Helen Leaper
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
What is counselling and how can it help?
Counselling gives you the opportunity to share your problems and feelings in a private and confidential space with an empathic and non judgemental other. We can work together to help you find your own solutions.
Counselling can help with a variety of emotional and mental health problems including but not limited to : depression, feeling sad, anxiety (including GAD and phobias) stress, addictions, trauma (including PTSD), abuse, dissociation,low self-esteem, self-harm, eating disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder, domestic violence, bereavement, health issues, relationship and family issues (including child related and carer support issues).
Counselling can help you to live your life more fully. As you become more self aware and understand yourself and others better, you are likely to achieve a greater self esteem. You may also learn to manage your experiences and symptoms more effectively.
As your self esteem and quality of life improves, you are likely to experience positive changes in your personal relationships and environment.
My Background Experience and the Service I Offer
I have substantial experience of direct counselling work with clients who have presented with a variety of issues, needs and aspirations. I also have a significant social work background with experience in dealing with child abuse/neglect, domestic violence, addictions, mental health and learning difficulties.
I offer individual counselling to adults who present with a wide range of issues, some of which are listed (but not limited to) below.
How I Work
I offer an integrated approach to counselling which is underpinned by a relational and developmental framework. Essentially this means that I regard our relationship and the developmental history you bring as important factors in working towards the changes you desire. I do not adhere to one psychological approach only, but instead, draw on a wide range of psychological therapies in helping you to achieve the changes you desire.
My approach is flexible as I believe it is very important to recognise the individual needs of clients. I therefore strive to tailor my approach to suit your needs. I am always open to reviewing our work together to ensure your reasons for attending counselling are being fully addressed and that we set new goals where appropriate.
When we first meet, it will be important for us to decide how I can best help you with regards to the issues that have brought you to counselling, and whether I am the right Counsellor for you. Therefore, in our first session, we will have opportunity to get a sense of each other and most importantly for you, an opportunity to establish whether you feel a good working relationship can grow between us. Over time a good relationship between us, should provide the bedrock and trust you require in order to feel comfortable and willing to address the concerns which have brought you to counselling.
In our first session, We would look at what has prompted you to seek counselling now, how you feel I can help you, and how my counselling service can meet those expectations. Please don't worry if you are unsure about any of these issues, we can go at a pace which suits you. Every person is unique and whilst one person may be clear and able to vocalise their reasons for attending counselling, another person may initially feel unsure or apprehensive.
Training, qualifications & experience
I am an experienced, qualified and BACP (British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy) registered Counsellor/Psychotherapist. I am committed to and engage in Continued Professional Development and I would be happy to provide more information about this. My Continued Professional Development continues to address a wide wide range of psychological issues, a recent example of this has been my attendance at online workshops concerning eating disorders. I also have a special interest in respect of additional needs and have recently completed a part time training course relating to autism. Below are my relevant academic and professional qualifications:
. Postgraduate Diploma in Integrative Studies (Metanoia Institute, Feb 2018)
. BACP Registered Member, since 2016
. Diploma in Integrative Psychodynamic Counselling (Metanoia Institute, 2015)
. Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work (2008)
. Certificate in Management Studies (2001)
. BA (Hons) Applied Social Studies (1995)
. Diploma in Social Work (1994)
Member organisations
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
Special educational needs
Codependency issues
Therapies offered
Fees
£60.00 - £65.00
Additional information
Individual Counselling:
My fees are £25 for an initial 30 minute consultation. All further sessions will last for 50 minutes duration and will be charged at a rate of £60 per session (day-times) and £65 per session (evenings).
I do request that the initial consultation is paid for at least 48 hours in advance by bank transfer, as confirmation of your session with me. All further sessions can either be paid by cash or cheque on the day or by bank transfer (48 hours in advance).
When I work
Evenings - 6 - 9 pm ( Private Room in Hersham Community Centre)
Daytimes - 9. 30am - 2.30 (Private Room in Hersham Community Centre or alternative venue in Hersham) Monday-Friday
Further information
Please feel free to contact me without obligation, should you wish to discuss your particular circumstances and how I may be able to help you.
Venue:
There is parking available both in front of the venue and in the nearby side roads.