About me
Whatever your reasons for choosing counselling, talking about things with someone who is outside of your day-to-day life can really make a difference. Counselling is a chance for two people to work together to see what is behind distressing feelings such as anxiety or depression, a process which can ease these emotions, and make life seem more manageable.
Sometimes, distressing emotions are caused by life events, such as trauma or bereavement; other times the source of distress is less obvious. Whatever the cause, being alone with these feelings is tough, whereas sharing them with another person - though daunting - can be a relief and can help to change them.
If you are new to counselling, then chances are you will be met by a baffling array of terminology describing different practitioners’ approaches and training. Despite these differences, I feel that the most important factor in choosing a counsellor is whether you trust that person and feel that you can develop a good working relationship. I am happy to talk you through my understanding of these different approaches, including of course my own background which is in emotion-focused therapy.
Training, qualifications & experience
Counselling Qualifications
Post Graduate Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Practice (Distinction), University of Wales, Trinity St. David.
Graduate Certificate in Counselling Skill (Distinction), University of Wales, Trinity St. David.
Training
I trained in Emotion-Focused Therapy, an evidenced-based approach combining elements of person-centred, Gestalt and existential therapies. This approach lays emphasis on the underlying emotional patterns which guide our thoughts and behaviours.
Experience
My counselling experience, both pre and post qualification, includes work with the charities Seren and New Pathways as well as Cruse and the NHS Bereavement Service. Through this work I have experience of working with clients experiencing the following:
- Anxiety and panic attacks
- Depression and low-mood
- Self-harm and suicidal feelings
- Post-traumatic symptoms including flashbacks and nightmares
- Dissociative symptoms
- Grief
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
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£35.00 - £45.00
Free initial in-person session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
Standard rate: £45 per 50 minute session.
Concessionary rate: £35 per 50 minute session.
First session free.
The concessionary rate is normally offered to those who are in receipt of a UK state benefit, those in receipt of a state pension and full-time students in higher education.
When I work
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9am - 5pm Monday - Friday
