John O' Neill
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Hi, I’m John and I am a BACP registered counsellor. I offer individual counselling for people aged 18+.
Like most counsellors, I have studied a few different approaches to therapy (including Humanistic, Psychodynamic, and Cognitive Behavioural theories) and how to blend them to meet the needs of each client.
So what does that actually mean for you? What can you expect from working with me?
Generally speaking, if you’ve had therapy before our initial meeting mightn’t be totally unfamiliar; we’ll discuss the limits of confidentiality and practical arrangements that we all abide by, and consider whether we each feel we are a good client-counsellor fit.
From there on no two people’s therapy is the same. There are as many different experiences of counselling as there are reasons for seeking counselling, and I know from my experience as a client that the ‘therapy speak’ about theories and techniques didn’t always help me choose the right therapist.
So in normal language, my approach is this; It’s my job to try and get to know and understand you, and what you might need, as fully as possible.
I would class myself as a ‘relational’ therapist, which simply means I’ll focus more on developing a strong working relationship with you, rather than on treating particular symptoms or worries or giving lots of direction. I will spend time listening to you, making sure I have understood your experience. I will probably ask you a lot of questions, some of which might even seem strange. I’ll offer you my interpretation of what’s going on for you, and I won’t always hit the mark, and I’ll want you to tell me just that! I encourage all clients to try their best not to censor themselves, I will want to hear the good, the bad, and the ugly-- I’m here for it all.
On occasion I might offer suggestions, whether for behavioural experiments to try, techniques I know to be helpful for certain issues, or other places to find support. But, generally, I’m not here to tell you where to go or what to do, I’d rather you tell me what you think and feel, and together we can figure it out from there.
If in working with me you feel like you have found a space free of judgement and shame to explore anything you like, and that you didn’t have to do so alone, I will consider my job well done.
Training, qualifications & experience
I hold a BACP accredited Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling (CPCAB). I am regularly pursuing CPD in areas that interest me.
I have experience working with clients with a wide range of issues, from grief and loss to depression and anxiety, symptoms of trauma, phobias, issues of identity and life transitions, relationship difficulties, suicidal ideation, and more, both in short-term solution-focused counselling and in broader more exploratory therapy, but I will not claim to be a specialist, nor do you need to know from the outset what you want to talk about. If I don’t feel I’m best-suited to help you with whatever ails you I’ll be happy to point you in the right direction.
I have a particular personal interest in the areas of gender, sex & sexuality, relationship issues, and those affected by crime (including perpetrators).
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
I am interested in hearing from clients from all walks of life. I am always learning and have completed some form of CPD or training in a variety of topics including;
- Jungian Dream Analysis
- Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (A.S.I.S.T. - NHSCT)
- Porn Addiction & Compulsive Sexual Behaviour (COSRT)
- Working with Infidelity (OU)
- Counselling Online (OU/BACP)
If you would like to know if I can be of help please get in touch, If I can't help I might know who can.
Therapies offered
Fees
£45.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
Concessionary rate of £35 per session for students undertaking counselling/psychotherapy training.
When I work
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Please send an email, SMS, or call for any queries. I will aim to respond within 48hrs Mon-Fri to all queries.
