Michael Blakeborough
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
I launched Longford Garden Counselling in January 2022 with the aim of providing a warm, comfortable, safe and confidential space to facilitate therapeutic change for adults (18+). I specialise in depression, anxiety and mental health issues linked to sexuality and gender identity, but the practice is open to all, including anyone who would simply like to learn about themselves to gain insight into who they are as a person. What’s important is a desire to grow and flourish in your life with a deeper understanding of self.
I use integrative humanistic counselling, based mainly on Carl Rogers' Person-Centred Approach, with elements of Gestalt, Transactional Analysis, Psychosynthesis and others.
I am fully certified with ACTO to provide online and telephone counselling safely and ethically.
After you contact me, I will arrange a free, up to one hour, non-counselling, assessment session with you to check that we can work well together. If you wish to proceed we will arrange a regular time slot that suits you.
I grew up in Melksham, where I now live with my Civil Partner. I sadly know all too well the toll being “different" takes on your mental health, having gone through school in the nineties under Section 28, in the wake of the AIDS epidemic. As your counsellor and an out and proud gay man, I will work with you to achieve your therapeutic goals, whatever they may be - for instance self-acceptance, self-discovery, or emotional issues surrounding sex. In particular, I have lots of experience providing counselling to clients with issues related to gender identity.
Clients with anxiety or depression can rest assured they will be with someone who really knows and understands the experience, having gone through my own counselling process successfully many years ago for Generalized Anxiety Disorder.
I deeply understand what it is like to be ‘on the edge’ with depression. I remember the feeling of hopelessness and barely being able to get out of bed, which took all my energy. I hope this will provide some comfort and help you feel safe, held and understood in your counselling with me.
Although they are not the same and can present independently, anxiety and depression often trigger each other such that it can be hard to tell if you're anxious, depressed or both. If you too are experiencing both, I will work with you to identify which is the root of your concern.
Training, qualifications & experience
- Accredited Member of BACP (No. 390162)
- CPCAB Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling (integrative)
- ACTO certified Supervisor
- ACTO certified online and telephone counsellor
- In practice since 2020
Member organisations
school 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.
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
Other areas of counselling I deal with
Self-discovery, personal growth, psychoeducation
Therapies offered
Fees
£55.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
Counselling session (60 minutes): £55
Counselling session (90 minutes): £83
Concessions: £10 discount per session
Supervision (90 minutes): £83
When I work
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Please email for availability. 90 minute slots can be used for 60 minute sessions.
- 0800-0930
- 1000-1130
- 1145-1245
- 1415-1545
- 1600-1730
- 1745-1845
- 1900-2030
- 2100-2200