Clea McEnery-West
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About me
I am an experienced psychotherapist undertaking further training as a psychoanalyst. Psychoanalysis is an intensive psychological therapy which works at a deep level.
The Work
I am offering the opportunity for one or two people to have psychoanalysis as part of my further training. In practice, this means coming four times a week in person for a minimum of 2 years.
The First Meeting
The initial assessment is key to finding out whether intensive psychoanalytic work is the right treatment for you. This will be a meeting where I can find out more about what is troubling you and let you know how I can help.
How I Work
The psychoanalytic model is a way of understanding psychological issues at a deep level, for example how current issues may have their roots in childhood experiences. It also allows me to explore with you thoughts and feelings you may not be fully aware of but which can have a significant impact on your life. These may be unhelpful thought patterns, behaviours, or beliefs about yourself which may hold you back.
In our sessions I will not talk about myself or my own experiences in relation to yours as this could have the effect of taking attention away from your unique experience. It keeps the focus on you. You may find this strange at first as it is unlike the sort of two-way conversation you may have with friends, family or other professionals, but I believe this is what makes therapy unique - it is different from any other conversation and it is all about you.
My Experience
My experience is broad and extensive, I have worked as a therapist in the NHS and in the corporate sector as well as for many years in private practice.
Specifically I have worked a lot with people suffering from anxiety, stress and depression, as well as relationship issues and work-related problems, including issues of discrimination and bullying.
Practical Issues
The work is confidential and I follow the British Psychoanalytic Council code of ethical practice, www.bpc.org.uk.
The sessions last for 50 minutes and take place in person in my consulting room in St Albans.
If you wish to be taken on as a patient for psychoanalysis, I will ask you to apply to the clinical service of my training organisation, the British Psychoanalytic Association, psychoanalysis-bpa.org, who will assess you and formally refer you to me under their low-fee scheme
Feel free to call or to email me for an initial conversation or to book an appointment.
Training, qualifications & experience
Training
I qualified as a Psychodynamic Psychotherapist in 2005.
I completed my MA Psychoanalytic Studies in 2018.
I have a long-standing interest in language, communication, culture and the importance and therapeutic benefit of storytelling and narrating one’s own story.
Public sector:
I have worked as a counsellor within several GP counselling services doing time-limited therapy and offered psychotherapy consultancy within an adolescent in-patient psychiatric unit working with young people between 13-25 years in groups and individually.
Corporate:
I have been contracted by employee assistance programs to see clients referred from major companies in my private practice. I have worked extensively with staff from banks, charities and companies in the retail sector.
Professional Memberships
I am a member of the British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC) and abide by their ethical framework.
Also a member of the Foundation for Psychotherapy and Counselling (FPC), WPFs graduate organisation.
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 British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC) is a professional association, representing the profession of psychoanalytic psychotherapy.
The organisation is itself made up of fourteen member organisations and BPC accredits the trainings of its member organisations. An individual who qualifies from one of these trainings is then eligible for entry into the BPC's register.
BPC registrants are governed by a code of ethics, a policy of continuing professional development, a statement on confidentiality and a complaints procedure. The BPC is a Member Society of the European Federation for Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy in the Public Sector (EFPP). Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
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
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£5.00 - £60.00
Additional information
Fees are per session and if you are interested in applying for a reduced-fee of between £5-£20 a week I ask that you commit to 4 sessions in person per week.
Further information
I am an experienced supervisor with experience working at Mind and Highbury Counselling Service. I also see one-to-one supervisees, including trainees.
I am available for supervision in person or online.
