Nicky Banks
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Hi, I'm Nicky. A warm welcome to my profile.
How might I help you?
Would you like to reduce stress and anxiety in an area of your life? Do you want a healthier relationship with yourself, your family or friends? Would you like to explore the impact of a traumatic experience? Is your wish to be heard and understood without fear of criticism or judgement? Even if you can't identify an exact reason - it may just be a niggle that you can't explain - I would be happy to listen. Please contact me to have a free initial consultation.
A little bit about me
I am passionate about helping clients to develop greater self-esteem, freedom of choice in the future, and hope. The partnership between client and counsellor is key to believing that change is possible, with open and honest communication, mutual trust and respect all necessary factors to ensure a successful outcome. As your counsellor, I would work collaboratively with you to explore a different, improved way of living - such as finding more effective ways of coping, gaining new perspectives or problem solving. I offer an empathic, confidential and supportive environment, 'shining a torch' on your future path to help you move forward with confidence and clarity. Does this sound like the way you would like to work with your counsellor? If so, please get in touch.
What happens in the first session?
My objective for the first session is for you to leave feeling glad that you have taken the first step on your counselling journey, you have a basic understanding of the counselling process and that you feel safe and comfortable working with me. It takes place once you have decided on our working together - the initial consultation is invaluable for us both - and the necessary paperwork is signed and returned to me.
The first session has a number of necessary elements to it - discussing the contract and the required commitment by both client and counsellor to ensure that the counselling relationship is fruitful. We would also look further at your reasons for registering for counselling - however broad - and what would you like to explore first, the main issue on your mind. Confidentiality and safeguarding are key topics for the first session and also it is important for me to explain the counselling process, to manage your expectations moving forward. A risk assessment is also undertaken, through our conversation: we talk about how you have been feeling over the past week - physically, mentally and emotionally; this is reviewed every six to eight weeks with you to help illustrate progression in mental wellbeing or areas that show a need to potentially review the issues being discussed.
If anything on my profile connects with you in some way, please contact me to arrange a free initial consultation. It is important that you take the time to chat with a number of counsellors; I hope to speak with you in the future.
Training, qualifications & experience
I have a Foundation Degree in Humanistic Counselling (based on Transactional Analysis), a theory which explores why we think, feel and act the way we do.
I have particular experience working with women who have experience of domestic abuse, either as a survivor or as a current sufferer of coercive control, through my voluntary work as a counsellor at a women's refuge. Past client issues include chronic illness, depression, marital problems, emotional eating, grief and loss, and feelings of being 'stuck'.
Member organisations
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
Hidden disabilities
Invisible Illness
Therapies offered
Fees
£55.00 per session
Free initial telephone or online session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
I offer in person, telephone and online counselling and charge £55 per weekly session of 50 minutes.
When I work
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Mondays: 12pm to 7pm, Tuesdays - Thursdays: 9am to 7pm, Fridays: 9am to 5pm and Saturdays: 9am - 12pm.
Further information
I attend regular training and workshops to expand my knowledge and understanding of working with client issues. My most recent training has been on the following topics:
- Working with Autistic clients
- Working with men in therapy
- Treating Shame
- 'Stuckness'
- Understanding Coercive Controlling Behaviour and Domestic Abuse
- Managing Suicidal Conversations
