Maria Lawford
About me
I offer short/ long term counselling and over the last 20 years have worked with a variety of psychological concerns related to understanding and managing symptoms of anxiety and depression. These symptoms may be due to difficulties within family relationships, feelings of sadness, loneliness & isolation; traumatic experiences; anxiety and stress; illness, death and dying; bereavement, divorce and separation and loss; body image issues, bullying and low self esteem; work related problems and much more.
I work with the psychodynamic model which means that I pay particular attention to how our past experiences may continue to influence and sometimes interfere in our lives, our relationships with others and the way we think about ourselves in the here and now.
I continue to work with socially and culturally diverse range of clients and seek to remain open, sensitive and respectful of our differences; considering the particular needs and circumstances of the individual and using a variety of therapeutic ways of thinking and working when required.
I have been involved with counselling for the last 20 years in a number of organisations within the private and public sectors and with a broad range of complex needs.
Between 2005-2021 I worked within the NHS setting specifically with those suffering acute illnesses i.e:
- cardiac
- stroke
- renal problems
with physical injuries i.e:
- burns injuries
- road traffic accidents
- assaults
- work related accidents
and also with chronic health conditions i.e:
- cancer
- MS & other neurological conditions
- palliative care
I have several years experience in providing clinical supervision to NHS staff and other professionals and also provide clinical supervision in my private practice to those working in the public, private and voluntary sectors. I hold an Adlerian Integrative Approach Post Graduate Diploma in Supervision.
I am an accredited registered psychodynamic counsellor registered with the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (00556254) since 2006.
Training, qualifications & experience
- BACP member since 2002, accredited counsellor since 2006
Qualifications:
- Post Graduate Diploma in Supervision, ASIIP
- M.A in Psychoanalytic studies at Tavistock & UEL (2012)
- Advanced Certificate in Trauma - Focused CBT at Centre for Stress and Trauma (2006)
- Diploma in Psychodynamic Counselling at WPF affiliated Chelmsford Counselling Foundation (2002)
I have attended a number of group (IGA) and supervision related courses (BPF) over the years as well as specific seminars related to psychodynamic way of thinking, trauma and the body/mind relationship.
Training:
- I have several years experience of being involved with counselling training as Certificate Course Co- Leader and Process Group Leader with Chelmsford Counselling Foundation
- I have provided teaching to NHS staff (and for several years at Anglia Ruskin University) on issues related to working with burn injured and traumatised patients and on topics related to patient care.
Supervision:
- I have supervised groups and individuals since 2008 within the public and private sectors.
- During 2005-2021 I provided clinical supervision within the NHS to counsellors, psychotherapists & psychologists and reflective practice sessions to nursing staff & other professionals.
- In my private practice I currently provide individual supervision to psychotherapists & counsellors working in their private practice or their organisations in addition to such supporting teams within the NHS and EAP ‘s
Presentations:
- I have presented at the British Burn Association conferences in Liverpool 2013 & Chelmsford 2014.
Member organisations
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.
British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy
BACP is one of the UK’s largest professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy. Therapists registered with the Association fall into a number of different membership categories such as Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP and Registered Member MBACP (Accred), each standing for different levels of training and experience. MBACP (Accred) and MBACP (Snr Accred) members have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by the Association.
Registered members can be found on the BACP Register, which was the first register to achieve Accredited Voluntary Register status issued by the Professional Standards Authority. Individual Members will have completed an appropriate counselling and/or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but will not appear on the BACP Register until they've progressed to Registered Member MBACP status.
All members are bound by a Code of Ethics & Practice and a Complaints Procedure. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
Accredited register membership
Accredited Register Scheme
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 have a particular interest and experience in working with:
- coping with an acute illness or poor health & newly diagnosed health conditions; living with chronic health conditions
- traumatic incidents & injuries; its impact on the body and mind
- grief, loss and separation- death and dying, relationships, family, work & stress management
and those working in the arts:
- students
- performers - theatre; music, dance and art
- backstage technicians; front of house staff etc.
- teachers, tutors
and those studying psychotherapy & counselling in further education
Therapies offered
Fees
£50.00 per session
Free initial telephone or online session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
- My fees are £50 per 50 minute session
- Concessionary rates can be negotiated for those with low income or unemployed
- I work weekdays with some limited evening slots
- Telephone and online counselling is available.
Availability
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Further information
- Telephone and online counselling available also available
- Fees agreed & payable either in advance or at the end of each month via BACS dependent on negotiation.
- There are good public transport links by tube (Loughton & Debden) and bus (20)
- If travelling by car, the M11 (from London) and M25 (Waltham Abbey) are 5 minutes drive away.
- There is parking close by