Kathryn Smith-Verrall
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Hi my name is Kathryn
It’s difficult to know who to choose to talk to so I thought I would tell you a little about what counselling is.
If you are finding you need someone to talk to about your problems, I will provide a safe, confidential and caring therapeutic relationship in which you will feel emotionally supported while you explore whatever issues you want to bring to our sessions. Whether they are current issues or from the past, I will give you a safe place to talk.
You may have been told you would benefit from CBT for a specific problem such as anxiety, or you would benefit from a talking therapy, or you may not know what you want, but feel you need to get things out of your head and talk things through with someone who isn't "involved" or affected by the issue that's affecting you.
I provide confidential Person Centred Counselling for adults, couples and young people (16+) experiencing difficulties, or who wish to make changes in their lives. If this sounds like you, and you want support in a safe space to explore your situation, where you can talk freely and will be listened to with respect, compassion and not judged.
The aim is to help you work towards developing your understanding of your life, yourself and your relationships, improving your emotional wellbeing so that you feel confident in making any changes you wish to make.
It's my belief that everyone is the expert in their own world and that my role as your counsellor, is to be alongside you as you explore this world, safe in the knowledge that I will be there, without judgement and without an agenda of my own.
Training, qualifications & experience
I am a registered member of the BACP (378489) and NCS Accred (NCS22-01203)
- Advanced Certificate in Clinical Supervision including online and telephone.
- Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
- IAPCM CrISIS Schema (Accredited Foundation)
- Certificate in Counselling Skills
- BTEC Trauma Risk Management
- Certificate in Online Telephone and Counselling (80 hours)
- Diploma in Equalities
- Safeguarding Adults
- ASIST (Applied suicide intervention skills training)
- Working with Couples and Relationships (skills, knowledge and practice)
- How to do counselling online - coronavirus primer - BACP/OU
Courses I have attended;
- TRiM Practitioner(TRiM by March on Stress) - Trauma Risk Management
- Coercive control and safeguarding
- Single session Therapy
- Grief recovery method
- Trauma Defined (the body keeps the score) - Bessel van der Kolk
- Introduction to Somatic Trauma Therapy
- Working with Relationships
- Working with Relationships, Sex and Intimacy
- Couples counselling
After serving nearly 40 years in a uniform in the Fire Service, I have many years experience of critical incident debriefing, defusing and trauma risk management, dealing with anxiety, flashbacks, PTSD.
I was a member of the Samaritans for over 20 years
I have also been a trade union representative, operating at local, regional and national levels and have had to deal with many workplace issues especially grievances, redundancy, bullying and harassment, capability, competency, discipline hearings and work place stress to name but a few, so I have an understanding of the emotions these events can have on you.
I have worked in the NHS in a GP surgery within the mental health team, where my work was short term solution focused counselling in the IAPT service
I am an affiliate counsellor for Employee Assistance Programme providers.
I am an approved counsellor for the PFOA (Police Firearms Officers Association)
I volunteer at 2 local charities, Fylde Counselling Service and Counselling in the Community; which provides donation based and/or private counselling sessions across the Fylde coast.
Member organisations
Being registered/accredited with a professional body means an individual must have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by their member organisation.
The National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society
This Not For Profit association of counsellors and psychotherapists aim to support the counselling profession, members and training organisations.
In 2013 the NCS register was accredited by the Professional Standards Authority under the Accredited Voluntary Register Scheme. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
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.
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
Critical Incident Debriefing
Critical Incident Responder/Trauma Responder
PFOA Approved Counsellor
Clinical Supervision
TRiM trained
Trauma Risk Management / PTSD
LGBTQ+
Couples/Relationship counselling
Short term focused therapy
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£50.00 per session
Free initial telephone or online session
Concessions offered for
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
Initial telephone consultation; Free
This usually takes about 30 minutes and is where you can ask any questions regarding our potential sessions together.
Individual sessions: face to face; £50 per 50 minute session
Couples Counselling: face to face; £70 per 50 minute session
You are not tied into any set amount of sessions, you can have as many or as few as you need/want. Usually you attend once a week.
All fees are paid by bank transfer, cash or card payment at the beginning of the session.
**For online/telephone work, this has to be paid 24 hours prior to the session starting.**
Students are at a reduced rate, please contact for information
Counsellors in training personal therapy; £30.00
Telephone Counselling; £50 per 50 minute session
Home Visits can be arranged should you have difficulty coming to the therapy rooms; £50 Plus Mileage
When I work
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Mon - Fri 0830 - 1800
Later evening appointments by arrangement
Further information
If you ring and I don't reply please leave a message as I maybe with clients.
I aim to respond to all contacts within 24 - 48 hours of receipt, in working hours.
I have up to date professional indemnity insurance, a clear Enhanced DBS and I am GDPR compliant and registered with the ICO Ref;ZA759456
Appointments can be arranged around working hours, and I work late one night a week.
FAQ's
What is Counselling?
Counselling is a talking therapy offered on a confidential, one to one basis, within the boundary of a contract, agreed by client and counsellor, with no judgement.
What is a counselling contract?
Our counselling contract will set out the boundaries of how we will work, covering things such as;
- Confidentiality,
- How I store your information, so I am GDPR compliant
- The length and frequency of our sessions,
- The price of our sessions,
- How to cancel and what happens if you cancel,
- Complaints
We talk through this contract together and you are able to add things to it if you so wish.
What is the BACP?
The BACP stands for the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. The BACP is a professional association for counsellors and psychotherapists. They work to ensure clients are protected and can receive safe, ethical counselling from appropriately qualified counsellors. www.bacp.co.uk
How do I know you work safely?
As a registered counsellor I adhere to their ethical framework for good practice and their professional conduct procedure. This code of ethics has been put in place to ensure I am working safely, it can be viewed on the BACP website at www.bacp.co.uk/ethical_framework
How much do you charge?
I provide a free 30 minute consultation then it is £50 per session
How long is a session?
50 minutes to an hour
What happens in the initial telephone conversation?
We have a talk about what brought you to counselling and what you want. I will explain how I work and what I can offer. We will discuss if you want to work with me, confidentiality, dates and times for our sessions, how your information is stored and any concerns/questions you may have.
Where will we meet?
I work out of Counselling in the Community aatWaterloo Rd, Blackpool (FY4)
Do you tell my GP what we talk about?
The content of our sessions is confidential. There are some exceptions to this, such as if your or someone else's life is at serious risk, there is criminal activity or a safeguarding risk. I will discuss these exceptions further at our initial meeting and you can ask any questions about it at any point. Any other information will not be passed on without your consent. All your personal information is stored securely according to GDPR (2018) regulations).
What happens if I need to cancel or miss an appointment?
If you are unable to attend a session please try to give at least 48 hours’ notice, I will endeavour to do the same. I reserve the right to charge 50% of the session fee for late cancellations within 48 hours notice. If you don’t attend a session and have not contacted me I will charge the full fee.
What if I have a mental health diagnosis?
I can still work with you if you have a mental health diagnosis depending on your individual need. We would need to discuss your needs at the initial consultation. If you are receiving care from the mental health team I may need permission from you to communicate with them (though I will not be discussing the exact content of our sessions).
What do I do if I have a complaint?
If you are not happy with the service, feel my way of working isn’t working for you or you wish to make a complaint please discuss it with me in the first instance. Formal complaints can be submitted to the BACP.(www.BACP.co.uk). The British Association for Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP) has more information and information sheets on things such as how to get the best from your therapist and what to therapists mean by professional boundaries
If you have any more questions or wish to discuss your needs please feel free to contact me for an informal chat.
