Michael Board
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This professional is available for new clients.
About me
WHAT TO EXPECT IN YOUR FIRST SESSION.
To begin with I like to offer a 15 minute telephone conversation to get an idea of your situation. If you decide to you would like to proceed with counselling we would schedule an assessment session in which I can get background information and give you the opportunity to speak at greater depth . It is also an opportunity for me to introduce myself to you and give you some insight into how I work as a counsellor.
Obviously the entire process is completely confidential and at this point there is no obligation.
HOW COUNSELLING CAN HELP.
Sadly there is no magic pill for complex life problems but entering into a supportive, non judgemental, therapeutic relationship can be the start of finding your voice and getting your life back on track.
Often, being able to speak openly, truthfully about your experience without fear of criticism, can in itself represent a significant new development for many people. This process is obviously different for each person and I encourage every individual to work at their own pace.
Clients often present for counselling with a specific issue they want to address. This could be depression, anxiety, anger management, bereavement, loss, work stress, relationship issues, family problems. The list goes on. It could be a combination of these factors or it could be more of a vague sense of feeling unfulfilled, feeling stuck and wanting to make a change. It is part of my job to help you get a clearer understanding of the challenges you face and help you to begin to address them.
Training, qualifications & experience
I have a Masters degree in Existential/Phenomenological Counselling (2007) and a Post Graduate Diploma in Person Centred Counselling (2002). I also hold an RA Certificate in Counselling Skills and the Development of Learning.(1999). My education as a counsellor was undertaken at what was formerly known as Thames Valley University. (Now the University of West London)
I also have a Masters degree in Fine Arts from Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York. I have teaching experience at university level from my time living in the USA. I also hold a BA in Fine Arts from the West Surrey College of Art & Design.
In my practice as a counsellor I have worked in the voluntary sector For Ealing Abbey Counselling Service for many years, alongside my work as a therapist and a career in the Museum sector. The client group in the voluntary sector is diverse in terms of age (min. 18), gender, race, nationality, education, profession and financial circumstances.
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
Concessions offered for
Additional information
£25 initial consultation.
£55 per session after that. Each session is a standard 50 minus hour.
Clients are required to pay for any sessions that are missed without prior notice of absence. The minimum notice period is 24 hours. As counsellor I will always inform clients of my absence beforehand with as much advanced notice as I can provide.
When I work
Daytime and evening appointments available during the week.
Further information
A brief Philosophy of Counselling:
I have around 20 years of experience working as a counsellor. During that time I have worked with a diverse client group in both the private and charitable sectors.
In my experience, most people face challenging periods at some point in their lives, irrespective of financial, educational, age and cultural circumstances.
Sometimes we experience difficulties that are caused by events which are outside of our control, such as accidents, illness or bereavement. Or sometimes choices that we make, such as career or partner, do not turn out the way we hope or expect. This can lead to feelings of disillusionment, confusion or a sense of despair. With problems of this sort it is often not possible to speak with family or friends because there are complex feelings involved. Few of us learn growing up, about managing "difficult" feelings, how to express strong feelings in non destructive ways or how to regulate and soothe ourselves. Until such issues start to have a negative impact in our lives, we might not be aware that this is a problem. We may have developed coping mechanisms which over time, have created other issues for us, such as addiction or breakdown of relationships. Part of my job as a counsellor is to help unravel the behaviour patterns that are no longer serving you well and to begin to do things differently in your life. I believe counselling can help anybody who wants to work on themselves and that the "Examined Life" can make for a better life.
Meditation and mindfulness can help to reduce stress and I will sometimes suggest using these techniques if clients are open to it.
I work with adults, minimum age 18.
