About me
Introduction
Currently welcoming new clients, immediate availability for Face-to-Face sessions
Hi, I'm Colin, an experienced counsellor offering face-to-face sessions from my peaceful garden office in Markyate-close to St Albans, Redbourn, Harpenden, Luton and Dunstable (see photos below).
I also offer Online/In person Supervision to other Counsellors, including Trainees.
How I work
As a psychodynamic counsellor, I will look at your past experiences to help you make sense of your current distress-I regard all of my clients as unique, people with their own stories to tell.
My aim is to help you find a sense of meaning, self-worth and purpose, that will help you to overcome the obstacles currently affecting your life.
Where appropriate, I also draw on other modalities within my work (Person Centred and Gestalt)
Why counselling?
Perhaps you are feeling undervalued, powerless, misunderstood or not listened to, or maybe you just can’t quite put a finger on the problem, and are just plain confused!
You may often find yourself becoming angry, lonely or sad and wonder why.
People come to counselling for all sorts of reasons, and I recognise that this can (initially) be a daunting process for you, finding the right counsellor for you is important.
Working Together - The Counselling Process:
If you work with me, I will offer you the opportunity to focus on your feelings so that we can explore, together, what might be going on for you, and help you to understand what you are experiencing. You may then start to recognise often repeated and unwanted thoughts and behaviours. This can help you to identify different choices, enabling you to make the changes in your life that lead to a healthier, more confident and fulfilling way of living.
I passionately believe in the process and lasting benefits of counselling, and I will support you throughout this journey by providing a safe, confidential environment to work in, and importantly, without judging you, enabling you to confidently explore whatever may be troubling you.
I work in an open and honest manner, which will sometimes mean gently challenging old beliefs and assumptions, whilst maintaining a sense of respect and sensitivity, adapting to your personal needs, with the objective of helping you to find a way forward that is both helpful and authentic for you as an individual human being.
Getting Started:
If you would like the opportunity to discuss either the way I work or the issues you are facing before committing to counselling I offer a free 20 minute phone call (free of charge and without obligation). Please contact me by phone or e-mail to arrange it-I aim to respond to you within 24 hours
Training, qualifications & experience
Qualifications:-
- Post Graduate Diploma in Contemporary Therapeutic Counselling (University of Hertfordshire)
- Certificate in Contemporary Therapeutic Counselling (University of Hertfordshire)
- Certificate in person-centred experiential counselling for depression (Metanoia Institute)
- Certificate in Clinical Supervision (Metanoia Institute)
- Professional liability insurance and enhanced DBS check certificate.
Experience:-
I have 12 years of counselling experience, as well as a wealth of previous experience working with people in the corporate world.
As a therapist, I have worked with adults, couples and young people, in private practice, HM Prison Service, and within the highly respected counselling team at the Sadie Centre in Letchworth, and currently, the Hitchin Counselling Service (as a supervisor).
Currently, I work with adults over 18, from all ages and backgrounds, on a weekly and open-ended basis.
I have a particular interest in working with people who have suffered from narcissistic parents/carers, male identity issues (including retirement), work related concerns/problems and Grief from Loss and Bereavement.
Many of my previous clients have also been able to work through daily issues around neuroversity (both diagnosed/undiagnosed)
I also have experience and interest in working with issues around:
Anxiety, Depression, Stress, Self-Esteem, and Family/Relationship issues.
Continuous Personal Development
In order to keep my work up to date and relevant, I am committed to continuous personal development, by attending regular training events and workshops. I also undertake regular supervision of my work, in line with BACP guidelines.
Background prior to counselling
Before training as a counsellor, I spent 35 years in the corporate world in various managerial roles, before taking the leap to re-train as a counsellor-This led to roles working within education (SEN), the voluntary sector (youth mentoring) and setting up my own gardening business, before my qualification as a counsellor.
Member organisations
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.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Other areas of counselling I deal with
I have a particular interest in working with the children of narcisstic parents, men's issues, ageing and retirement
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£70.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
- Free initial conversation or email exchange
I provide my clients with a private, quiet and comfortable garden room at my home - there will be nobody else present during the session.
Sessions last for 1 hour and are normally arranged on a regular, weekly and open-ended basis, at a time that is agreed between us. On some occasions, if you are temporarily unable to meet face to face, sessions can be held by Zoom or over the phone.
Concessions are available on a discretionary basis (including counselling students). Payments can be made by cash, cheque or by direct money transfer. If you wish to pay by direct transfer the details will be given to you upon booking, payment by direct money transfer before each session.
When I work
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I predominantly work across tuesday, wednesday and thursday, daytime and evenings-I can be flexible!
Further information
I work from my office set in my peaceful and mature garden
Off street parking is normally available and is free.
