer's parenting style.

People who have autistic problems have to deal with historic and ongoing cumulative trauma, trying to create relationship in a world they do not understand and that does not understand them. The autistic elements and and the psychotherapeutic elements are interwoven. I can provide a therapeutic and empowering relationship to support the development of a richer life experience.

All of these, and more, can be worked though and resolved in therapy, so that the way life has worked for you up to now does not have to be the way it continues and the story written so far does not mean that the ending is fixed.

Before counselling: Clients come to me explaining their problems with words like:

Sad, Scared, Angry, Confused, Indecisive, Anxious, Inhibited, Desperate, Depressed, Empty, Wounded, Lost, Purposeless, Lonely, Overwhelmed, Isolated, Obsessed, Failed, Trapped

After counselling: Clients use words like:

Comfortable, Content, Pleased, Happy, Aware, Alive, Successful, Satisfied, Close, Spontaneous, Playful, Fun, Affectionate, Empowered, Stong, Confident, Excited, Valued, Loved.

Most clients experience internal emotional discomfort and have some difficulty functioning in some aspect of their life.

These issues can be explored and resolved in psychotherapy, which results in real changes in the individual's way of life, improved relationships and an ability to maintain joy in the face of current problems and pressures.

What to expect in a counselling session:

I work in an integrative and relational way, offering short-term, long-term and open-ended counselling in the South Gloucestershire and Bristol areas. I use different models and techniques to adapt my approach to your unique needs and the most important aspect of our work together will be our relationship.


First session:
During the first session we will find out whether we feel we can work together. We will carry out an initial assessement, agree the times and frequency for the first block of sessions. ( there will be regular reviews where we can establish whether things are working and what might need to change). We will agree the fee and work out what our counselling relationship will look like. You can tell me what your expectations/hopes and wishes are and how you like to work.

Supervision for me:
I work closely with clinical supervisors, and, when necessary, with other outside agencies, such as GPs, schools and local mental health professionals. I always consult with clients and work with them when advocating on their behalf to outside agencies. I follow the codes of ethics as set out by the BACP.

Training, qualifications & experience

Diploma in Professional Studies in Counselling, The University of the West of England (Level 6 qualification, accredited by the BACP)

Certificate in Counselling Skills, The University of the West of England (Accredited by the BACP)

Transactional Analysis 101 Certificate (European Association for Transactional Analysis)

CRUSE bereavement support - counselling service for people who have experienced bereavement.

Continuous Professional Development

Whilst most of my experience has been with fact to face counselling, I have also worked for an online counselling service. This was accessed by young people between the ages of 9 and 17.


Throughout my counselling training, I have gained more skills using creative counselling skills. I have successfully used: drawing and talking, Pets as Therapy, Sand tray therapy.

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.

Areas of counselling I deal with

Other areas of counselling I deal with

PETS AS THERAPY: I have two dogs who are registered as Pets as Therapy and I am registered to work with them. It is entirely up to you whether you want the dogs or one of them to be part of the counselling session.

They will never be present at the first session (unless you request to see them) and we will discuss fully whether they could form part of our counselling sessions.

Fees

Additional information

£40.00 per session (50 mins)

Concessions available to low earners/students and unemployed

When I work

Weekdays 10.00 - 20.00 please contact me for an appointment as there may be some flexibility.

Further information

My counselling room is private and is accessible via its own door. There is usually parking available on the road just outside the house. There are a few steps up to the house; wheelchair access is not possible.

There is no waiting room so please only arrive a few minutes before the appointment. I organise my appointments so that there is no chance of bumping into other clients if you arrive a few minutes before your agreed time.

Sessions last 50 minutes.

Type of session

In person
Online
Phone

Types of client

Children (0-12)
Young people (13-17)
Adults (25-64)
Older Adults (65+)
Families
Christine Johnson
Christine Johnson