Michael Darvill
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
If you're reading this, then you're most likely struggling right now.
You might be feeling anxious, depressed or low. You may be angry, sad or stressed by a certain situation or event in your life.
Maybe you've lost direction and meaning, and feel stuck as a result. Or lost someone important to you, either through a bereavement or relationship breakdown. Or you may be suffering from another kind of loss.
Feelings of despair, fear or hurt can be overwhelming. But...you've started the process of addressing these issues by looking for a counsellor. You've taken the first step.
How counselling can help
Together, in a collaborative effort, we can look at what is bothering you and attempt to find a way through. I will help you explore your feelings so that you might better manage your struggle.
Counselling has the best chance of working when the therapeutic relationship works - as such, I will spend real time, commitment and effort developing our relationship.
I offer a warm, gentle, patient and caring manner, through which a safe and secure environment is established. This is vital as you need to know you are in trustworthy and supportive hands.
I offer my counselling services across a variety of formats - face to face work, online (via Zoom) and by telephone - across two counties: Newbury and Hungerford in west Berkshire, and Marlborough in Wiltshire.
My therapy rooms, based in Newbury and Marlborough, are safe, confidential, quiet and inviting. There is access to parking nearby in both locations. I am also available via Zoom and telephone.
I usually work by offering an initial six sessions, which can be extended with regular reviews, although the number of sessions is flexible and dependent upon your needs.
My approach blends person-centred counselling skills with an existential worldview; in short, I offer an empathic, non-judgemental space where you will be respected and made comfortable as we explore your world and what is troubling you.
Training, qualifications & experience
As well as my private practice across three counties, I currently offer a counselling service for a charity which provides accommodation and support to homeless and unemployed young people aged 16-30.
I have previously worked at a hospice providing care for terminally ill people and their families, with bereavement a strong focus; as a school counsellor; and at two different charities supplying therapy to adults, children and young people.
I am registered and accredited with the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and abide by its code of ethics, the BACP Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions.
I have a BA (Hons) Counselling degree, having trained for four years. My qualifications are:
- BA (Hons) Counselling
- NCFE Level 3 Award In Counselling Skills & Theory
- NCFE Level 2 Award In Helping Skills
- NCFE Level 1 Award In Interpersonal Skills
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
Therapies offered
Fees
£55.00 per session
Free initial telephone session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
I offer a free 20-minute telephone consultation, in which you can discuss your reasons for seeking counselling and what you hope to get out of it. You can ask any questions you need to before deciding whether you feel you could work with me.
What to expect in your first session
If you decide to proceed, during our first assessment session I would find out more about your background and current situation. We would also go through certain administrative issues such as times/dates of sessions, payment details/cancellation policy, how your private details are stored in line with data protection laws and other matters including the importance of confidentiality.
Therapeutic sessions are 50 minutes in length and I generally work to this format. However, if you require longer sessions, these can be offered at an increased fee.
When I work
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I have a number of weekday appointment times, both during the day and evening, charged at £55.
Further information
Location
I am sorry to say I have no wheelchair access - but I do offer online/telephone counselling as an alternative.