Emma Thompson
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
I know it can be difficult and confusing trying to choose a counsellor to talk to about your deepest concerns, but I am glad you are here. Counselling is about you - knowing who you are, where you are, how you got to where you are now and the choices that might be available to you.
Are you anxious, stressed, upset, depressed, overwhelmed? Or perhaps you just have a vague sense that something isn't right? Struggling along alone? Maybe you have been bullied, bereaved, hurt? You might be feeling angry, isolated, sad, anxious or even completely numb.
I am a qualified counsellor and an Accredited Member of the BACP, working face to face in person in Sittingbourne and online. I offer a warm, safe, accepting space to process your thoughts and feelings. I provide a calm, confidential environment to help you identify the changes you want to make and develop the skills you need to maintain those changes.
To begin, we would speak via phone or email about what you want from counselling (please see my Privacy Policy on my website for more information). If you then are happy to do so, we will arrange an appointment. If we are unable to work together, for whatever reason, I may be able to recommend someone else who can help you.
At the first appointment, we will discuss what has happened previously in your life and what is happening now. We will talk more about your hopes and goals for counselling, and discuss how many appointments you want and how often (either weekly sessions, or fortnightly). I usually offer 6 sessions to start with, but you can choose a different number or change it later - either to have more or fewer sessions if needed - as you wish.
We will review our work at regular intervals to make sure you are getting what you need. I will not give advice, tell you how to live your life or judge you. Instead, I will help you to process your experiences and support you as you choose how to move forward.
I offer counselling for a range of issues, and have a particular interest in helping people who are anxious (or have anxiety) and/or think poorly of themselves. Poor self-image, low self-esteem and Imposter Syndrome are really challenging to live with. I want to help you get out of that stuckness to become the person you want to be.
I also specialise in helping people with chronic pain and chronic illnesses - particularly CFS/ME, fibromyalgia and hypermobility syndromes. These are real physical illnesses with numerous debilitating symptoms, but the mental and emotional impacts of living with these conditions can be eased with counselling. You might have been offered counselling before and been told that your condition is “all in your head”, or that it is somehow your fault. I won’t tell you that - because I have lived experience as well as my training informing our work. I want to help you manage your condition as best you can with your limitations, and have the fulfilling life you deserve.
Training, qualifications & experience
Relevant qualifications:
- Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills from CPCAB
- D171 Introduction to Counselling (equivalent to CPCAB CST-L3, via the Open University)
- L4 Diploma in Integrative Counselling (a BACP-accredited course, via InterPsyche - part of the Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust)
- Certificate in Online and Telephone Counselling (recognised by ACTO, via Counselling Tutor)
- QLS Level 6 Diploma in Supervision (via Community Counsellor Training (Canterbury))
A sample of my CPD training / professional experience:
- Anxiety (particularly general anxiety disorder and social anxiety)
- Lack of confidence
- Depression
- Bereavement
- Stress
- Family breakdown / family issues
- Work issues
- Bullying
- Self image and body image
- Self esteem
- Self harm
- Suicidal thoughts & feelings
- Working with people on the autistic spectrum
- Anger and rage
- Living with chronic illness and pain
- Disability
- Resilience
- Imposter Syndrome
- Trauma
- Compassion Focused Therapy
- Neurodiversity & Neurodivergence
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.
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.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Other areas of counselling I deal with
- Chronic illness
- Chronic pain
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£45.00 per session
Additional information
My fee for counselling is £45 per 50-minute session. I offer a free short telephone call before you book so you can decide if you would like to go ahead after speaking with me. I offer counselling in person or online, at the same fee.
My fee for supervision is £50 per hour, or £75 per 1.5 hours. I offer a free short telephone or video call initially so you can decide if you would like to go ahead. I can offer supervision in person or online (or a mix), at the same fee.
Please give 24 hours’ notice of a cancellation, if less than 24 hours’ notice is given then the full session fee is required.
When I work
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Office hours:
Mon/Tue/Wed/Thu 10am - 7pm
Fri 10am - 4pm
Closed weekends & bank holidays.
Further information
I can be reached by email or phone. Unfortunately, I have found that some email providers (e.g. Hotmail, Outlook, Yahoo, Gmail) tend to send my emails to spam folders. I have so far been unable to resolve this, and of course never send unsolicited emails. If you use one of these email providers and have not received a reply from me within one business day, please check your spam folder.
If you phone, I may not be able to answer your call immediately - so please leave a voicemail message if you would like me to call you back. Out of consideration for your privacy, I will only call back if you leave a voicemail or text message asking me to. Please ensure you have said your phone number when leaving a voicemail if you would like me to call you.
