Gifty Ogene

Training

• Post graduate in counselling and psychotherapy. Integrative training
• BA (Hons) business studies degree
• Level three certificate counselling studies
• Level two certificate counselling skills
• Safeguarding children and vulnerable adults
• Certificate in Equality and Diversity
• Certificate in data protection
• Certificate in anger management
• Mediation Skill training
• De Stress, Relaxation, Anger & Change Management
• First aider
• Bereavement Training
• Diploma in Supervision working with Individual or Groups

Work Experience

• Saint Francis Hospice (Bereavement Counselling)
• KCA (Drugs and Alcohol)
• Amail Project ( Domestic Violence)
• Opportunity pregnancy Crisis Centre ( Abortion Counselling, miscarriages and Post abortion Counselling)
• Childline
• Engage (Relationships and Couple Counselling

Bereavement and loss

I am currently working as a Bereavement Support Volunteer Counsellor at St Francis hospice; I have been with them since November 2010. I offer support to bereaved relatives, carers or friends of those who have died in the care of the hospice who are finding it difficult to cope with their grief.My role in the Service is to guide and support distressed people through their grief which is in line with the National Institute for Clinical Excellence guidance on cancer services.

I work with clients addressing issues relating to loss, shock, disorganisation, reorganisation and recovery. I work with clients to achieve their personal goals and have provided support based on clients needs. I am working up to level three and have personal experience in working with family members who have experienced serious emotional and relational complexity and pain associated with palliative care.

I have a personal experience in working with family a member who experienced serious emotional and relational complexities and pain associated with palliative care. I gained a personal experience of understanding the impact of dealing with a life threatening illness, the treatments that is given, and the anxieties that comes with the treatments. Also working with clients that have lost love ones, I have gain more knowledge of the treatment their loved ones went through, through them caring for them.

I am able to treat clients with respect and dignity at all times, adopting a culturally sensitive approach. In regards to the legal and procedural frameworks related to working with individuals and families in a specialist palliative care setting I have always taken the person centred approach when working with clients. I focus on respecting and valuing each client as a unique person with rights. I engage with them to uphold their dignity, sense of worth and independence

Domestic violence

I have also worked with women who were dealing with the effect of domestic violence, working with each client uniquely, appreciating their cultures and beliefs and remaining non-judgemental. I have worked as a counsellor at Childline, offering telephone and online counselling, addressing different situations in a young person’s life.

Relationship and Couple Counselling

I offer couple counselling and I have address the following issues:

• Communication
• Expression of love
• In-law issues
• Betrayal
• Resolving Conflicts
• Forgiveness
• Habits
• Sex
• Affairs

I have had the opportunity to work with people from different ethnic backgrounds both in the counselling role and working within the community. As a counsellor I am very flexible in adapting my practice to fit into my client needs. I think one of the benefits of undergoing an integrative training is that the course offers a wide range of theories and practices that has been beneficial in my work as a counsellor. I have three approaches I use in working with clients, my practical approach is centred in psychodynamic, cognitive behaviour theory and person-centred whilst emphasising unconditional positive regard.