Madeleine Bentley


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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Life might be feeling hard right now. You may be feeling anxious, low, stuck or overwhelmed. Counselling offers a way to better understand what is happening, what you need and start to move forward.
I am particularly experienced at working with:
- Younger adults (18-40)
- Students
- People with autism
- LGBT people
As well as working as a private therapist, I am also a university counsellor. I have an solid understanding of the concerns and pressures young adults face in relation to work, study and relationships.
Counselling
Counselling is a confidential space where you can talk about whatever is causing you distress or concern.
Talking freely about difficult experiences with someone who is interested, but not involved in your day to day life, can help you to work through feelings, see things afresh and learn more about yourself. This increased understanding can help you to find solutions to the problems you are facing and make changes that are right for you.
My role, is to create a relationship with you that allows you to feel really heard, listened to and supported in finding what you need to move forward in your life.
What happens in the sessions?
In your first counselling session, we will talk about what has brought you to counselling and what is feeling difficult at the moment. In future sessions we will focus more on your concerns. You are also welcome to talk about other things that come up as we work together.
My counselling style is conversational. My aim is to listen and respond to you in ways that you find helpful. You’ll set the pace and choose the focus of our work together so that we focus on what matters to you.
Can I choose how many sessions I have?
Yes, is is your choice. I see most clients for between 4 and 20 sessions. I also work both shorter and longer term than this. Sessions are weekly or fortnightly. Once you have had counselling with me you are always welcome to come back for one off appointments as needed.
What kind of counselling do you offer?
I offer person centred counselling. Person-centred counselling is based on the belief that, in the right environment, we can find out what we need for ourselves. In doing this we make choices that work for us and as a result feel more content with life.
Contacting me
If you think I might be a good fit for you, feel free to book an introductory call or email me. Please share a couple of lines about yourself and your availability, and we can take it from there. I warmly welcome any questions you might have about counselling, so please feel free to email me.
Where are you?
My practice is based in a quiet residential street in Heworth, York (YO31).
Free street parking is always available. Local bus stops are about 5 minutes’ walk away
I work with clients from across York and surrounding areas, and I’m conveniently located for both university campuses.
Training, qualifications & experience
I am an accredited member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).
As well as working in private practice, I am a Mental Health Practitioner at the University of York providing counselling to students at all levels of study.
I have worked in universities for 12 years and have an in depth understanding of the academic, social and relationship pressures university students face.
I have been a tutor for York City Council for five years. I currently teach the CPCAB Level 3 Counselling Studies qualification.
I previously worked as a counsellor at Phoenix Health and Wellbeing in Leeds and was a Young Person's mentor at York Mind.
I hold a CPCAB (Counselling and Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body) Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling. I am trained in person centred counselling.
Fully insured
Enhanced DBS certificate
Registered with the Information Commissioner's Office.
I undertake a minimum of 30 hours Continuing Professional Development annually, in line with my BACP accreditation.
I hold an MA and BA from the University of Sheffield.
Member organisations
school Registered / Accredited
Being registered/accredited with a professional body means an individual must have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by their member organisation.

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
I also work with the following issues:
- Academic stress and failure
- Family estrangement, parental estrangement
- Low motivation
- People pleasing
- Perfectionism
- Procrastination
I work with people with and without a formal diagnosis of anxiety, depression or both.
I have lots of experience of working with clients with autism and ADHD.
Therapies offered
Fees
£45.00 - £50.00
Concessions offered for
Additional information
£50 Standard fee
£45 Concessionary fee - also includes students who have graduated in the last 12 months.
When I work
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I work on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. I work from my home in Heworth. My counselling room is on the 1st floor.
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Further information
I hope you have got the information you need after reading this far, but please email me if there is anything more you need to know.
My office hours are Monday-Friday 8am-5pm. During the week I respond to all emails within 24 hours. If you don't see a reply from me, please check you spam folder.
I look forward to hearing from you.