Michael Forrest BACP Accredited Counsellor and Psychotherapist
About me
I am a Humanistic and Integrative, BACP accredited counsellor and psychotherapist. I have worked with individuals and couples since 2005. I have previously worked as a hospice bereavement counsellor as well as an NHS psychotherapist. I also offer online counselling.
I trained in mindfulness as a Theravada Buddhist monk and I have over 30 years mindfulness practice. I also certified as a trainer in Nonviolent Communication (NVC) in 2005 and use this with individuals and groups.
I work with a wide range of issues and specialise in trauma, anxiety, depression and bereavement. I offer short and longer-term work - the latter allows more time and space for deeper healing of childhood issues.
My Approach
I offer a reflective space where I work with acceptance and a non-judgemental attitude, to support you to be with whatever challenges and difficulties you may be facing. As I orient to stillness, I offer my presence as an anchor to guide you deeper into an awareness of your inner experience. I help you to stay with this and what you meet there, so as to empower you and to allow for understanding and insight to arise. I stay present to your emerging needs, in a way that allows you to connect to them more fully and so explore how best to meet them. I meet you and your issues with empathy, understanding and compassion.
Professional Membership
I am an accredited member of British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP). As such, I adhere to their code of ethics and they have a formal route through which complaints can be heard, if they cannot be resolved in the first instance by talking to me - more information is available on their website: www.bacp.co.uk
Training, qualifications & experience
Training & Qualifications
Embodied Dance Journey Facilitator (2015-2017, The Dancing Heart Path - Guy Barrington)
Advanced Diploma in Integrative & Humanistic Counselling (2009-11, Dartmoor Centre for Counselling & Psychotherapy)
Certified Trainer in Non-Violent Communication (NVC) (2001-05, CNVC.org)
Certificate in Focusing Skills (2001)
Foundation in Core Process Psychotherapy (1998-99, Karuna Institute)
Previous Experience
Over 30 Years Mindfulness Practice, also Co-Facilitator of Mindfulness Courses for Devon Recovery Learning Community (2014)
Trainer in NVC (Nonviolent Communication), working with individuals and small groups (2005 - 2014)
12 Years - Torbay Social Services, Emergency Duty Service, providing mediation, conflict resolution and crisis support for families in need, as well as supporting individuals with mental health issues (2002-14)
Bereavement Counsellor, Rowcroft Hospice - Torquay (2010-13)
NHS Psychotherapist for Devon Partnership Trust - Torquay (2009-11)
Facilitator of Trauma Skills Training for Counsellors - Battiacaloa, Sri Lanka (2005-07)
Co-Founder of Floatation & Complementary Health Centre - Exeter (1996-98)
Buddhist Monk, Thai Forrest Tradition, Mindfulness Training - English Sangha Trust (1988-95)
Member organisations
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.
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
Other areas of counselling I deal with
I am currently working online via zoom
Therapies offered
Fees
I offer an initial meeting for £25, give you an opportunity to meet me and see if I am the right person to work with you. Followed by:
£50 an hour for individuals, £60 an hour for couples
Further information
Please visit my website www.bristolcounsellingservice.co.uk for more info.
