Frances Whistler

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Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

Barnstaple, Devon, EX32
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

About me

Talking to a therapist can be daunting, whether or not you have done it before. It can be hard to reveal things about yourself, and to trust someone you don’t know. I work relationally, which means I view the relationship that we develop together as the way we can explore your experiences safely, without them overwhelming you. It is in this relationship that the therapeutic ‘work’ happens.

Through this exploration, you can start gaining the insights that will help you. I will support you without being judgemental. My aim will be for you to gain a greater understanding of your self, and to feel more fulfilled and integrated. However, the actual agenda of our sessions, and the material you share with me, will always be yours to decide.

Whether you want short- or long-term therapy, we start with an assessment session. It helps me check that I have the skills to help you (if not, I can signpost other sources of therapy), and lets you decide if you want to work with me. There is no obligation to go forward if it doesn’t feel right.

After that, sessions (55 minutes) are at a regular time each week (gaps can be negotiated). All information you share with me will be treated confidentially, though there are some limits to confidentiality which I'll explain when we meet. I work with adults of all ages, and believe that the human longing for growth does not cease when we get older. My practice also includes many clients who have experienced bereavement or other kinds of loss, or the lack of good enough parenting in childhood.

Spirituality, dreams, silence, the perceptions of our senses, metaphor, play, and other kinds of creativity all have a place in therapy, and I am open to exploring any and all of them with you. Communication is much more than just talking.

Training, qualifications & experience

I originally studied literature, and later as a book editor, and language, poetry, and metaphor are still things I love.

My psychotherapy training is in Integrative Therapy (Levels 4 and 5), and simultaneously I trained as a bereavement volunteer for Cruse Bereavement Care. I continue to volunteer for them, and have a Cruse Supervisor qualification.

As part of my ongoing CPD I have done the 3-day "LGBTQ+ Confidence and Competence" course at Studio One, Exeter.

I have also worked at a GP surgery, providing time-limited counselling to clients referred by the doctors.

Member organisations

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

Fees

£45.00 per session

Concessions offered for

  • Unemployed

Additional information

Sessions, including the initial assessment, cost £45 for 55 minutes, and I will ask you to bring the payment with you for the initial assessment (I accept cash or cheque).

I have a concessionary slot for low-income clients, where we would agree a fee between us, but please note that the waiting period for these slots may be lengthy.

When I work

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Night

At present I work in person, face to face, on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday mornings, but I can also do telephone sessions with clients on other weekdays where this works better for the client

Further information

When you contact me, I will return your phone-call or email in 48 hours, unless I am away: in that case, I will indicate my absence on my voicemail message and/or automatic email reply.

Barnstaple, Devon, EX32

Type of session

In person

Types of client

Adults
Older adults
Frances Whistler
Frances Whistler