Debbie Ashwood
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Hi, I'm Debbie. Welcome to my profile.
I offer one to one counselling in a safe, confidential and supportive space. I use a person-centred approach to help explore the issues that have led you to seek support. Clients describe me as warm, friendly and down-to-earth. I work compassionately, collaboratively and without judgement.
There are many reasons why people choose to come to counselling. No problem is too big or too small. Perhaps you have been struggling with something for a long time, or you might have experienced a recent challenge or upheaval in your life. Maybe it feels like things have got on top of you and you can’t cope, or perhaps you feel that issues like anxiety or stress are preventing you from living your life to the full.
Although counselling can initially feel daunting, it can also be a huge relief to speak to someone about what is troubling you. It can sometimes be hard to know where to start and what you want. We will work together to unravel what is important to you, and what changes, if any, you would like to make.
Counselling provides an opportunity for you to look at issues in your life that are causing you concern, and to explore ways to make positive changes. This could mean examining old limiting habits and beliefs that are no longer helpful, or challenging negative responses or patterns of behaviour that no longer work for you.
I am committed to being alongside you in this process, which, though it may sometimes be difficult, is ultimately rewarding.
How do I work?
I am a qualified BACP registered counsellor and follow a person-centred and integrative approach. At the core of my work is the belief that a trusting and genuine therapeutic relationship is of primary importance and is the foundation of effective therapy.
In practice, this means I believe in developing a genuine collaborative working relationship based on honesty, openness and trust, creating a space where you can feel safe and heard, without judgement.
I also strongly believe in supporting clients with practical tools and strategies they can use themselves that can help make a difference both in the short and long term. I draw on a range of different theories such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) that enable me to offer an approach tailored to what you might find most helpful.
I welcome adult clients from all backgrounds. I am happy to ‘Walk and Talk’ if that would be more comfortable for you. Being outside in nature can offer huge benefits to our wellbeing and some people find it easier to talk while walking side by side. But chatting over a cup of tea is good too!
Next Step
If you feel that counselling may help, I offer a free 30-minute consultation so that we can explore how we might work together, and find out what support you may be looking for.
There is no obligation to continue with sessions after this initial meeting as it is important for you to decide if you feel comfortable and wish to continue in counselling with me.
Counselling sessions last 50 minutes, on a weekly basis, usually at the same time on the same day, and can continue for as long as you feel it is helpful. Therapy can be short term, such as responding to an immediate need for support around a specific issue, or can be longer term where you may wish to have the space to explore deeper issues. We will review your progress together at regular intervals, to ensure that you are getting what you need from the sessions.
Our work together will be strictly confidential, giving you the confidence to know you can share what’s on your mind. As a counsellor I am bound by the BACP’s Ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling which ensures that I receive regular clinical supervision, undertake continuous professional development and am committed to working in your best interest.
I have availability Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons/evenings at Viney Hall Physiotherapy Centre. To make an appointment to meet call: 01594 516810
Training, qualifications & experience
Level 5 Certificate Advanced Applications of CBT
Level 5 Certificate Schema Focused Therapy in CBT
Level 5 CBT for Specific Anxiety Disorders
Level 4 Practitioners Counselling Diploma
Level 3 Diploma in Childcare & Education
Level 2 Understanding Autism
CPD: Various courses and workshops including:
Early Childhood Development, Child Protection, Safeguarding, SEN,
Radix Bodywork Boundaries, Contact & Engagement workshop, CBT Building Core Clinical Competencies.
Current area of study: Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
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
Therapies offered
Fees
£48.00 per session
Additional information
Concessions available for trainee counsellors