About me
Hello everyone! Wow, you made it to my profile. I can only imagine that you must be feeling either pretty low, or just curious about making some changes in your life, if you decided to look for counselling.
I mean, it's quite an investment in yourself to start therapy. Well done, you. There are all sorts of barriers and obstacles to getting yourself here. Many people are a bit nervous about talking about their emotions and feelings, or embarrassed about their thoughts. Maybe you're fed up with what's going on inside your mind, yourself, and don't want to bother anyone else about it. Maybe you're worried you're losing your grip on things.
Hang in there! In all my years of experience working not only in counselling and therapy, but also holistic support and community roles, I've found that no one deep down is beyond understanding. Even those of us who don’t fit into mainstream moulds and expectations.
Whatever it is you're going through - there's some solid, grounded, evidence-based therapy here for you, where you can safely land. Calm your nerves. Release your emotions. Simply feel safe. Connect. Learn. Explore who you are. Find out what you're capable of changing about your situation.
There's no magic bullet that will take away all the fear and pain you might be carrying, but you can practise to either live with it, or release it little by little as you build more trust in yourself. Sometimes you might get what I call a "healing shift" where great burdens are lifted off you, and everything clicks into place, and you know what you're doing and where you're going and everything just makes sense. The things that overwhelmed and bothered you before, just somehow seem smaller, less important, and you yourself, a bigger, better, brighter person for what you've been through. You get a handle on life. You take charge. We’re not necessarily working miracles here. I firmly believe you’re already good enough!
I'd love to learn how I could be of some assistance to you. If you'd like to arrange a 10-minute introductory call, please book via my website:
Kes
Kesley Cage, MNCPS Accred. MBACP Reg.
Queer Autistic ADHD Counsellor & Creative Supervisor
Practising online and in Brighton, offering peer support, affirming therapy, clinical supervision and consultations with a creative, playful, person-centred and research-informed approach. Specialist experience includes affirming and culturally-sensitive therapy for autistic and ADHD individuals, LGBTQIA+ people, and caregivers supporting others.
Training, qualifications & experience
This is an important yet slightly dry part of my profile, but it's information that will hopefully reassure you that I know my stuff and I'm not just making it all up (although creativity is also a big part of how I work!).
To show you my commitment to therapy I have registered as a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, which is accredited by the Professional Standards Authority established by the UK Government's Health & Social Care Department, and I've also become an accredited member of the National Counselling Society.
My practice is greatly informed by my Diploma in Psycho-Spiritual Counselling from the Sweet Track Centre Somerset; this intensive training has supported me to work transpersonally and address mental health, childhood, family, cultural and spiritual issues with integrative psychological therapies and I've worked with all kinds of cases - both people seeking support with everyday issues, and also people with significant trauma. My work with refugees also led me to pursue further development around trauma with Trauma Institute International and Process Work Institute.
Additionally, I hold an Award in Addictions, an Award in Childhood Mental Health, and an Award in Safeguarding Children & Vulnerable Adults from the Sweet Track Centre, as well as a Certificate in Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Non-Violent Communication Integration from Mahakaruna Oxford. IFS has been a real game changer for me; it offers a simple, easy-to-understand model for how the mind works.
I of course have the Certificate of Proficiency from the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. I also trained in Level 4 Integrative Counselling at the University of Suffolk, which introduced me to working with cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), psychodynamic, and humanistic orientations to alleviate mental distress in clients. My training also covers childhood developmental psychology, group facilitation, leadership coaching, and mindfulness and neuroscience studies, among others.
I've worked in placements at Kakuma Counselling Service, West Suffolk College, Fairlands Middle School and Sweet Track Agency, where I provided long-term and short-term counselling and therapeutic support for adults and children, LGBTQ+ refugees, victims of torture and gender-based violence, and clients with bereavement, rape crisis, anxiety, depression, trauma, family, relationship, and spiritual issues. I also gave mindfulness facilitation at Plum Village Mindfulness Practice Centre, France, community solidarity at Aida Refugee Camp, Palestine, Adamama Centre, Israel, and Peckham Coplestone Centre, and online therapy through Employee Assistance Programmes.
With research and reflection on my practice and way of working, I have come to orient my work toward the Person Centred philosophy of counselling. This means I work non-directively, supporting you to choose your own pace and the topics you wish to discuss. I attend to the psychological conditions that support personal growth, healing, and integration. My professional and lived experience informs how I encounter clients in the counselling space. I practise to offer genuine presence, empathy, and unconditional positive regard. I discuss my work confidentially in clinical supervision to ensure it is informed by reflective practice, insight, ethics, and professionalism. I also pursue specialist CPD and social research in working with autism, ADHD, and LGBTQ+ issues.
