Max West
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Welcome to my therapist profile. I hope that you will find some information here that will help you get a sense of whether I could be the right therapist for you. I welcome the opportunity to e-meet, to discuss what support you might need at this time, and what I can offer to you. I offer a free 15-20 minute consultation on zoom so that we can chat through what your support needs are at this time. I trust that you will find me friendly, approachable and transparent, as well as experienced and skilled. Please feel free to ask whatever questions are important to you.
We all experience difficulties at some point in our lives and while it can be helpful to talk to friends and other close people, talking to a trained professional is sometimes just what we need.
The experience of talking to a therapist may involve a number of important elements:
- Being encouraged to speak about whatever is on our minds and in our hearts to someone who is neutral (not part of our network);
- Hearing ourselves speak our truth(s), and through this, naming what is real for us, hence finding our own wisdom;
- Having our therapist notice patterns, themes and connections we have not noticed, particularly in terms of how the past can influence the present;
- Having our therapist attend also to our unspoken communications
- Getting in touch with different ‘parts’ of ourselves (including Inner Child Work)
- Being heard and validated in our experiences and emotions;
- Being challenged, and encouraged to notice our ‘stuck’ areas or ‘blind spots’;
- Identifying goals;
- Trying out exercises and new ways of behaving;
- Receiving ‘psychoeducation’, whereby our therapist gives us information, tools and resources;
- Learning about mindfulness
As an experienced, qualified and accredited therapist with over 30 years of practice, I offer this, and more, to my clients.
I work with a wide range of issues, including anxiety, depression and stress. I have specialist expertise in working with difficulties related to childhood abuse/neglect, codependency, low self-esteem, trauma and addictions, including OCD. I work with people from all walks of life, including those in 12 step fellowships, expats, creatives, people who are LGBTQ+ and those wishing to pursue a more mindful path. Please see my website for more information.
I also work with: low self-confidence, perfectionism, eating disorders, phobias, PTSD, anger issues, loneliness, social anxiety, health anxiety, sexual abuse, dissociation, bereavement, alcoholism, sex and porn addiction, gender dysphoria, BDD, internalised homophobia, menopause, internet addiction, gambling addiction, hoarding and more.
My core practice primarily integrates Humanistic and Psychodynamic therapies.
The Humanistic component emphasises the importance of the expression of feelings, and focusses on helping you to find your true or 'authentic' self, which may be hidden under longstanding life beliefs about what you 'should' do or be.
The Psychodynamic component of my approach places importance on the link between the past and present, on looking at patterns in relationships and feelings (including within the therapy encounter itself) and on working symbolically and with the less conscious parts of self.
I also utilise tools and perspectives from CBT therapies, particularly when focussing on compulsions such as food, internet, porn, sex, alcohol, drugs, shopping, perfectionism etc. A Cognitive Behavioural approach focusses on addressing counter-productive ways of thinking and behaving that may be inhibiting you from having the life you want. I also hold a systemic perspective in my work, aware of the influence of family of origin, culture, school, religion and society. I also incorporate mindfulness and trauma informed approaches where appropriate.
I value the diversity in human beings, and will listen and respond to the specifics of your lived experience without assuming I understand you based on any groups you may be part of (gender, sexuality, race, class, ability, etc.). My way of being as a therapist is informed by my commitment to anti-oppressive practice, openness to individuals' right to define themselves and their lives, delight in the power and process of creativity, and awareness of the interconnectedness in all life.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Training, qualifications & experience
I am an MBACP (Member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy) Senior Accredited Psychotherapist, Counsellor and Supervisor. This means that I meet the BACP's recognised accreditation standards, abide by their Ethical Framework for practice, and have also evidenced a wide range of more advanced training and practice requirements leading to Senior Accredited status. I have more than 30 years and 25,000 client hours of experience in the field of psychotherapy, counselling and mental health.
At age 20, my introduction to the transformational power of therapy was as a client. Over many years, my own healing journey has involved a number of modalities. I continue to be committed to growing and developing personally as well as professionally. I regularly use yoga, Pilates, mindfulness and other therapeutic practices to maintain my own balance, peace and well-being.
My initial experience of working with clients in a therapeutic role was in the residential addiction field, running groups and working with individuals. Later, I worked in an outpatient service for people with substance abuse issues.
I trained to Master's Level in Integrative Psychotherapy and Counselling in 1998-2000 (Distinction). I have supplemented that core training with other shorter courses, in supervision, hypnotherapy, CBT, EMDR, Lifespan Integration and more. I also learn from reading, podcasts, my own healing journey and most of all from my clients.
I have worked in the NHS, Adult Education, the HIV and LGBTQ+ fields, MIND, with Sexual Abuse Survivors, and in Private Practice.
I currently work solely in Private Practice, offering in person sessions in Central London, and online sessions to people around the world. My appointments are scheduled during the daytime, lunchtime, early evening and early morning (pre-work); most of my work is medium to longer term.
