Dawn Kingston
Every professional displayed on Counselling Directory has been independently verified by our team to ensure they have suitable credentials to practise.
This professional is currently not accepting new clients at this time.
This professional is currently not accepting new clients at this time.
About me
Welcome to my profile. I wonder what it is you are looking for in a therapist? I can offer a warm, safe and experiential space, so you can explore your thoughts and feelings. As a Gestalt Psychotherapist some of the focus of our work is to notice what happens in the moment, increasing this awareness helps to untangle and free ourselves from limiting patterns of behaviour. Developing a way of reflecting and nurturing kindness and curiosity, can help support the work.
My training and experience.
My most recent training has been as a Gestalt Psychotherapist for six years with the Gestalt Centre Wales. My initial training was in Humanistic and Integrative Counselling with The University of Bristol. We covered a range of theories and approaches enabling me to work in a way that meets individual need. Following my counselling training which I started in 2007, I became accredited and a registered member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) in 2010. I have been working in private practice since then.
Over the years I worked within the voluntary sector and have a vast range of counselling experience, including working with LBGTQI+ people. Whilst at The Terrence Higgins Trust, I worked with people diagnosed and living with HIV. I welcome clients from diverse backgrounds and cultures and different age groups. I have an interest in working with the process of loss and grief. At The University of Bristol, I saw clients via the generic community counselling service. As well as working with counsellors undertaking their training.
Gestalt Approach
Gestalt places the emphasis on the present and what happens for you in the moment. This in turn is informed by your past life experiences. What this approach offers is learning through paying attention to your embodied experience. Building greater embodied awareness through experimenting and reflecting on your responses, we can find out what holds you back and what nourishes you. This helps to gain deeper insight and healing. Different choices can be made with greater awareness, which in turn helps to enhance our way of living in the world.
It is easy for us to be self-critical; this approach places the emphasis on developing a sense of curiosity and compassion towards ourselves. Gestalt places importance on building self and environmental support, so we can better face the challenges that life throws at us.
Training, qualifications & experience
Post Grad Diploma in Gestalt Psychotherapy - Gestalt Centre Wales - 2018-23
Foundation Degree in Counselling - 2007-2010 – Bristol University
Community & Youth Work DipHE 1995-97
Membership of professional bodies –
- UKCP Accredited Gestalt Psychotherapist
- UKAHPP Higher Accredited Member and Gestalt Psychotherapist
- BACP Accredited and Registered Counsellor and Psychotherapist
- CAPPP Member - Counsellors and Psychotherapists in Private Practice
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.
UKAHPP is a national accrediting organisation for all those who apply the theories of Humanistic Psychology in their work. The UKAHPP is an independent member organisation of the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) and the UK Register of Counsellors.
The Association is made up of a number of different membership classes e.g. Associate Members, Affiliate Members, Full Members, each with different requirements for entry. Full Members may use the initials 'MAHPP' after their names, and have undergone a rigorous accreditation procedure relevant to their discipline.
All members of the Association of Humanistic Psychology Practitioners must commit to acceptance of the UKAHPP Code of Ethical Principles, the UKAHPP Code of Practice, the UKAHPP Ethical Review Procedure and the UKAHPP Complaints Procedure.
The UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) is a leading professional body for the education, training and regulation of psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors. Its register is accredited by the government's Professional Standards Authority.
As part of its commitment to protect the public, it works to improve access to psychotherapy, to support and disseminate research, to improve standards and to respond effectively to complaints against its members.
UKCP standards cover the range of different psychotherapies. Registration is obtained by training or accrediting with one of its member organisations, or by holding a European Certificate in Psychotherapy. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
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
Other areas of counselling I deal with
Creative writing
I can offer creative writing ideas for you, if this is an area of interest. Flow writing and journaling are great ways to explore process or follow themes as they emerge in therapy. Poetry is a form of writing that can get to the heart of something and cuts out detail. Working creatively helps to tap into what is on the edge of your awareness. Often what is needed is ideas to get you writing. Everyone is different. You may find structure gets in the way; equally it may be needed to hold the work.
Therapies offered
Fees
£60.00 per session
Additional information
Starting therapy and the fee
Finding the right therapist is an important thing. It’s hard to judge from a photo and profile. Please feel free to call or come and meet me. We can talk about what it is you want to achieve and see if we are a good fit. Sometimes it’s hard to know what you need from therapy before you start. We can work this out together; what feels right for you.
My fee is for a 50-minute session. Sliding scale is available for those on low income. I work from Chepstow on a Monday pm and Bristol on Wednesday & Thursday.
When I work
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morning | |||||||
| Afternoon | |||||||
| Evening | |||||||
| Night |
Day time and evening sessions available
Further information
Location and availability
Wed & Thurs - Frenchay, BS16. Parking on drive.
Mon pm – Chepstow.
