Dr Guy Van De Walle
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
A VERY UNIQUE DEVELOPMENTAL EXPERIENCE AWAITS YOU, AS WELL AS A CHANCE TO HEAL
A very warm welcome to my practice!
Life circumstances can cause psychological havoc. Living itself, or knowing how to live one’s life, knowing who one is or how to be, can also feel like a challenge. However, this is often compounded, sometimes even caused, by inadequate mental equipment. Every person is a psychologist of their own. Everybody has their own understanding of themselves and others, and the world around them. But this understanding is usually limited, and often deficient. Typically, it lacks depth and breadth, it is also biased and distorted.
How do you address this?
Unfortunately, very few therapists can help. Many of them are mostly listeners. As for those who venture into actively supporting the development of their clients, they usually rely on psychological and/or psychotherapeutic theories alone, which constitutes a huge limitation. Human beings are far too complex and multifaceted to be understood through one discipline only. Moreover, therapists are very rarely involved in research activities. However, truly deep insights can only be gained through sustained participation in research.
This is where I come in.
My background is unique, which includes all the major disciplines and perspectives of the human sciences: the psychological sciences (psychology, psychotherapy, psychiatry and neurosciences), the social sciences (sociology, social anthropology and social psychology), history, philosophy, education, theology and the spiritual traditions.
I have also been deeply engaged in research activities for over 30 years. This is resulting in the current preparation of three books. I am hoping to get the first one published in 2025.
Plus, I have forever been pursuing my own personal development and accumulated many life experiences which have given me a rich template of what you, as a client, can be experiencing and needing.
As a result of all this, working with me means developing a breadth and depth of understanding of yourself and others, and of human psychology generally, which is quite unique. It means preparing yourself for life like never before.
So, are you ready for change?
If you are, read on and get in touch.
Are your objectives to...
- overcome excessive stress, anxiety, depression, panic attacks
- overcome fears, hurt(s), trauma(s), abuse, and develop inner peace
- make (more) sense of your life and yourself, your feelings and thoughts, and move from confusion to clarity
- develop a different and more peaceful relationship with your recent or distant past
- find who you truly are and explore how getting closer to your true self can transform your life
- overcome feelings of inadequacy, low self-esteem and confidence, guilt
- recover lost meaning, purpose and drive
- deal with identity issues
- address sexuality and/or gender issues
- process loss and grief, or any other deep and overwhelming emotions and feelings
- explore the meaning of life and death, reflect on your life purpose
- make sense of and deal with an addiction or a “personality disorder”
- address relationship issues and develop “healthier” relationships
Please read below for a more complete list of possible objectives.
Here is how I can help you...
By working with me, you will be able to express your thoughts, feelings and emotions, whatever they are, freely and confidentially. I will welcome you, the whole of you and everything you say in a completely non-judgmental way. My approach is engaged and direct, as well as warm and caring, with a focus on utilising the therapist-client relationship to advance therapy and personal development.
My ways of working involve providing you with a special quality of listening. In the first instance, I aim to develop a thorough and genuine understanding of you and what makes you the unique individual that you are. However, I work interactively and collaboratively. Therefore, I will also engage with you in discussion. I will facilitate a dialogue in which your issues, your thoughts and feelings will be carefully examined and explored. Gently and with the upmost care and respect, I will be asking you questions in order to go deeper. I will also be challenging some of your assumptions and make suggestions for interpretation. Through this process, you will progressively envisage new (or renewed) and deeper ways of looking at yourself, your personality and your psychological and social life, and grow in understanding and awareness. You will also discover new ways of doing things, new directions and strategies. For example, you will develop an ability to analyse yourself, others and life situations more accurately and readily, get in touch with your feelings, identify these and process them as well as do something constructive with them, set boundaries, communicate more effectively, etc. The list is endless, as it potentially concerns every aspect of your psychological and social life.
As is often the case, as part of this process you may rediscover (or discover for the first time) who you truly are as well as your inner worth, and approach life with a renewed sense of self. In any case, at the end of your therapy with me, which can be short or long term, you will feel more enlightened, freer, empowered and more peaceful. You will feel better prepared to embrace your life and live it more fully.