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
Abuse, ADD / ADHD, Addictions, AIDS/HIV, Anger management, Anxiety, Autism spectrum, Bereavement, Cancer, Chronic fatigue syndrome / ME, Cultural issues, Depression, Disability, Eating disorders, Health related issues, Identity issues, LGBTQ+ counselling, Loss, Menopause, Men's issues, Mood disorder, Neurodiversity, Obsessions, OCD, Phobias, Post-traumatic stress, Redundancy, Relationships, Self esteem, Self-harm, Sexual identity, Sexuality, Spirituality, Stress, Substance Dependency, Trauma, Vegan allied, Women's issues, Work related issues
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£65.00 - £115.00
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
In order to make my services accessible to as many people as possible, my fee structure is based on individual financial circumstances. The starting point for this calculation is income - including any bonuses, grants, money in trust or support from family/partner. In addition, personal savings and investments are taken into account. These calculations are on a trust basis, and no proof of financial circumstances is required.
The baseline charge for a 50-minute session of counselling/psychotherapy - payable at the time of the session - is from £65 upwards. The lowest rate is for those earning less than £40K pa; these places are limited to four, so please do ask about availability.
You will receive clear guidance on my sliding scale in the brochure that I will send you before a first appointment.
When I work
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I offer a range of appointments, including early morning (pre-work), lunchtime and late afternoon/early evening sessions. Appointments are scheduled at the same day/time each week.
Further information
How does change in therapy happen?
Change in therapy may happen through the content (what is said), process (movement in feeling, thought and behaviour) and relationship (trust, safety, acceptance). Clients may transform by:
- Telling their stories (perhaps for the first time);
- Getting in touch with feelings and expressing them;
- Gaining insight and understanding themselves better;
- Allowing unconscious (or hidden) thoughts, feelings and memories to surface and be worked through, so that they are more aware and have more choices;
- Integrating these new realisations, feelings, and options;
- Having a positive, 'reparative' relationship with the therapist;
- Making behavioural shifts;
- Opening to new experiences, both internal and external.
Through therapy, people grow and change, experiencing new self-knowledge and an expanded sense of freedom, peace and well-being.
First sessions (therapy): what to expect
Before making a first appointment, we will arrange a short phone or zoom call, so that I can take some administrative details from you, and you can ask any brief questions you may have of me.
If we then arrange a first session, I will first send you an email with some written materials about counselling and the way that I work, along with a confirmation of our first appointment.
The purpose of the first session will be for us to begin to get to know each other a bit, and to assess whether we believe we can work together in a way that will be useful to you.
You will have the opportunity to talk about yourself and what has brought you to counselling. You may also wish to ask me questions about the therapy process, the way that I work as a therapist, or anything in the documents you will have received via email.
During this first session, I will also ask you some specific questions about yourself, such as information about your general health and well-being, and background information about you. This will help me to understand you in the context of your life and will help me to assess whether I believe I can help you with your current issues. I will also ask you for details of any medication you are taking and for the contact details of your GP.
During and after this first session, you may wish to reflect on whether you feel comfortable talking to me and whether you think therapy with me could be useful to you. All appointments, including the first meeting, last for 50 minutes.
Information about supervision for therapists and other health professionals
Supervision offers a supportive and challenging space for counsellors, psychotherapists and other health professionals to reflect on their clinical practice, in order to maintain ethical and professional standards and enhance creativity, competency and efficacy in their work with clients.
I am a Senior Accredited Supervisor with the BACP, and have over 20 years’ experience supervising therapists, counsellors and other practitioners across a number of modalities and at different points in their careers.
While my core psychotherapy qualification is an M.A. in Integrative Psychotherapy and Counselling (Distinction), I received my Certificate in Psychodynamic Supervision (Distinction) from the University of Leicester, where I studied with the eminent psychotherapist, Michael Jacobs.
My therapeutic Integration is primarily Humanistic and Psychodynamic, but I mix in other modalities where appropriate: I hold qualifications in Cognitive Behavioural Therapies, Mediation and Hypnotherapy and have further training in Lifespan Integration (Level Two) and EMDR (Level Two). I also have a particular interest in Mindfulness.
I have been a supervisor for over 20 years, and have supervised counsellors and other health professionals in the voluntary sector, NHS, EAPs, adult education, training institutions and private practice.
I work with individuals at different stages of their development and across different theoretical orientations, meeting them where they are, in their careers and in their personhood.
My supervisory practice is based upon my regard for individuals’ own training and philosophy: I believe that the differences between supervisor and supervisee can bring about fruitful discussions. Together, we can think about the needs of clients and the impact of the work on the practitioner. I am an interactive (but not didactic) supervisor, and am particularly keen on client safety and boundaries, and the past-present link-up.
