Nicholas Shearer Burgess

Verified Professional Verified Professional
Verified Professional

Every professional displayed on Counselling Directory has been independently verified by our team to ensure they have suitable credentials to practise.

Limited availability
Limited availability

This professional is accepting new clients but may have a waitlist. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.

Bristol, BS4
Limited availability
Limited availability

This professional is accepting new clients but may have a waitlist. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.

About me

Hi there,

As you are here I know you are searching for a therapist (Counsellor). These initial steps towards this process can seem difficult and daunting, as they are often made as a result of many years of managing complex thoughts, behaviours, feelings and difficult life experiences on your own. I believe this important step you have taken for yourself needs recognition.

So, let me explain who I am and what I offer as a Counsellor. As an integrative therapist, I use a variety of therapeutic approaches. The main focus of the therapy I offer is deeply rooted in Person Centered Therapy; the idea that your life is your lived experience and “you experience yourself, as the expert of your own experience”. This non directive approach is the focus of the work, in addition to this, I believe self-compassion (basically the process of applying kindness to yourself), is something that appears to be much harder than we are led to believe but remains a key factor in developing a healthy relationship with our self and any issues we may have. In addition to Person Centered Therapy I also use two other significant relational therapies, Compassion Focused Therapy and Acceptance Therapy which work together to support you in developing a deeper understanding of yourself,  and any issues you may be facing. 

Throughout our sessions, we will work together to create a bespoke therapy as individual as you are. As a Counsellor I believe therapy works as a two-way process of relationship, and throughout our work together my aim is to support you side by side through the process.  

Training, qualifications & experience

I am a fully qualified experienced integrative humanistic Counsellor, CPCAB Dip 4. That can sound wordy and complicated but essentially it means my work is based in human to human connectivity.  am a registered member of the BACP (MBACP), offering individual open-ended personal therapy. I have extensive experience of working with a wide range of clients specialising in both post -16 adolescents and adults. In addition to my private work for the past six years, I have worked as the lead counsellor of a large FE/HE provision in South Gloucestershire.                 

I have a 20 year history of working in Education and prior to that in Social Care as Qualified Social Worker. As a commitment to the counselling profession and to enhance the welfare of my clients I attend weekly professional supervision, and actively seek relevant CPD to enhance my counselling practice and develop existing skills.

Member organisations

BACP
British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP)

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

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy
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.

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy

Areas of counselling I deal with

Fees

£30.00 - £40.00

Additional information

How the process works: we meet either in person or online for an initial session. This gives us both an opportunity to explore the issues which have brought you to seek counselling and to establish how we might work together should you choose to do so. I offer this initial assessment session online at a reduced cost of £20 or an in-person assessment session for £30. The increase in cost is to cover the room hire.  All further sessions are charged at:

  • In person  £40.00 per session         
  • Online via Zoom £30.00 per session    

I am committed to increasing therapeutic accessibility and inclusion for all  through offering a number of low-cost sessions for students/care leavers and those with reduced means. I have a particular interest in welcoming referrals from marginalised communities who may feel currently underrepresented in therapy.

Please contact me to discuss these options further.   

Further information

I am deeply passionate about my work. I believe feeling heard and accepted are hugely powerful factors when it comes to supporting emotional well-being. As a Counsellor I provide human connection, a welcoming, safe, non-judgmental and confidential space, giving you the client an opportunity to begin to explore and obtain insights into the feelings, issues and patterns of behaviour which might be causing you difficulties in your life.

Through our work, I hope to offer you a reflective opportunity to increase your sense of self and gain a better understanding of where you have been, where you are now and where you wish to go, so you can continue to move forward and live your life to the full.

Through my work, I have provided positive and lasting outcomes for a diverse spectrum of clients whose issues have included: childhood related issues, trauma events, trans-generational trauma, PTSD, attachment issues, abuse, anger, anxiety, ADHD, dissociative disorders, bereavement, grief, loss, cultural identity, loneliness, self-esteem, isolation, self-confidence, depression, suicide, relationships, sexuality, gender identity, bullying, separation, loss of meaning, vulnerability, and life transitions. 

Totterdown, Bristol, BS4

Type of session

In person
Online

Types of client

Young people (13-17)
Young adults (18-24)
Adults (25-64)
Couples
Organisations
Employee Assistance Programme
Nicholas Shearer Burgess
Nicholas Shearer Burgess