Mel Stubbs MBACP Dip. Couns
About me
I'm a qualified and experienced counsellor/psychotherapist based in the Liverpool and Wirral region. My aim is to provide a safe space for you to explore life issues, motivations and circumstances, and to grow in wholeness.
Personally, counselling has given me insights into how I view the world and manage my expectations. This allows me to take stock of what I can and can't control which in turn lessens anxiety and worry. Counselling provided me with a valuable physical and emotional space within which to explore my life. It provided a safe professional relationship with someone who would listen and not judge. These valuable aspects of counselling are so important to me now in my own work with clients.
My services.
I understand contacting a counsellor for the first time can be a daunting process. The first step is to either give me a call or drop me an email. If I can't answer straight away please leave a message. You don't need to give personal details, just leave your name and details of how's best to contact you. I also have a website MJS Counselling www.mjscounselling.com where lots of information about the counselling journey can be found.
I offer an initial free 30 minute session for you to meet me and get a feel of whether we could work together. At that appointment, I will answer any questions you may have and give you a copy of the counselling contract. There is no pressure to make a decision to proceed with therapy at that appointment, it's often better to have some time to think about it.
If you do decide to proceed with regular sessions we can make arrangements as to where and when is convenient. Clients often opt for weekly sessions but this is not the only option. It may seem like a long time before we actually get to the first session but I can usually fit in clients within a few weeks.
Once we have agreed to work together, the sessions are your time to work through all of the concerns that have been on your mind. We will go at your pace with regular reviews every few sessions. Towards the end of each session, I will begin to draw things to a close. The aim is that you leave the room reassured and comfortable to carry on with your week.
I work in line with the BACP code of ethics from comfortable, safe and confidential counselling rooms based in Wirral and Liverpool.
As well as face to face counselling, I also offer online counselling. For some people, it may provide the only practicable option due to health or mobility constraints. Certainly in the current situation, many may feel unable to attend in person, and I want to offer a service which fully supports those people. I am able to offer remote counselling via Zoom. Remote counselling is not my first choice, despite the convenience factor I would always recommend attending sessions in person if at all possible.
Training, qualifications & experience
Qualifications
- Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
- Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Skills
- BSc (Hons) Applied Psychology
Experience
As well as establishing my private practice I have been a volunteer counsellor with Wirral Mind for 2 years. I also have previous counselling experience in a busy GP surgery.
Continuing Professional Development
- Calming the Anxious Brain – 3 Essential Stages
- Healing From the Bottom Up: Resource States in Trauma Work
- A Gestalt Approach to Working with Shame
- BACP Certificate of Proficiency
- Mental Health First Aid
- Safetalk Suicide Awareness Training
Member organisations
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
Therapies offered
Fees
The first 30 minute session is free, I then charge £40 per 50 minute session.
Concessions offered for
Further information
I understand there is some confusion and anxiety around the current Covid pandemic and regulations. As of 15/10/20 I am still seeing clients face to face, both in Liverpool and on the Wirral. Both venues have been checked and approved to allow clients to attend in person. Please feel free to get in touch to discuss your needs. I will keep you updated if the situation changes.
