Mandy Cummings
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Hello, I’m Mandy, a qualified counsellor. You may be here seeking counselling for a specific issue, such as anxiety, depression or panic attacks, a bereavement or pregnancy/ baby loss or perhaps you aren't quite sure what it is but you are feeling stuck or out of sorts.
Some of the issues I am most experienced with include:
Anxiety – are you worrying and feeling overwhelmed by everything going on and can’t seem to put things aside, or you may be experiencing panic attacks.
Depression – perhaps you feel down and low and no idea how to get back to feeling normal.
Bereavement and loss – maybe you are trying to find a way forward following a bereavement, or miscarriage or baby loss, or the loss of something significant like a job or partner.
Other issues clients have brought to our sessions include stress, low self esteem or lack of confidence, relationship difficulties within an immediate or extended family; relationship problems with a such as an affair, or betrayal, divorce or separation. Others have struggled with shame, trauma and navigating neurodiversity. I have also worked extensively with pregnancy related issues such as miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal death and terminations. I have also worked extensively with women who have, or are experiencing domestic abuse or trauma.
How can I help?
It can be difficult to reach out, and to find the right counsellor, but I hope to help with that. I have over 10 years of experience so understand that it can be hard to know what to look for in a counsellor, especially if you are sad, distressed, unhappy or just feel lost.
I can offer you a safe, genuine and confidential space where we can talk about the issues you are facing. I work in a way to respectfully come alongside you in an accepting and non-judgmental way to really hear and understand what you are going through – it's not about me giving advice or a three step plan to fix you. I've worked with clients who have found healthy, useful tools to cope with and reduce their anxiety, depression and panic attacks, or found it very helpful to put clear boundaries in place in their work or relationships to manage stress and focus on their own wellbeing. Bereaved clients have found a supportive, empathic place to explore their feelings in an unhurried and restorative way.
I have peaceful and quiet counselling rooms in central Winchester for face-to-face sessions but I also work online with many clients across the UK who are not local to Hampshire, or prefer online sessions rather than face-to-face.
What to do next?
If you would like to the next step, feel free to call or email me. Counselling can be daunting or scary, so please get in touch with any questions, or we can meet for an initial (free) appointment to get a feel of how counselling would work for you.
Training, qualifications & experience
- Fully Qualified Counsellor
- BACP Registered Member (Accredited)
- BA (Hons) degree in Person-Centred Counselling (University of Middlesex)
- Diploma in Person-Centred Counselling (Metanoia Institute, London)
- The Freedom Programme training
I am a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), and abide by their Ethical Framework. In line with this, I have regular supervision and am committed to my own professional development. I hold professional indemnity insurance and a valid DBS certificate.
Experience
I have worked as a counsellor since 2013, which includes working for two counselling charities and in a school. I also worked for a Domestic Abuse organisation where I delivered the Freedom programme – a support group for any women fleeing or who have experienced domestic abuse. I’ve supported a Family Charity in Southampton by delivering their parenting courses. Prior to being a counsellor, I worked in the Corporate Events Industry.
Until recently I was the Counselling Lead for a charity in Winchester providing affordable counselling for those facing pregnancy related issues such as miscarriage, terminations, stillbirth and neo-natal death.
My counselling approach is broadly integrative, placing a strong emphasis on being person-centred to best serve clients. I work with adults of all ages, from students aged 18 and over through to senior citizens, across a wide range of issues, both short and longer term.
Member organisations
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
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£60.00 per session
Free initial in-person, telephone or online session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
It may be possible to offer a discounted rate for students and those on low income so please do ask me.
When I work
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Please note: I currently only have availability for new clients on a Friday in central Winchester or online.
Further information
Next Steps …
I really believe that the relationship with your counsellor is at the heart of successful therapy so it’s important to choose someone who you feel comfortable with and you can trust. Our initial meeting will give us the chance to get to know each other a little. You can tell me what you’re struggling with and ask any questions about the counselling process. I will explain how I work, and we can talk about how and when we could work together. After this initial session, there is no obligation to proceed. The initial appointment is for 50 minutes and is free.
Some clients come to therapy regularly to look at specific issues, whereas others prefer to come less frequently to use therapy as a reflective space to consider what’s going on for them in their lives. We can discuss what is suitable for us and agree this together – and continue to review these timings throughout our counselling.
In an emergency, please contact NHS 111, your GP or the Samaritans on 116 123.
