Julie Howorth
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Having worked for 8 years with male and female survivors of childhood sexual abuse or sexual violence in adulthood, I believe that what the people I work with value most about me is that: they feel believed and accepted without judgement, I am open and down to earth, compassionate and genuinely interested in them and the difficulties they are experiencing. They also value the knowledge and skills that I have developed over the years, through listening and working with these issues, alongside the reading and training that I have done in this area.
I have worked in private practice for the past 10 years. I have worked with men and women across a wide range of issues, such as: depression, anxiety, work stress, trauma, loss, betrayal, relationship difficulties, identity, sexuality and more.
I work very much within a person-centred approach, offering a relationship based on respect, empathy and genuineness, but I also integrate aspects or techniques from other models if this is helpful.
I am committed to providing culturally sensitive therapy, with a proactive and positive approach to working with all areas of difference, and I believe that it is important to consider the social context as a contributing factor to human distress.
Training, qualifications & experience
I began my career as a primary school teacher, and so I have a BSc Hons majoring in psychology (1987) and a PGCE (1988).
Working as a teacher left me with a particular interest in the challenge of achieving a healthy work/life balance and the impact of stress in the workplace.
I retrained as a counsellor and gained a Diploma of Higher Education in Counselling (BACP accredited course) in 2004. Since then I have worked for 8 years in Rape Crisis centres or Sexual Abuse services for men or women who have experienced sexual trauma either in childhood or adulthood. I have also worked in private practice for 12 years, as a supervisor for 16 years and a counselling trainer for 17 years.
After working as a qualified counsellor for 4 years, I decided to expand my knowledge and skills with further training and completed a Post-Graduate Certificate in Critical Engagement of the Person-Centred Approach and CBT. Alongside other training over the years, this has enabled me to draw on tried and tested techniques for working with a wide range of issues.
In 2010 I was awarded a Post-Graduate Certificate in Person-Centred Supervision and followed this up in 2011 with a Post-Graduate Diploma in Person-Centred Supervision. I recently attended further training in Integrative Supervision at The Minster Centre in London.
I have worked in private practice for the past 12 years.
I am always looking to increase my knowledge, skills and understanding and regularly attend training or discussion groups.
Alongside my work as a counsellor and supervisor, I have also been involved in training counsellors at certificate and diploma level for 17 years. I have facilitated training groups and personal development groups and have developed a particular interest in the social context of counselling.
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
Fees
£55.00 per session
Free initial telephone session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
My standard fee is £55 per session, however, the initial session is at the introductory fee of £25. I am sometimes able to offer reduced rates for trainee counsellors or those with no paid employment in receipt of state benefits. If you think this applies to you, please ask for further details.
When I work
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I spend part of my week teaching, so my availability can vary throughout the year. It is worth checking my current availability.
Further information
It may be important for you to know how much I enjoy my work. While it is true that I spend my time listening to people's pain and distress, I also feel genuinely privileged to have met the men and women that I have supported over the years, and am moved by their experiences and by being a witness to the great changes that are enabled by their coming to counselling.
I know that it can take courage to decide to go for counselling and to pick up the phone to make contact the first time. I imagine that you may have all sorts of questions about whether counselling can help or whether I would be the right counsellor for you. I am happy to have a chat with you to see if I can answer your questions in a way that will help you to decide. I don't believe that any counsellor is right for everybody: I would welcome the chance to give you more information on how I work, to help you decide if you would like to work with me.