Martin Stokley
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This professional is accepting new clients but may have a waitlist. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.
About me
Thank you for taking the time read my information. I am an accredited therapeutic counsellor who has been practicing since 2011. I seek to provide a confidential, supportive, non-judgmental counselling relationship and environment. I believe it is important to give you time and space to explore, understand and gain insight into your situation and we will collaborate on the focus you have for our work together.
Counselling can encourage personal growth, lead to positive change in your life, increase your self-awareness / self-esteem, help you to reflect on your relationship patterns and increase your sense of mental wellbeing. We will work at your pace and I will help you to explore and work through difficult thoughts or emotions such as anxiety, loss, depression, anger, guilt and shame. I always aim to provide a balance of support and challenge in our work together.
If you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact me to explore if I am the right counsellor for you.
How I work
As a counsellor I offer what is known as integrative counselling drawing on aspects of humanistic, psychodynamic and CBT theory. Research shows that the quality of the relationship we build in counselling is important to the process of finding counselling beneficial. I therefore believe that how we relate together is fundamental to the work we do and it is important to me that we co-create a helpful therapeutic relationship for you. We will explore what you want to work on together and I will provide that empathic and compassionate space where you can begin to work this through.
The work of counselling can encompass different things:
- Part of the work might involve considering what you are thinking, feeling, and doing (or not doing), and how thoughts, emotions and behaviour all interact together.
- Part of the work might involve helping you find internal resources to make any changes that you have decided on and becoming more authentic to your self.
- Part of the work might involve an exploration of how your past or thoughts and feelings outside of your awareness impact your present problems.
- Part of the work might involve exploring patterns in how you relate to others or myself as the counsellor.
As part of our work we may also explore some specific tools or techniques to help support or aid your growth.
I am accredited [Registered Member MBACP (Accred)] member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). I work within the BACP ‘Ethical Framework for Counsellors’, and also the BACP Guidelines for Online Counselling and Psychotherapy. Information relating to both of these can be found at: www.bacp.co.uk
I currently work in private practice offering telephone / online video counselling for people located in the United Kingdom only. I have completed training in online counselling which is at a standard recognised by the Association for Counselling & Therapy Online (ACTO).
In my counselling practice I have worked with adult clients across all age ranges, from age 18, up to and beyond retirement. I am committed to offering a service which is welcoming to all backgrounds in a supportive and non-discriminatory manner.
Training, qualifications & experience
My Training
My initial qualifying training was a Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling at Spurgeon’s College, South Norwood (2011-2013). I then went on to complete the MSc Therapeutic Counselling (with merit) at the University of Greenwich (2014-2018) where my research project explored the experience of childless therapists.
Each year I undertake continuing professional development as a therapist to develop my skills and keep up to date.
I have also gained a certificate in online and telephone counselling at a standard recognised by the Association for Counselling & Therapy Online (ACTO).
My experience
I have experience working in bereavement counselling and general counselling agency contexts. I have also previously spent a short-time working as an IAPT counsellor. Additionally, I work as a lecturer at a south london college training counsellors on the CPCAB level 4 counselling diploma.
Additionally I have undertaken a four day training in counselling supervision with Dr Linda Charles and I currently run monthly supervision groups for a local bereavement counselling agency.
As someone who previously trained as a church minister (I have moved away from this sphere of work now) I am open to exploring with clients how their own spirituality may impact on or be a helpful in their situation. I have a good understanding of the potential impact of religious communities on emotional wellbeing. I respect the diversity of spiritual experience and expression that people have and as a counsellor I never impose my own spiritual beliefs on clients.
Publications
Stokley, M., & Sanders, V. (2020). “You’ve got children haven’t you…?”: Involuntary childlessness as a neglected aspect of therapist diversity in the professional context. European Journal for Qualitative Research in Psychotherapy, 10, 53–67. Retrieved from https://www.ejqrp.org/index.php/ejqrp/article/view/87
Stokley, M., & Sanders, V. (2019).“I’ve got this hole…”: Experiences of therapist involuntary childlessness with clients in therapeutic practice. European Journal for Qualitative Research in Psychotherapy, 9, 88–102. Retrieved from https://www.ejqrp.org/index.php/ejqrp/article/view/71
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
Fees
£50.00 per session
Free initial online session
Additional information
If you would like a short free informal telephone call to discuss your counselling requirements before booking an introductory counselling session please email me to arrange this.
I offer a free 50 minute introductory session as I don’t believe you should have to pay to find out if I am the right counsellor for you. During this introductory session we will explore why you have come for counselling and if we are the best fit for each other. The introductory session does not imply any commitment to further sessions on either part.
When I work
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