Mark Thornthwaite
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Do you feel that something is holding you back in life, that things could be much better but aren’t sure where to begin?
I work with people experiencing such feelings and help them to improve their lives. This can lead to benefits such as better sleep, stronger relationships, more confidence, and improved physical health.
I provide a compassionate space where you’ll find the safety needed to explore challenging aspects of yourself. I’ll listen carefully and will always try to understand things from your perspective, without judgement. Due to the confidential nature of counselling, you’ll be able to explore relationships in your life without fear of hurting anyone.
Counselling can help you to gain the space needed to identify coping mechanisms that used to work, but which have now become a problem in themselves. It can help you to spot self-sabotaging behaviours, and feel empowered to do things differently, maybe for the first time.
Everyone’s life story and situation are truly unique, but there are some common themes to how counselling works. Experiencing the special qualities of the therapeutic relationship can allow you to face difficult feelings in safety alongside your counsellor. Once these feelings are allowed into the open, they can be understood from a new perspective which can help you to move on with your life.
Counselling can be a wonderful form of self-care to give to yourself, but I know how difficult it can be to take that first step and reach out for help. If you feel that we could work together then please contact me by phone, text, or email to arrange your free introductory call. You can even click on the 'Book Intro Call' button at the top of the page and choose an available time which works for you. This call will help me to understand a little about what brings you to counselling, and for you to decide whether I might be the right counsellor for you. After the call there is absolutely no obligation to choose me as your counsellor.
Training, qualifications & experience
I hold a Masters degree in Counselling and Psychotherapy and am a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).
I have counselled NHS staff with North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust, and worked with cancer patients and their families as a Macmillan counsellor with Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
I currently combine private work with a counselling and administrative role at St. Martin's Centre for Health and Healing, which provides Birmingham residents with free and low cost counselling.
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
Photos & videos
Fees
£45.00 per session
Free initial telephone session
Additional information
Each 60 minute session costs £45.
When I work
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