Maria Foster
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
I understand there are times in all our lives when we feel unable to cope, overwhelmed or have ongoing feelings of sadness, isolation and anxiety. You may be experiencing frustration, shame or regret with your life or the people in it. Or maybe you are feeling stuck, questioning your purpose and value.
Sometimes the reason for this is clear and we know where to seek help but at other times it is more confusing. These feelings may have been bought on by a specific event, e.g., ongoing stress at work, relationship issues, children leaving home, redundancy, illness or bereavement... Or maybe they have been ongoing for some time; anxiety, depression, stress, feeling sad... Whatever the reason, I'm here to help.
I offer a safe, impartial, confidential space to explore whatever is troubling you. I will work and support you in gaining a better understanding of yourself, your values, your beliefs, your patterns of behaviour and how you relate to others and more. Together we will explore solutions, alternative ways of being and relating, empowering you to be the conscious creator and author of your life. Living a more fulfilled, authentic existence.
Here are some past clients experience working with me:
'When I first began my journey with Maria I was broken. She allowed me to enter a space that was completely safe and without judgement. She was with me every step of the way, completely in tune and empathetic to my needs, but also ensuring that it was myself who found the answers.'
'However intense and extreme my emotions were, she was there, fearless, committed and always ensuring that I was heading in the right direction.'
'In our time together I was able to love myself, wave goodbye to so many demons, rediscover my inner strength and reframe my negative thoughts ... I cannot recommend her highly enough.'
'Maria helped me become much more self-aware, helped me rescue my confidence and taught me how to look at things from different perspectives.'
'When I came to see Maria for the first time, I was unable to speak about myself, and she helped me make it possible. She provided a safe space and the support. Thanks to our sessions I see I have a choice and I make this choice every day. I don't feel stuck any more, I am changed and I will be forever grateful'.
Training, qualifications & experience
I am an accredited BACP registered therapist, degree educated and qualified in Humanistic Counselling from Greenwich University. I have a Post-Graduate Certificate in Psychology, I'm a Certified Practitioner in: NLP, Timeline Therapy, Mindfulness, Meditation and I am a Reiki Master.
I am an experienced practitioner helping people with a range of issues from; depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, life changes, hoarding, eating disorders, personal development, over thinking, bereavement, trauma, abuse, and low self-esteem ... to name a few.
I have worked with registered charities; ARC in Wokingham and Look Good Feel Better.
As a counsellor I never stop learning and updating my skills, I regularly attend Continual Professional Development workshops and lectures to increase my knowledge and gain a deeper understanding of my client's needs.
I abide by a strict code of ethics and through my accredited membership of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), I continually keep abreast of best practices, standards and updates to UK law.
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
£60.00 per session
Free initial telephone session
Additional information
£60 per session (50 minutes)
I accept cash on the day or BACS transfer 24hrs ahead of session.
When choosing a counsellor it is essential that you find someone you feel totally comfortable with. I therefore offer an initial telephone consultation (up to 30 minutes) free of charge. This enables you to ask any questions you may have about how I work, for me to understand your therapeutic needs better, and for us to explore together if my type of therapy is what you are looking for or may find helpful.
When I work
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Further information
Online only until further notice
My practice is based in Caversham, Reading, Berkshire, RG4
I am within easy reach of Reading Train station, RG1 (20 min walk), I am on just off the local bus route and parking is available.
Counselling can be taken on a short or long-term basis depending on your needs. This will be continually assessed in our work together.
