Debbie Fitchsampson

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MBACP (accred) | ACTO member | Support for adults & couples
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

location_on Cheltenham GL50 & GL52
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

About me

I am passionate about the benefits counselling can bring to us. I am a qualified, experienced counsellor with a warm, professional and supportive style, encouraging you to freely explore your difficulties. 

I have been a counsellor since 2006 and I have been running my private practice since 2011.

Online Counselling - meeting online has become very popular in recent years. I have undertaken further training in online therapy and I firmly believe that meeting online can be just as helpful and effective as meeting face-to-face. I am a member of the Association for Counselling and Therapy online (ACTO)

Individual Counselling - Counselling sessions for you as an individual can be beneficial for so many different situations and yours will be unique to you. My approach is to encourage you to talk freely about your difficulties and how things are for you. Together we can think about what’s going on and whether things could be different.  

Individual counselling is typically arranged for weekly or fortnightly sessions. I offer both short-term counselling and a longer-term open-ended approach.  In our first session we can think about what would work best for you. 

Couples Counselling - Couples counselling can be helpful to identify and talk through difficulties you are facing in your relationship.

Having dedicated time and space together to think about your difficulties might not be easy but it can be very helpful. In the counselling session I will be alongside you listening carefully to you and the perspectives each of you bring.

With our busy lives it can challenging to arrange times for on-going sessions and I can be flexible about this, in terms of the times and frequency of our meetings. Meeting online can make it much easier when juggling other commitments.

Training, qualifications & experience

My Experience

As an experienced counsellor I will provide you with a safe, confidential space where together we can think about the difficulties you are facing. 

I have a wide breadth of experience gained from over 15 years of counselling in the voluntary and charity sectors, a GP Practice and in my own private practice. 

Qualifications and Training
• WPF Diploma in Psychodynamic Counselling
• Accredited member of BACP
• Post diploma training in Solution Focused Short Term Therapy 
• Post diploma training in Couples Counselling
• Certificate in Online and Telephone Counselling 
• Certificate in Bereavement Care
• Assessment Training 
• Mediation skills
• Chartered MCIPD
• BA (hons) degree

Talking therapy helps

Member organisations

school Registered / Accredited

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.

BACP
British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP)

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

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy
Accredited Register Scheme

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.

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy

Areas of counselling I deal with

Other areas of counselling I deal with

From my former career in HR, I am able to draw on my experience of supporting people through various work-related challenges, including:

  • work related stress
  • bullying and harassment
  • reorganisation/change/uncertainty
  • career changes
  • ill health

Photos & videos

Fees

£50.00 per session

Additional information

Individual Counselling
£50 for 50 minutes

Couples Counselling
£65 for 60 minutes

When I work

Appointments are available on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at various times throughout the day, including early morning, lunchtime and evening.

Further information

Typically counselling is arranged for regular weekly or fortnightly sessions on the same day and time each time we meet. However, life can be complicated and I will do my best to accommodate various working patterns and other commitments you may have. Arranging sessions online can make the process easier. 

42 Clarence Street, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL50

Bishops Cleeve, Cheltenham, GL52

Type of session

Online
Phone

Types of client

Young adults (18-24)
Adults (25-64)
Older Adults (65+)
Couples
Employee Assistance Programme

Key details

I am working online over Zoom/WhatsApp or telephone. This can be more convenient to arrange with no travel time or cost involved.

Online platforms

Whatsapp
Zoom

Social