Nora Portnell Dip.Couns, MSc
About me
If you're experiencing anxiety, depression, stress, self-esteem fluctuations, bereavement and loss, suicidality, or facing discrimination, I can support you to create positive, lasting change utilising a humanistic and holistic model to therapy.
Seeking a counsellor can be a daunting experience, so please feel free to look around and get to know me. I hope we will make a good fit and I look forward to hearing from you soon.
How I work
Being supported, heard and acknowledged through therapy can be helpful to understand and overcome personal hindrances and feelings. Whether that’s feeling stuck, overwhelmed, consumed or something in between. Therapy can also be a source of self-care and a path to wellness. No matter if you need help in a crisis or if you want to learn more about yourself, your relationships and how your life experiences impact you or even if you’d like to achieve both, I can help you make sense of what's going on for you, putting names to unexplained feelings all the while providing you with company and empathy.
My role as a counsellor is not to give you advice, but instead to help you understand the root causes to develop your own insights and pathways to positive change.
My practice is person-centred. This means that you and your best interests are placed at the core, taking into account your mental, physical and emotional needs. I may use tools and techniques from different modalities to tailor an individual approach for you. We will work together to explore your perspective and experiences and ultimately understand your sense of value.
I create a warm, welcoming and accepting environment for you to comfortably explore your thoughts and feelings with curious compassion. Ultimately, developing a deeper understanding of your life experiences to create positive change.
Over the years, I have worked in both the public and private sector, including the NHS, supporting adults with a variety of issues, including: anxiety, depression, stress, self-esteem, bereavement, loss, suicidal ideation, suicide, self-harm, work-related issues, disabilities and racism. I am also a certified mother-daughter coach.
What to expect
I offer a free consultation telephone call, of 20 minutes, where we can discuss your needs. If you feel comfortable moving forward, we would then arrange your first session at a mutually suitable date. The first session will be an assessment, to discuss what you would like to address in therapy, how we might work together and what you wish to achieve during your sessions.
At present, all appointments are online/via telephone. Sessions last for 50 minutes, usually at the same time each week, although individual needs can be accommodated. This can be a short or long term arrangement according to your preference.
What you can discuss
You are welcome to discuss anything you wish. I will be led by you and I will listen to you openly and without judgement.
Training, qualifications & experience
Qualifications
- BSc (Hons) Psychology
- MSc Affective Disorders
- Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills
- Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies
- Level 3 Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
- Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
- Registered member with the BACP
Training Certifications
- Supporting Individuals with Learning Disabilities
- Telephone and Online Counselling
- Working with Bereavement and Complex Grief
- Polyvagal Theory
- Dealing with Distress: Suicide and Self-harm
- Working with Relational and Generational Trauma
- Gender Awareness
- Self-harm
- Mindfulness
- Certified Mother-Daughter Coach
Member organisations
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.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Therapies offered
Fees
£40.00 per session
Free initial telephone session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
- For individuals, £40 for a 50-minute session.
- For mothers and daughters, £75 for a 50-minute session.
- Concessions are available, please do ask.
- Payment by bank transfer is required before each session.
- Payment must be cleared before the session takes place.
Any cancelled sessions will need a minimum of 24 hours’ notice. Any sessions missed without notice will be non-refundable.
Availability
Flexible availability at a time that is mutually convenient
Further information
Please note, I will reply to any contact within 2 working days. Thank you for your patience.
