Kerry Thorpe

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Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

location_on Ashton-in-Makerfield, WN4 0AR
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

About me

Are you looking for an experienced, qualified counsellor for couples or individual face to face/online counselling?  Are you wanting to work through issues you are stuck with in either a behavioural or person-centred approach, or a combination of both?

I have compassionately listened to and supported my clients during some of their most difficult and painful times for over a decade, providing a neutral, therapeutic presence, which can feel very different to support from friends and family. 

I am an experienced, established counsellor and registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), with thousands of hours practice accrued within the NHS. I worked in an expert reference group for the BACP, co-writing the BACP Workplace counselling competence framework and I am the author of the supporting user guide for this framework.

​I trained as a counsellor, following a career in HR and Marketing, as my compassion for people motivated me to work in a career that can bring solace, reduce feelings of loneliness and champion clients to engage in their own healing. and personal growth.

I worked within Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust for over ten years, progressing from Staff Counsellor, to Counselling Services Manager to Business and Operations Manager within an Occupational Health NHS Joint Venture. For eight of those years I managed counsellors and multiple counselling services, providing services to a variety of public sector organisations.

I am qualified in the approaches of Person-Centred Counselling and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Additionally, I am working towards certification in Imago Relationship Therapy, having completed the Foundation Course and additional clinical skills training.

I deeply believe that you are the expert on your own life and I aim to provide the therapeutic conditions to enable you to explore, heal, grow, accept or clarify what you need to. This belief informed my decision to train in Person-Centred Therapy, where the therapy moves at the client's pace and is led by them, with room for supportive challenge, when the therapeutic relationship deepens.  

When I had accrued years of experience as a Person-Centred Therapist I chose to train in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), a value based approach, coined as "third wave" cognitive behavioural therapy. I find that ACT integrates well with a person-centred approach and adds the option of a more action based approach to therapy for clients who prefer to work with strategies and exercises.  

While I can work in this integrative way, I explore with clients whether one approach or an integration of both could work well for what they are bringing and their own personality.

I began training in Imago Relationship Therapy, after reading extensively about the approach and admiring the way the session structures support a respectful exchange, creating potential for the relationship to flourish.

I have practiced in the specialisms of domestic abuse, obstetrics and gynaecological and workplace counselling.

I trained as a Clinical Supervisor following enjoying managing and mentoring counsellors within the NHS. I practice in a cyclical model approach.

Research has shown that the relationship between counsellor and client is more instrumental to counselling outcomes than the model of counselling used. I work hard to offer you a safe, supportive relationship you can utilise to achieve therapeutic change. I received extremely positive client feedback throughout my NHS service and understand the importance of the client and counsellor relationship.

​I commit to regular continuous professional development and clinical supervision to support maintaining my ability to provide you with a supportive, non-judgemental, accepting environment. In your counselling sessions I aim to make your experiences, successes and needs the most important focus in the room.

Please contact me if you wish to discuss what I can offer you and so you can decide if I am the right counsellor for you.

Training, qualifications & experience

  • Level 2 Counselling  2009
  • Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Skills 2010
  • Diploma in Counselling  2012
  • Suicide Sources and Prevention Workshop 2014
  • Trauma and Disassociation Recovery Course 2016
  • Introduction to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) 2018
  • Working with Anxiety Workshop 2018
  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Intermediate Certificate (ACT) 2019
  • Imago Relationship Therapy Foundation Course 2021
  • Imago Relationship Therapy Clinical Skills (currently studying)
  • Certificate in Supervision 2021
  • Diploma in Supervision (currently studying)
  • I hold professional indemnity insurance and am registered with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).

Member organisations

BACP
British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP)

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

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy
Accredited Register Scheme

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.

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy

Areas of counselling I deal with

Therapies offered

Fees

£55.00 - £95.00

Additional information

Counselling Session for Individuals  1 hr  £55

First Session for Couples Counselling 1 hr £65

Couples Counselling Session  1 hr 30 mins  £95

Clinical Supervision Session 1 hr  £55

Clinical Supervision Session 1 hr 30 mins  £80

When I work

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Night

Suite 11 Lesscent House, 405 Wigan Rd, Bryn, Ashton-in-Makerfield, WN4 0AR

Type of session

In person
Online
Phone

Types of client

Adults (25-64)
Older Adults (65+)
Couples
Organisations

Key details

DBS check info

In England and Wales, the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS, formerly known as CRB) carry out criminal records checks for individuals working with vulnerable groups, such as children. To find out more, visit gov.uk , or contact this professional directly

Wheelchair user access info
Wheelchair user access

Wheelchair-accessible premises should have step-free access for wheelchair users and individuals who are unable to climb stairs. If a Counsellor's premises aren't step-free, they may offer alternative services such as telephone/web-based appointments, home visits, or meeting clients in different location, so you can choose the option that suits you best.

You can contact the Counsellor to discuss the options available.

Under the Equality Act 2010 service providers have a duty to make reasonable adjustments to ensure that individuals with disabilities can access their service. You can read more about reasonable adjustments to help you to access services on the CAB website.

Supervision

In person
Online
Phone

I offer face to face and online supervision to counsellors practising in person-centred therapy or Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.

View supervision profile