Luke O'Brien
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This professional is accepting new clients but may have a waitlist. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.
This professional is accepting new clients but may have a waitlist. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.
About me
To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment - Ralph Waldo Emerson.
My name is Luke, I am a BACP registered counsellor, offering counselling in Southsea.
I am based centrally in Southsea and have a warm, and welcoming room at the Remidi clinic in Marmion Avenue. I can also provide sessions remotely by zoom or phone at present, if preferred.
I trained as a counsellor on a BACP accredited course and work to their Ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling & Psychotherapy. I am committed to making sure my work is in the best interest of each client and work in ways that value your individual identity.
I enjoy listening to people and if I have learnt anything in my work and personal life it's that we are all so uniquely individual and what works for one person might not necessarily work for another. It is for this reason that I refrain from imposing my views and opinions on others and have found that by offering a safe, supportive and nurturing environment that the individual often arrives at a solution or place that is right for them.
About counselling:
Most people go through difficult times in their life or experience situations that seem unbearable.
It can help to talk to someone outside your situation who can provide a safe space for you to explore these things and to help you work towards feeling more comfortable.
Many people feel uncertain about counselling as they are not sure what it is or how it can help. It is not where a client lies on a couch and a counsellor asks odd questions. Counselling is a talking and listening therapy, where both client and counsellor sit in a comfortable and private space.
How counselling can help
Talking and thinking about issues and difficulties you have can help bring about and effect change and enhance well-being.
Counselling is a process, which is not always easy, but counsellors are there to be alongside you during the difficult times. It’s all about you. I will respect your values and lifestyle and will not make any judgements. We will work at your pace to look at the things that may be troubling you.
What you say to me is confidential, however, I do have a legal duty to protect people’s safety and well-being which I will discuss with you in our first meeting together.
To ensure good practice I see a clinical supervisor to make sure I work in your best interests. I write brief notes after the session to help my work with you and these are kept locked away.
The aim of the first session is to see if it feels right for us to work together and if it is we can decide on roughly how many sessions you will come for and the cost.
Counselling is a very individual process so it's impossible to say how long it will take. Some people attend a few sessions, others many more. You may stop coming to counselling at any time.
Training, qualifications & experience
Qualifications:
- Post Graduate Certificate in Person centred counselling (University of East Anglia)
- BA (Hons) Humanistic Counselling (University of Chichester)
- Diploma in Humanistic Counselling (university of Chichester)
- Foundation course in Person Centred Counselling Skills
- Foundation Course in Person Centred Theory
Training:
Working Alongside Trans, Gender Diverse and Questioning People.
Experience:
NHS Counselling
As an NHS counsellor I worked with individuals over the age of 16 who experienced a wide range of issues, such as depression, anxiety, bereavement and loss, sexual abuse, PTSD/Trauma, family and relationship concerns, long term health conditions and work related issues.
Portsmouth Counselling Service (PCS)
PCS provided an affordable and professional counselling service to all communities and individuals in Portsmouth and surrounding areas, especially to those people suffering poverty and exclusion and whose lives are marginalised and outside mainstream. I worked with adults over the age of 18.
Portsmouth Abuse and Rape Counselling Service (PARCS)
PARCS is an organisation based within Portsmouth City that works with people who have been sexually violated at any time in their lives no matter how long ago.
PARCS provides free specialist counselling and psychotherapy to women and men, aged 5+ who are resident in Portsmouth and South East Hampshire. I worked with adults of all gender identities who have experienced any form of sexual violation at any time in their lives.
Chrysalis
Chrysalis is a charity providing counselling and support to Trans people.
Trans (or Transgender) is an umbrella term used by people whose gender identity and/or gender expression differs from the sex they were assigned at birth. The term includes, but is not limited to, transsexual people and others who define as gender-variant, gender queer or gender fluid.
I worked with people over the age of 16 at various stages of their journey/transition, from people questioning their gender identity, people undergoing gender confirmation surgery, or those requiring additional support post surgery.
Brighton and Hove LGBT switchboard.
The switchboard is a long established charity providing specialist support and counselling to the LGBTQU community. Counselling can help with many of the issues that affect the LGBT community.
I worked with people (18 and above), some of the issues included exploration of their sexual orientation and gender identity, destructive behaviour with alcohol and drugs, relationship issues with family and partners, depression, loneliness and lack of self-worth.
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
Therapies offered
Fees
£45.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
The initial introductory/assessment session is 50 minutes and costs £45.
I offer a free initial introductory phone call up to 20 minutes.
Thereafter sessions are usually weekly and last 50 minutes. The price is £45 per session.
Payments may be paid in cash or by bank transfer prior to or on the day we meet.
Some low cost spaces are available, please ask.
When I work
Day and evening sessions available, please contact me to agree a mutually beneficial time.
I am able to respond to enquiries between the hours of 10am and 8pm Mon-Fri and until 1pm on Sat
Further information
Day and evening sessions available, please contact me to agree a mutually beneficial time.
