Kirsten Blake

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her/she
Dip. Counselling MBACP

About me

Hello & Welcome!

I am so pleased that you have found the time and space to prioritise you. 

Are you struggling getting through each day, feeling depressed or anxious? Maybe there are some things that you are finding hard to forget or make sense of on your own?

I'm Kirsten, a Person-Centred Therapist waiting to work with you in order to help things feel lighter and more manageable. You don't need to do it on your own anymore.

With a background in mental health and working extensively with survivors of abuse and trauma, there are lots of things I have worked with previously, so can tailor your session to what you feel you need most support with. Some client bases and topics I have worked with include:

  •  Survivors of Domestic Abuse
  • Childhood Trauma
  •  People living with a range of complex mental health needs
  • ADHD and Autism & late diagnosis 
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Bereavement
  • Body Dysmorphia 
  • CPTSD
  • Loneliness
  • Relationship Issues
  • Low self-confidence
  • Burn out
  • Chronic pain

I also have my own lived experience of neurodivergence (AuDHD) and late diagnosis, so truly understand how hard that can be to navigate alone.

As a Person-Centred counsellor, I believe we all have what it takes within ourselves to find what really makes us thrive, sometimes, we just need a little support to find some clarity and peace and to help us find new ways of coping after difficult life events. 

I combine talking therapy alongside resources, tools and techniques that can help you to find greater understanding of the process behind your emotional responses. All within a warm, non-judgemental and confidential space, paving the way together for your self-compassion and self-love.

You bring whatever feels right and safe for you and we will work together to help make sense of it all. 

I work online and via the telephone so that you can access my support from an environment that is comfortable and familiar to you. This often gives people the time to settle into counselling quicker, instead of feeling like they need to rush from one place to the next. 

It is so important you find the right person to support you, that is why I offer a no-obligation, free twenty-minute telephone call to answer any questions. (You can book this by clicking the button under my profile picture or sending me an email).

I look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks for being here. Go gently.

Kirsten

Training, qualifications & experience

Qualifications -

  • Aim Level 4 Diploma in Counselling
  • Aim Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Skills
  • Aim Level 2 Introduction to Counselling
  • Certificate in Online & Telephone counselling
  • BACP Certificate of Proficiency 

Further Training - 

  • NSPCC introduction into Child Protection
  • Level 2 Safeguarding Children
  • Mental Health First Aid
  • Level 3 Adult Safeguarding
  • Somatic Trauma Theory and Skills

Experience -

  • 3.5 Years of counselling in a charity setting
  • 4 Years of Mental Health Support Work
  • Facilitator of Group Reflective practice in a Mental Health Service 
  • Crisis Volunteer for SHOUT text service 
  • Lived experience of neurodivergence (AuDHD)

I commit to a minimum of 30 hours a year of continuing professional development and training. This is inline with the BACP's Ethical Framework and requirements so I can best support all of my clients, no matter what they bring to counselling. 

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

£35.00 - £50.00

Concessions offered for

  • Low income
  • Students
  • Trainee counsellors
  • Unemployed

Additional information

I offer a sliding scale of fees to help those on a lower income bracket, students and trainees to access my services. 

All sessions are fifty minutes. 

When I work

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Early morning
Morning
Early afternoon
Late afternoon
Evening

Matlock, Derbyshire, DE4

Type of session

In person
Online
Phone

Types of client

Young adults (18-24)
Adults (25-64)
Older Adults (65+)

Key details

DBS check

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

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