To support our collaborative work, I draw on many years of professional experience, on my own personal development and healing triggered by a rich and challenging life journey (see my personal profile on my website), and on carefully selected elements of existing psychological and psychotherapeutic theories as well as my own research and theoretical activities, which on various aspects are more advanced and up to date (hence the publications on which I am working).
Supporting you in a time of crisis and change
We currently live in a world in crisis, a world which is deeply changing. The situation created by the corona virus COVID-19 and the measures taken by various authorities, the financial and ecological crisis, the cultural, political and international climate of instability and uncertainty frequently generate fear and anxiety. They can raise many questions and doubts concerning the future of our world, as well as our own future. To better cope and function as human beings who try to go about the business of living their lives in the best possible way, it is becoming more and more necessary for us to (re)examine and (re)assess ourselves and our lives, and possibly also the world around us which requires more than ever to be made sense of. I can also help with that.
Who are my clients?
I offer therapy and personal development to individuals and couples.
I welcome individuals with a minimal age of 16 and work equally well with male and female clients.
How we can meet
I am currently seeing clients from my private practice in Chelmsford and online.
During summer time, meetings can take place either inside or in my garden under a wooden gazebo which provides shelter. There is also a park nearby.
Where do the sessions take place?
My private practice is close to Chelmsford’s city centre, with parking available and easy access by bus or train (the station is only a 15 minutes’ walk). The room and the house in which my practice is situated have a calm and positive energy.
When do the sessions take place?
Sessions are usually on a weekly basis and last 50 minutes. The frequency of meetings can be increased on request. The initial meeting to discuss your requirements will not commit you to further sessions unless you wish to proceed.
What happens next?
If you wish to learn more about me and my services, please consult my website. You can also send me your questions. I will happily answer any queries you may have.
To book an appointment:
You can call or text me on: 07475 520419 or click here to send me an email.
To ease communication, please include a mobile number in your email or make sure that you check your junk mail regularly.
Training, qualifications & experience
I have 22 years experience in private practice and have been working for two counselling organisations, namely Havering and Brentwood Bereavement Service (HBBS) and Renew (ex. West Ham Central Mission, WHCM) between February 2013 and April 2016.
I have been involved in academic research for over 30 years. My research has covered many disciplines which include psychotherapy, psychology, social sciences, philosophy (both western and eastern), the history of ideas and the spiritual traditions. Combined with my in-depth knowledge of psychotherapeutic theories, my research activities have allowed me to develop a very detailed and accurate model of the human psyche and human psychological life. This model provides a strong foundation for my therapeutic interventions which most of my clients find both appropriate and effective, as demonstrated by the testimonials on my website.
Relevant qualifications include:
- PhD & MSc in Psychology
- Diploma in Counselling (BACP accredited course)
- PhD in Philosophy & Social Sciences - deferred
- MPhil in Philosophy & Social Sciences (with distinction)
- MA & BA in Philosophy
- BA in History & Social Anthropology
I am a BACP Accredited Counsellor/ Psychotherapist and adhere to the BACP Ethical Framework for Counselling and Psychotherapy.
Member organisations
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
- Search for meaning
- mid-life crisis
- identity issues
- fear of death
- social-cultural exclusion
- isolation
- loneliness
- feeling of inadequacy
- exploration of spirituality
- spiritual development
Therapies offered
Fees
£70.00 - £110.00
Concessions offered for
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
The following fees apply:
Individuals: £80
Couples: £110
Concessionary fees (on simple request. No questions asked):
Individuals: £70
Couples: £100
A cancellation policy applies (see my website for details).
All sessions are payable, including the initial session.
When I work
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Weekday appointments between 5 pm and 8 pm.
Appointments can be made via email (please leave a mobile number), text or telephone.
Calls are welcome between 10 am and 3.30 pm Mon-Fri.
Further information
My website will provide you with further details concerning me and my services: www.guyvandewalle.co.uk
As well as presenting myself and my services in greater depth, I discuss the tremendous advantages of grounding my practice in my research activities and my own personal development. Being a theory builder rather than a theory follower (which is the general model in my profession) allows me to offer far more effective and responsive solutions to support therapeutic and developmental work.
You will also find a comprehensive FAQ page where I cover the main questions and concerns that one may have prior to getting involved in therapy.
Testimonials from former clients will give you valuable information about what working with me feels like.
