Claire Sims
About me
Hello and Welcome. Thank you for stopping by my profile and your interest in Revive Counselling Suffolk. I'm a qualified counsellor with more than 15 years experience.
I'm glad you are here. I’m not going to start by telling you what counselling is or how it can help because I’m guessing you already have an idea of that as you are starting to seek out a counsellor. If you are seeking information about counselling see the information pages on this site or on my website where hopefully you will find everything you need…. If not... I am only a phone call or email away. I am more than happy to help with any information or queries you may have.
What I’m going to start by saying is.. well done... if you’re starting to look for a counsellor or find out how counselling can help then you are realising that you aren’t where you want to be in life, that something needs to change, maybe you aren’t feeling happy. Maybe feelings are becoming overwhelming, or you feel you need support with experiences, relationships, or situations you have been through. It is a huge, brave first step when we recognise, we need support- it is so important that we have listened to ourselves and are finding ways to take care of our emotional wellbeing.
I can offer a non judgmental, safe, professional and therapeutic space to explore whatever you need to, to support you to make change. I am a member of the BACP (British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy) and abide by their Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions 2018.
I look forward to speaking with you.
Training, qualifications & experience
I first started my training back in 2000 and started seeing clients in 2005 and since then have worked in a variety of settings. Most recently, along side private practice, I have worked at St Elizabeth Hospice within their Emotional Wellbeing Team. The service supports Hospice patients and their families, living with illness and in bereavement. For the 6 years prior to this I worked with Suffolk Rape Crisis, supporting women and girls who are survivors of any form of sexual violence. For many years I have worked within local Mind centres (in Essex originally and more recent years for Suffolk Mind). Not only as an IAPT Counsellor (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) but on Helplines, as a support worker and managing counselling services. At Suffolk Mind I set up an emotional support helpline; Dementia counselling service and a telephone counselling service. At Suffolk Rape Crisis as well as seeing clients and running the counselling service, I set up an online video counselling service, as well as training other counsellors to work online & on the telephone. I have also worked with a service that provides groups & counselling to new mums and those with Post Natal depression. For more details see my website.
2000- 2003- Braintree College
FOUNDATION COURSE- BTEC PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT- In counselling skills
2005- 2007- Braintree College
DIPLOMA -BTEC PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT- In Psychodynamic Counselling
2010- BACP Accreditation
accredited- pass
BACP MBACP (Accred) Register number: 0022198
My training was in psychodynamic counselling and that’s at the core of how I work, but, as I have gone through my counselling life I have evolved and developed different ways of working, so I would now describe myself as an integrative counsellor. But what is important for you to know is that my work is client led, I’m here to work alongside you, to support you - you are in control and I’ll work with you in a way that suits you.
Over the past 20 years I have continued to learn and grow as a counsellor - I/we never stop learning and I'll never stop growing! I have completed an abundance of further training, development & qualifications over the years Including:
- Sexual Violence
- Violence Against Women & Girls (VAWG)
- Childhood Sexual Abuse
- Personality Disorders
- Couples Counselling
- Dementia Counselling
- Telephone & Online Video Counselling
- Creative Therapies
- Mental Health
- Medication
- Safeguarding
Member organisations
Registered / Accredited
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.
British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy
BACP is one of the UK’s largest professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy. Therapists registered with the Association fall into a number of different membership categories such as Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP and Registered Member MBACP (Accred), each standing for different levels of training and experience. MBACP (Accred) and MBACP (Snr Accred) members have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by the Association.
Registered members can be found on the BACP Register, which was the first register to achieve Accredited Voluntary Register status issued by the Professional Standards Authority. Individual Members will have completed an appropriate counselling and/or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but will not appear on the BACP Register until they've progressed to Registered Member MBACP status.
All members are bound by a Code of Ethics & Practice and a Complaints Procedure. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
Accredited register membership
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.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Other areas of counselling I deal with
Survivors of any form of sexual violence:
Childhood Sexual Abuse
Rape
Attempted Rape
Image Based Abuse (Revenge Porn)
Coercive Control
Sexual Violence within relationships/marriage
Stalking & Harassment
Sexual Assault
Sexual Harassment
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£45.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
£45 per 50 minutes sessions for individuals
£75 per 1.5 hour sessions for couples
Fees can be paid as follows:
Cash on the day
Card payment on the day (chip & PIN, contactless, Apple, Samsung and Google pay)
Bank Transfer before sessions if preferred
Availability
Monday 8am- 5pm
Wednesday 8am- 5pm
Thursday 8am-9pm
Friday 8am- 5pm
Further information
I can offer limited places at a reduced rate, this can be discussed on enquiry
I work face to face in Ipswich on a Monday & Friday
I work face to face just outside Stowmarket on a Wednesday & Thursday
Telephone & Online sessions can be any of my working days
