Linda K Berkeley, MSc., Accredited BABCP, PGDip CBT, Reg. BACP

Training, qualifications & experience

B. A. English; BSc. Hons. Psychology (2.1); MSc. Psychological Counselling; MSc. (Distinction) Psychological Therapies; Post-graduate Diploma (Merit) in Evidenced-Based Psychological Therapies; British Psychological Society Level A & B Qualification in Psychological Testing (RCPT Register - Register of Qualifications in Test Use); Certificate in Group Work (Gestalt Centre); APT Training Certificate in DICES Risk Assessment;

Other areas of counselling I deal with

Trichotillomania and other Bodily Focused Repetitive Behaviours

Body Dysmorphia

Social Anxiety

Health Anxiety

Further information

In addition to being a trained and BABCP accredited CBT therapist, I am a drug and alcohol counsellor, a BACP registered counsellor, a Counselling Psychology Trainee at the end of my training, and an integrative psychologist. I have 10 year's experience in therapeutic work and seven year's experience in the NHS. I would like to tell you a little about how I work and what a first session might look like.

My practice is based on an integrative, pluralistic blending of possibilities from several frameworks, including CBT, Gestalt, Compassion Focused Therapy, ideas from psychodynamic practice, with a person-centred, humanistic core. I practice primarily as a CBT therapist with the NHS part of the week but CBT can be practised integratively in more ways than might be assumed.

For example, it is a misconception that CBT therapists pay no attention to childhood and current context; childhood experiences are often how we got to where we are now and most people's issues are an understandable response to their current context. CBT does not when practised in a humanistic framework, place blame on the individual for how they are feeling. We do look at transference and counter-transference but it is not the basis of the therapy as it might be in psychodynamic practice. CBT also looks at the connections not just between thoughts and behaviour, but also the relationships between these, emotions, and what is felt in the body.

Pluralism suggests, within ethical boundaries, there is no right or wrong way of being in therapeutic practice; respecting clients’ diversity and idiosyncrasy means considering alternative ways of conceptualising clients’ issues and working collaboratively, not prescriptively; and there can be great value in theories and interventions from other approaches, while retaining a critical stance on those and my own theories and practice. The question for me becomes “What does this client want?” rather than me telling the client what they need.

For our first session, there will be several "housekeeping" type pieces of paperwork - e. g. a confidentiality agreement and therapeutic contract. I may ask you to fill in a timeline, which is a note of important events in your life, both positive and negative, and what the meaning of them was for you. When we meet, we will spend the first session discussing any questions you may have about therapy, how I work, what brought you to see me and what you think is going to be helpful to you. You are the expert on yourself and only you can decide what might work for you. We will form a plan together, perhaps over the course of two or three sessions, of how we will proceed, and what we collaboratively believe is going on for you.

If you think this sounds interesting to you, give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to meeting you and want to congratulate you in advance for having the courage to seek help with your issues.