As you can see, I've been on a worldwide learning adventure and built up plenty of experience that is relevant to providing a culturally-sensitive, global practice of therapy that is suitable for many kinds of people. I'm delighted to share my approach with you, and curious to understand what you might need from counselling. My private practice is the best of my work, offered as a personalised therapy service that draws on all my training and experience tailored to you individuals seeking greater personal well-being and spiritual/creative growth.
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
- Many people choose to work with me because of my holistic approach, which includes all aspects of you, and doesn't exclude core aspects of your identity, history or unique ways of experiencing the world; rather than trying to fit you into a box, or subscribe to a false notion of what is 'normal', therapy provides a space for you to grow and thrive according to who you truly are.
- If you're struggling to feel safe and trust yourself and others, then I may be able to support you to reconnect to a sense of calm and ease again.
- Work-related stress is often rooted in self worth and unresolved family and cultural issues, and by exploring these, work can get easier and become more purpose-driven
- Forgotten and buried experiences of childhood neglect and child abuse can heal with therapy, releasing emotional stuckness so that you can finally start to let go and free yourself
- You might have experienced a 'spiritual crisis', 'spiritual emergency', 'awakening' or Dark Night of the Soul. Some people might not understand, however I could assist you to make sense of it, and ground yourself in a spiritual life and practice that works for you, so you can safely contemplate your experiences without feeling overwhelmed.
- Anomalous experiences are valued in my practice
- I've worked with clients who have taken psychedelics or other consciousness-altering substances in the recent or distant past, by offering them space to integrate images, symbols or flashbacks, and complete unfinished healing processes.
- Near-Death Experiences (NDE’s) may alter how you think, for better or for worse, and therapy can help you to heal your emotions and perceptions.
- It's an honour to work with clients who are reaching the end of their life due to terminal illness, and making a peaceful and healing transition, with the precious time available.
- I have worked with refugees and survivors of extreme and repeated incidents of torture, and helped them to reclaim self-worth, emotional stability, empowerment and resilience.
- All of my work explores parent-child issues, on some level.
- Community may feel like a test to self-acceptance and belonging, especially for marginalised folks, but these are important inner arts that can be developed in therapy.
- If you feel lonely, isolated or disconnected, I could accompany you in therapy as you explore ways to reconnect to the wider world.
- Psycho-sexual healing (including LGB/TQIA+ and GSRD) is one of my early specialisms; I'm able to offer therapy to people exploring erotic identity, boundaries, consent, relationships, body-mind connection, and those with concerns about porn, sex work, chemsex, kink, BDSM, abuse recovery, or any area of sexual wellness.
- Many of us have roots in different cultures and social landscapes, creating the conditions for us to experience some complexities in our relationships, and lives as whole. Therapy may assist you to integrate different cultural values, and find beauty and meaning in complexity.
Photos & videos
Fees
Additional information
Therapy is open-ended and usually lasts 6 to 12 sessions or longer term.
Sessions can be scheduled every one to three weeks, or on an ad hoc basis. Alternatively, you may reserve a recurring weekly slot, subject to advance notice for any scheduling changes. Payment methods include card or bank transfer.
I aim to make therapy both sustainable and accessible. I offer a standard fee structure, and a sliding scale for inclusiveness. Updated rates are listed on my website, where you can also schedule a complimentary introductory call.
When I work
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Further information
My philosophy in a nutshell
I offer a holistic and compassionate approach to support you, whether in a few sessions or as many as you need. I believe everyone needs extra support at times, and counselling is my way of living a meaningful life by helping others. I approach each session with gratitude - just as I support you in growing your well-being, you enable me to fulfil my purpose.
Supporting you to feel safe
When you arrive at the session, you will be invited to talk about what you would like from the time we have together. There's no 'one size fits all' in counselling, and I am dedicated to honing practical methods to suit each person with whom I work.
Together we can create the most effective therapy for you. I can accompany you as you sit and connect with your feelings in a safe, warm and private room (or in an online video call), or outdoors in the woods.
Referrals
Clients can self-refer to me directly, and I also accept referrals from GP's, HR departments, charities, health insurance providers and other health and social care professionals. Please respect my professional rates, I only offer reduced fees in exceptional circumstances.
You're welcome to contact me.
Testimonials
Here's what some folk, who don't mind me quoting them, are saying about their therapy with me:
"Kesley is a wonderful healer and coach! Those who have the pleasure of partnering with him on their journey of healing and transformation are in for a nourishing and impactful experience."
"Kesley is true 'Soul midwife' - he embodies this - he helps people with the pain and labour of birthing their Souls, their true selves, into the world"
"You are a natural teacher"
"Your ability to attune to my inner process is a rare and precious gift."
"...sensitive and philosophical in-depth work"
"You are an amazing therapist"
"...delicate and precise"
"You hold an amazing space"
"You are like a magician!"
Get in touch!!
