Claude Distefano
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Hello and welcome!
Seeking therapy can be daunting, but I’m here to support you. Clients seek a safe space to gently explore and talk through difficult feelings or issues like relationship troubles, depression, work stress, low self-esteem, anxiety and worry, persistent low mood or tiredness, bereavement, shame, sleeplessness or insomnia, etc. You may feel overwhelmed and afraid because of uncertainty or the effects of chronic health conditions. With over 15 years’ experience working in Counselling and CBT on a daily basis, I have helped numerous persons navigate these kind of difficulties and I’d like to encourage you to reach out.
I offer a free 20min phone call without obligation to discuss your needs and help you make a start.
Experience and Approach:
My approach is warm, collaborative and characterised by non-judgmental listening and empathy.
I have extensive experience both in Counselling and CBT. Whereas Counselling is more exploratory in nature, CBT has a practical flavour to it and its strategies, methods and techniques are effective for various difficulties or problems with mood. I will discuss with you which therapeutic method, or a blend of both, may be more suited to your needs. I also have a special interest in low self-esteem and draw on other modalities such as Compassion Focused Therapy and Solution Focused Therapy where appropriate.
Should you decide to work with me, I will work collaboratively with you throughout our therapy to develop a shared understanding of your difficulties and struggles. We will consider what factors may be playing a role in keeping the problem/s going and together, we will explore and discuss ways to bring about positive change and/or a healthy adaptation to challenging circumstances or life events.
Why not drop me an email or text to arrange a free 20-min initial call. You may then take your time to decide whether or not working with me will benefit you.
Training, qualifications & experience
I have extensive experience working with clients from diverse backgrounds and ages from young adults to older people. For the past 15 years I have been working as a CBT therapist with a NHS Talking Therapy Service (formerly known as IAPT) where I conduct assessments and deliver face-to-face therapy on a daily basis. I also have a special interest in Low Self-Esteem and lead a small team of co-facilitators who run a regular group course on Improving Self-Esteem.
I regularly attend training workshops and seminars as part of my commitment towards continuing professional development. These involve further advanced training in CBT and I also take an interest in other modalities such as Compassion Focused Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy and Mindfulness.
Qualifications:
- Postgraduate Diploma in Evidence-based Psychological Treatments (CBT), University of Reading, 2012.
- Master of Arts (Counselling & Psychotherapy), Liverpool John Moores University, 2010.
- Postgraduate Diploma (Counselling & Psychotherapy), Liverpool John Moores University, 2007.
- Bachelor of Psychology (Hons), University of Malta, 2003.
Member organisations
school 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.
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.
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.
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
Fees
£75.00 per session
Free initial telephone session
Concessions offered for
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
£75 per online session or £80 per in-person session. I offer limited concessions for those who may find this too expensive. Payment by Bank transfer, Cash or Cheque.
Sessions are typically 50 minutes long across all presentation problems except PTSD which may occasionally involve 1-2 longer sessions involving higher fees, in which case these will be discussed with you and planned in advance.
Format of sessions:
Short or longer-term sessions, in-person, online by Zoom or by telephone. In-person sessions are offered only on Tuesdays. To manage the duration of therapy, I will regularly review and discuss our therapeutic progress with you in an open and transparent manner and we will decide together whether more sessions will be helpful.
When I work
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Sessions are usually held on Tuesdays or Wednesdays but other arrangements are possible on an individual basis. Please do not hesitate to contact me to discuss.
Further information
Limits of Confidentiality
Information shared during therapy is held confidentially except in the following circumstances which would warrant disclosure: If a client poses a serious risk of harm to themselves or others or they are at significant risk of harm or exploitation from others; Child Protection or Child/Adult Safeguarding issues; Information about acts of terrorism.
I am registered with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) which means personal data collected, stored and/or processed will be in compliance with Data Protection legislation including the European Union's General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) which came into force on 25 May 2018.
