This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Life can be hard at times and we can feel alone with difficult feelings, anxiety, low-mood, depression, overwhelm, and isolation.
Yet, the picture we paint to the outside world can look really different. This has a number of reasons, we may fear being judged, appearing weak, scared of losing something or somebody, we compare ourselves to societal expectations, e.g this is the role of a wife, husband, parent, sibling, professional, armed-services personnel, builder, teacher, etc ... and, when we don’t fit that role we define in our heads, we start to think it must be me, and this can lead to us feeling overwhelmed and inadequate.
Sometimes we are not very kind to ourselves and we turn difficult feelings like shame, blame, and guilt and anger in on ourselves. This can feel pretty overwhelming and isolating and can lead to anxiety, panic attacks, low mood, poor self-esteem and ill-health.
At times, the people who are nearest to us can feel like the hardest to talk to, or sometimes, there simply isn't anyone to turn to.
If you are finding it hard to cope and would like to speak to someone who is not connected to you in any way, where you will be offered a safe, professional, and confidential space, where you can remove the masks reserved for the outside world and really get to know who you are and what you want for your life - I can offer you this space, where you will be warmly received without judgement. I understand it takes a lot of courage to tell someone what is going on inside for you and I’d like to assure you that we will take everything at your pace.
What Happens in a Session?
During a session, I may take you through specific exercises designed to help with your issue, or you might have more general discussions about how you're feeling. What you talk about will vary depending on what you want help with it could include:
§ your relationships
§ your childhood
§ your feelings, emotions or thoughts
§ your behaviour
§ past and present life events
§ situations you find difficult
§ traumatic events
As your therapist, I will be impartial but understanding. I will listen to you without judgment and help you explore your thoughts and emotions. I may offer information, but I won’t tell you what you should think or do.
As a registered counsellor, my work is governed by a set of values, principles and personal moral qualities that ensure that I practise effectively and safely. These include such things as being trustworthy, fair and sincere and treating all clients with respect, care and candour.
Empathy is a therapist’s ability to see your viewpoint as if they were you. Even if your life and experience is very different to mine. I will do my utmost to understand your thoughts, emotions and behaviour, and communicate my understanding back to you. I will not judge you, and I will treat you with respect, care, and dignity. This will help us to create a strong and effective therapeutic relationship.
I know how difficult it can be to make the move to get in touch. I can assure you of a warm welcome at Journey Counselling and I am looking forward to hearing from you.
A Bit about Me
I am a Pluralistic Counsellor which means for me, that I believe you are the expert in your life. I use a range of therapies in order to find the most suitable therapeutic methods for you to help you to identify, and work towards realising your goals in life.
I have experience of working with clients who have experienced anxiety, trauma, PTSD, flashbacks, depression, work issues, relationship issues, personal growth issues, acceptance, gender based issues, drug issues, anger, where you feel events from the past are holding you back, confusion, feelings of overwhelm, panic attacks, suicidal thoughts, eating issues, financial issues, difficulty in making decisions, gender issues, sadness, isolation, feeling empty inside, divorce, stress at work, sexual assault, sexual abuse, domestic abuse, worry, low self-esteem and lack of confidence.
If you would like to discuss further how I work and to explore whether counselling is for you please get in touch.
If you are a counsellor looking for Supervision please see my separate Supervisor profile.
Training, qualifications & experience
I am a registered member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and I work within their Ethical Framework.
My practice is fully insured and I undertake regular clinical supervision in line with the expectations of my professional body (BACP).
I am also a qualified Counselling Supervisor (please see my separate Supervision page).
I hold the following qualifications:
Postgraduate Diploma in Pluralistic Counselling, Essential Skills Diploma in Counselling Children and Young People, Certificate in Counselling Studies 3 CPCAB (Counselling and Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body). CPCAB Counselling Skills Certificate 2, CPCAB, Coaching for Counsellors, Online Therapy, Comprehensive Resource Model for the Treatment of Complex PTSD, COSCA Counselling Supervision Certificate, BA Degree in Community Education, ICISF curriculum approved Group Crisis Intervention certificate.
In addition to the above I have undertaken further training in suicide awareness, LGBT Awareness, Diversity Awareness, Counselling Supervision Certificate, Working with clients with Dissociative Identity Disorders (DID), Dissociation in Children and Adolescents, Running Mindfulness Groups, Working with Young People in the LGBT Community. I am committed to undergoing continuing professional development.
I have over 20 years experience in various Social Care and Advocacy roles in the Public Sector and Third Sector. Prior to setting up my own private counselling Practice I have worked in various third sector roles as a counsellor with clients who had suffered trauma in their lives through institutional abuse, rape, sexual assault. I have a special interest in working with the effects of trauma and PTSD.
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
For employers looking for a Critical Incident Stress Management Response:-
Critical incidents such as a robbery, or a suicide, or death in the workplace can be sudden, shocking and outside the range of ordinary human experience. However, it may also be an event that has a specific personal significance to individual employees and may result in strong emotional and/or physical reactions. This can creates a significant risk of substantial harm to the physical or mental health, safety or well being of an employee.
This is where critical incident management is crucial . Critical Incident Management is where you help those affected by critical incidents or ensure that they don’t suffer long-lasting effects.
In such situations, a specific approach, led by a qualified Critical Incident Stress manager, can help you to compile a critical incident management plan to suit the individual needs of your organisation. Please visit my website for further information www.journeyfife.co.uk
Therapies offered
Fees
£50.00 per session
Additional information
I can offer you a short, free telephone consultation which will give you a chance to chat to talk through whether counselling sessions are the way ahead for you.
Thereafter counselling sessions are £50 per sessions: each weekly session will last for 1 hour and will take place in a safe, confidential setting.
My fees for supervision work is £60.
When I work
Monday, Tuesday, daytime until 8pm, some Thurs evening until 8pm, Fri afternoons