Debbie Gratton, PGDip.Couns. Registered MBACP
About me
Welcome to my profile. I am a qualified attachment-based psychotherapist and counsellor. I am a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and am listed on its register, which is recognised by the Professional Standards Authority. I am committed to working in an ethical manner and as such, adhere to the Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions.
My background is in private practice working with a variety of issues including loss and bereavement, depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, panic attacks, loss, obsessional thoughts, to name but a few. In particular, I have an interest in our relationship with food and trained as an Eating Disorder Counsellor, working with BalancED MK (Milton Keynes Eating Disorder Support Service) who continue to support people affected by eating disorders, through ReBalance (a self-support group).
My practice is based in Wootton Fields, Northampton. As a therapist, I believe that we are all unique and experts in our own internal world. I offer a professional, confidential, safe and non-judgemental environment that will help you to explore your own experiences in a way that feels right for you.
"Therapy allows you to think about your life and get to know yourself as you speak to someone who understands and brings new perspective."
~Emmy Van Deurzen~
Training, qualifications & experience
- Advanced Diploma in Counselling
- Post-graduate Diploma in Attachment-Based Therapy: Wimbledon Guild
- Certificate in Eating Disorders
- Foundation Course in Group Psychoanalysis: Validated by The Institute of Group Analysis
- Lecturer in Counselling: Levels 3 & 4
- Numerous hours in Continuing Professional Development, including Eating Disorder Conferences, Masterclasses focusing on Eating Distress and various other workshops (ongoing)
Member organisations
British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy
BACP is one of the UK’s largest professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy. Therapists registered with the Association fall into a number of different membership categories such as Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP and Registered Member MBACP (Accred), each standing for different levels of training and experience. MBACP (Accred) and MBACP (Snr Accred) members have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by the Association.
Registered members can be found on the BACP Register, which was the first register to achieve Accredited Voluntary Register status issued by the Professional Standards Authority. Individual Members will have completed an appropriate counselling and/or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but will not appear on the BACP Register until they've progressed to Registered Member MBACP status.
All members are bound by a Code of Ethics & Practice and a Complaints Procedure. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
Accredited register membership
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.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Therapies offered
Fees
Session Fee: £45.00 (50 Minutes)
Psychotherapy should not be undertaken lightly. It isn’t a quick fix and for it to be most effective requires regular commitment over a considerable period. During the course of the therapy, time allocated to you is your time. As such, charges are made for all sessions unless you provide 48 hours advanced notice of cancellation. As I will be unable to use this time for another client, cancellations made with less than 24 hours notice or a scheduled appointment that is completely missed, you will be charged the full session fee. You do not of course pay when sessions cannot be provided.
I hold professional indemnity insurance.
To book your first session I can be contacted at:
E-mail: debbie.gratton1@sky.com
Tel: 0777 028 5830
If I am unable to answer your call, please leave your name and telephone contact details and I will answer your call within 24 hours. No one other than myself has access to messages left and I monitor messages frequently during the day. I will make every effort to return your call on the same day you make it, with the exception of weekends and holidays. If you are difficult to reach, please inform me of some times when you will be available.
Further information
An eating disorder is defined by abnormal eating habits that negatively affect a person's physical or mental way of being. Eating disorders include:
- Anorexia nervosa: Where people eat very little or nothing at all and therefore have a very low body weight.
- Bulimia nervosa: Where people eat a lot and then try to rid themselves of the food.
- Binge eating: Where people eat large amounts of food in a short period of time.
- Night eating syndrome: Excessive nighttime food consumption.
- Pica : Where people eat non-food items.
- Rumination disorder: Where people regurgitate food.
- Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder: Where people have a lack of interest in food.
- Purging: Where people purge without binge eating.
- Food phobias: Where people are afraid of certain foods.
- Selective eating disorder: Associated with food phobia.
- Body dysmorphia: Where people are obsessed by perceived flaws in their appearance.
- Emotional eating: Where people eat large amounts of food in response to negative emotions.
- Prader-Willi syndrome: Where there is a complex genetic disorder and people have an insatiable appetite that results in never feeling full.
- ENDOS: Eating disorders not otherwise specified and do not fit into any category.
Eating disorders are complex, but talking and expressing your thoughts and painful feelings can be a helpful way of dealing with something so difficult to manage. It is unlikely that an eating disorder is a result of one single cause and is much likely to be a combination of events, feelings or pressures which can be overwhelming.
If you think that counselling would help you, please contact me using any of the contact details listed above.
