About me
A very warm welcome, I'm Helen Cunningham, a qualified counsellor, working with adults, children and young people. I provide a counselling service dedicated to personalised support for when life gets tough for you; and I appreciate that life can be very tough.
My counselling service is based in the Lancashire town of Ramsbottom and you will find my individualised approach rooted in the Person-Centred approach. I believe that in a safe and non-judgemental counselling environment, you will learn to process what has become emotionally painful for you, to grow towards a happier and healthier version of yourself. It is never too early nor too late.
As a graduate member of The British Psychological Society and also a registered member of The British Association for Counsellors and Psychotherapists, I want you to know that my work is also underpinned by professional ethics and standards. Your best interests and safety will always be my priorities.
Training, qualifications & experience
Training & Qualifications
- B.Ed.(Hons) Primary Education (1996)
- Graduate Foundation Studies in Psychology (2011)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology (2014)
- Certificate in Counselling Skills (2018)
- Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling (2020)
Experience
- 2020- present. Owner & Counsellor (Gentle Waves Counselling Services).
- 2019 - present. Counsellor (MhIST Bolton)
- 2019- present. Bereavement Volunteer (CRUSE Manchester)
- 2006 -2011 Deputy Head Teacher (Lancashire CC)
- 1996-2006 Classroom Teacher (Bolton and Bury MBC)
Member organisations
British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy
BACP is one of the UK’s largest professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy. Therapists registered with the Association fall into a number of different membership categories such as Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP and Registered Member MBACP (Accred), each standing for different levels of training and experience. MBACP (Accred) and MBACP (Snr Accred) members have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by the Association.
Registered members can be found on the BACP Register, which was the first register to achieve Accredited Voluntary Register status issued by the Professional Standards Authority. Individual Members will have completed an appropriate counselling and/or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but will not appear on the BACP Register until they've progressed to Registered Member MBACP status.
All members are bound by a Code of Ethics & Practice and a Complaints Procedure. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
Accredited register membership
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.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Other areas of counselling I deal with
The issues you are experiencing are important to me and if I cannot help you I will do my very best to signpost you to a service that can.
Therapies offered
Fees
£40.00 per session
Free initial telephone session
Additional information
£40 per session (50 mins)
Fees are payable 24 hours in advance, by bank transfer.
Availability
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I work in a way that suits you:
Short-term (up to six sessions)
Medium-term (6-12 sessions)
Long-term (12 sessions or more)
Face to face, telephone and Zoom sessions are all now available.
Further information
Your Free Consultation Session
Your free telephone consultation will usually be around 20 minutes long, giving you the opportunity to share what has brought you to counselling in the first place and, importantly, for you to begin voicing what you would like to achieve from counselling. Sometimes this can feel difficult, but rest assured, I will gently help you feel comfortable enough to begin your process of change. This consultation session is also an opportunity for you to see how I work and whether that actually feels right for you. Feeling confident with, and equal to me as your counsellor, is essential.
Your Counselling Sessions
My number one priority for all of your counselling sessions is that you continue to feel comfortable and safe enough with me to explore the thoughts, feelings and behaviours that are impacting your life today. However long or short a process that is, I will support you and we will walk your path together.
Contact Me:
Telephone (If I am with a client and unavailable, please leave a message and I will call you back ASAP)
Text (If I am with a client and unavailable, I will respond ASAP)
Email (If I am with a client and unavailable, I will respond ASAP)