Ellen Friend
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
I work with people that have experienced trauma so that they can feel safe in the present and look to the future with openness.
Some symptoms of trauma that I often see in my practice includes addiction, difficulties in relationships, anxiety and depression, low self-worth, dissociation, difficulties with personal boundaries, repeating dissatisfying relational patterns and a sense of feeling lost.
My core training is integrative, which means that I draw from multiple theories and frameworks to offer a broad spectrum of support to the people I work with. My most recent training is psychoanalytic, which enables me to work over longer periods of time, for those that want to explore a more in-depth approach to the psyche, including dream-work and using the imaginal space.
I always work with kindness and compassion; Carl Rogers says "The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change", and I have been privileged enough to witness this change with many people, as well as in my own life.
I believe that inclusivity is essential to growth, and so I aim to provide a space for my clients that acknowledges gender, race, sexuality, ability, background, culture and religion and the different privileges or disadvantages that this affords. Within my practice, and using the privilege that I have, I commit to ongoing training and reading on these topics so that I can offer what I hope is a sense of safety for the people I work with.
Training, qualifications & experience
In 2017, I completed an FdA Integrative Counselling (University of Suffolk).
Since completing my formal training, I have been practicing as a counsellor, therapist and supervisor, both privately and within organisational settings. Within these agencies, the work has been focused on supporting adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse (male and female, 1:1 and in groups), and people with substance addictions (both in a residential rehabilitation centre and in a drop-in centre).
I have recently completed a Master's programme in Psychoanalytic studies (University of Essex). I have special interests in psychoanalysis and feminism, addiction and trauma, and organisational dynamics.
Some recent training that I have undertaken includes:
- Treating Complex Trauma with Internal Family Systems (Frank Anderson, M.D)
- Affect regulation from theory to practice (Daniel Hill)
- Intensive Training in the Treatment of Dissociative Disorders (Kathy Steele)
- Trauma Summit (Bessel Van Der Kolk, Gabor Mate, Janina Fisher, Richard Schwartz)
- Controlling and Coercive Relationships
- Mindfulness
- Co-dependent relationships
- PTSD
- Suicide intervention
- Working with addiction: underlying causes
- Trauma, the brain and recovery
- Breaking the Trauma Bond
- Developmental Themes in Children and Young People
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.
The National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society This Not For Profit association of counsellors and psychotherapists aim to support the counselling profession, members and training organisations. In 2013 the NCS register was accredited by the Professional Standards Authority under the Accredited Voluntary Register Scheme. 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
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£50.00 per session
Additional information
£50 per hour session. I offer a free 15-minute telephone consultation- please get in touch to book.
When I work
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Weekdays at varying times during the day/evening. Please get in touch to find out about my current availability.
Further information
You can find out more about me and my work by going to my website, or checking out my Instagram and Facebook accounts: @ellenfriendcounselling
