Kevin Ventris
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Why Counselling or Therapy?
Perhaps you are seeking help because you feel things are not quite right. You know something isn't working for you and you feel not happy, fulfilled or perhaps isolated, but are not able to pinpoint why.
You may find yourself grappling with the weight of low self-esteem, self-doubt, stress, anxiety, or depression, or facing acute known difficulties such as bereavement, trauma, family issues, the loss of a job or relationship problems and you find yourself personally limited or overwhelmed. Perhaps you may be experiencing familiar distressing situations and begin to wonder why you encounter the same problem over and over again or question the ways you find yourself reacting and relating. Life transitions can also be confusing times, as you ask yourself big questions such as: Who am I? What do I want?
You want to make sense of things and are trying to find meaning and understanding.
My Approach
We will aim is to build an accepting and trusting relationship, where you can openly and honestly talk and explore your feelings, thoughts, behaviours and concerns without judgement. I feel creating such an environment is crucial when navigating our inner landscapes and especially when exploring complex issues like historical trauma or various forms of abuse.
I recognise the significance of delving into the underlying causes of your struggles and offer compassionate support as we explore and unravel the complexities together that may be contributing to your distress and impacting your life currently. Through a blend of insight, analysis, and compassionate support, I provide a space where you can feel both understood and challenged.
I work psychodynamically and aim to make you more aware of what goes on for you unconsciously; bringing the possibility of making new choices and managing the issues which concern us differently. The psychodynamic model uses a triangle of insight: our relationships with significant people in the past; our relationship with ourselves and others in the present and the relationship in the room between me and you.
My approach is all about getting to the root of the problem, so we can understand how your current feelings, thinking, relationships and behaviour are dynamically shaped by the blueprint of your past childhood experiences, unconscious thoughts and impulses, with an aim to bring about significant and lasting change.
Who Am I
Following a 20-year+ career working in Product Management and Human Resources in mostly large private and public sector organisations in Sussex and Surrey, I retrained to become a therapist and founded Serenity of Mind Therapy.
I offer online and in person sessions for those experiencing all kinds of issues from relationship difficulties, grief, depression and anxiety, all the way to complex PTSD from trauma and childhood sexual, psychological and physical abuse.
I am passionate about helping and guiding clients toward greater fulfilment and progress on their journey toward resolution, healing and growth, aligning with my practice name – Serenity of Mind.
Next Steps
We can arrange an initial assessment session, which is an opportunity for us to introduce ourselves and me ask and hear about your needs and hopes for therapy, and which ‘problems’ you wanted to address and take some background information.
We will discuss your goals and treatment options that work best for you. Some possibilities might be short vs long term therapy, focussing on immediate goals vs exploring your existing patterns and how they were developed, etc. I work with clients in person or online typically via FaceTime, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, WhatsApp, or Zoom, and usually work on either a short brief focused approach of 6 to 12 sessions or on a longer open-ended basis, we will review and mutually agree on which of the approaches would suit you best.
Your initial assessment session is not a ‘therapy session’ but I will instead talk you through my approach and answer any questions you may have, which will help you to decide if you are comfortable working together with ongoing sessions. It is also essential for me to consider whether I have the relevant skill set and experience to work with your particular needs. If for whatever reason I am not the right fit for you, I will gladly help you to look at other options.
There is no obligation to commit to therapy with me after an initial assessment.
Your ongoing sessions will be yours to use as you want and I have no expectations on you to use them in a particular way. You may feel some discomfort at the start of therapy, which is to be expected, as you get used to the setting and me, but I encourage you to freely discuss this with me.
Therapy often stirs up powerful emotions, and it's perfectly natural to feel that way. Please know that you can express yourself openly without concern for ‘upsetting’ me or saying the 'wrong' thing. Your sessions are a safe space where your thoughts and feelings are welcomed without judgment or fear. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to therapy. The goal is simply to help you discover insights through exploring your experience and develop skills that benefit you.
Training, qualifications & experience
I am a qualified psychodynamic counsellor/therapist with a BACP accredited diploma in psychodynamic counselling and a BSc (Hons) in Psychology.
I am a Registered Member (MBACP) of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). In line with this, my work is supervised regularly by a qualified supervisor. I also ensure that I engage in continual professional development (CPD) and regularly attend training and conferences to ensure my practice is grounded in the most up to date theoretical research.
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
- Challenging negative thinking
- Neglect
- Effect of childhood on the present
- Fears
- Feeling ‘stuck’, dissatisfied with life
- Grief
- Identity
- LGBTQIA+: sexual orientation; coming out; discrimination; family support
- Life changes and transitions: leaving home; empty nest; mid-life crisis; retirement
- Life crises
- Loss: relationship; health; job; role; status
- Panic attacks and Panic Disorder
- Rejection
- Relationships with family and friends
- Relationship difficulties: separation and divorce
- Repeating patterns in relationships
- Resilience challenges
- Sadness
- Shame and guilt
- Sexuality and sexual issues
- Work problems
Therapies offered
Fees
£40.00 - £55.00
Concessions offered for
Additional information
Initial assessment sessions are £40 per 60 minute session (in person or online).
Individual therapy sessions are £55 per 50 minute session (in person or online).
I reserve a limited amount of face to face and online sessions at a reduced rate of £45, which are made available upon request for:
- NHS staff and support workers
- Low household incomes
- Primary Carers
Please contact me to discuss your needs and circumstances and discuss availability.
When I work
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Monday to Friday: 09:00am - 20:00pm
Further information
My counselling room in Crowborough, East Sussex, is based within the modern Basepoint business centre, with waiting area, bathroom facilities and free parking available in the Waitrose car park next door (up to three hours). This location is approximately a 10-minute drive from Tunbridge Wells on the A26, a 15-minute drive from Uckfield and a 20-minute drive from East Grinstead. It is also well located for residents of Rotherfield, Mayfield, Wadhurst, Nutley, Maresfield, Buxted, Newick, Forest Row, Heathfield and other High Weald area towns and villages.
My counselling room in Haywards Heath, West Sussex, is based within historic Oathall House, set within peaceful grounds with private parking and bathroom facilities. This location is approximately 10 minutes from junction 10a on the M23, a 20-minute drive from Crawley and a 30-minute drive from Brighton. It is also well located for residents of Burgess Hill, Horsham, East Grinstead, Hassocks, Hurstpierpoint, Ditchling and other Mid-Sussex towns and villages.