Gemma Matthews
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Counselling may be useful to you if you are experiencing some emotional upset or change. Maybe you are going through an immediate crisis, or have a sense of something not being right which is beginning to affect your day to day life.
I aim to provide a safe, supportive and confidential space for you to talk through and explore your problems or concerns.
Counselling can help with a wide range of issues including;
- Bereavement and loss
- Difficulties within relationships (family, social, intimate)
- Self-confidence and esteem
- Addictions
- Depression and anxiety
- Trauma
- Eating disorders
- Chronic illness or recent diagnosis
- Stress or work-related problems
- Spiritual and existential issues.
Training, qualifications & experience
I have a Post Graduate Diploma in Person Centred Counselling and am a registered member of the BACP – working towards accreditation.
My approach draws upon the work and theories of Carl Rogers and the Person-Centred Model. This is essentially a firm belief in you, the client, being the expert on your own life. My role as a counsellor is to help you explore your inner world, address problems and find solutions, while being an attentive and compassionate co-explorer. I aim to provide a warm and accepting space where you can feel safe and supported in looking at the difficulties troubling you.
I attend regular individual supervision, am committed to continuing my own professional development and growth and I participate in monthly group supervision.
When not in private practice, I work with Crew 2000 as a drug counsellor, helping clients who use psycho-stimulant drugs, in a non-judgmental and harm reduction focussed way.
I volunteered within one of Edinburgh's most established counselling charities for eight years. This was something that was hugely meaningful for me and enriched and expanded my practice.
I also provided counselling for young people at a specialised service within the PF charity. This was working with adults aged 18-24.
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.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Other areas of counselling I deal with
- Chronic Pain
- New Medical Diagnosis
Therapies offered
Fees
£35.00 - £50.00
Free initial telephone or online session
Concessions offered for
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
Providing an affordable and sustainable service is something which is very important me. I charge £50 per session with lower cost sessions available for those on a lower income.
When I work
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