Oliver Pool
About me
Welcome to my profile. My number one aim, passion and priority is to make a positive difference to your life. For me, counselling is a process that supports, empowers and facilitates well-being. A space that you can trust with no judgement or criticism for you to feel free to express and explore what’s important to you. I offer an empathic nurturing relationship so that you are supported to achieve your goals, whether it would be personal development and self-actualisation or to overcome distressing/traumatic events, thoughts or feelings. Attentively, I actively listen to you so I understand deeply, you and your lived experiences. I highly value your internal natural tendency for growth and development which is important to help resolve many issues such as depression and anxiety. Ultimately, I work in a way that is tailored and bespoke to you. Therefore my practice highly respects and welcomes your autonomy.
I suffer from a neuromuscular condition called SMA type II. I believe that my disability has allowed me to connect deeply with clients who have experienced injustice, judgment, and oppression in their lives. Also, to empathise with clients who have experience of being subjected to negative attitudes or stereotyping from others or society.
The most important thing to me is that you are comfortable when you are talking about personal and sensitive topics so that you are able to share without any felt consequences or regrets. If you feel that you would like to contact me to arrange a session then please do not hesitate to get in touch and I will get back to you as soon as possible.
I have full indemnity insurance and have a current valid DBS enhanced certificate. (Used to be known as CRB check)
I offer online counselling to children, young adults, adults and older adults.
I offer telephone counselling to children, young adults, adults and older adults.
I do not currently offer face to face counselling.
Training, qualifications & experience
BSc Psychology
Graduate certificate in Counselling skills
Post Graduate Diploma Counselling BACP Accredited
MA Counselling
I’m a BACP licensed qualified integrative counselling psychotherapist trained in person centred, CBT and psychodynamic approaches to therapy.
My previous experience working as a therapist was within the NHS primary and secondary services in Manchester working with depression, anxiety, relationships, bereavement and many other difficulties. Also, I worked at a charity in Reading providing counselling and play therapy for children and young people who are survivors of rape and sexual abuse. Additionally, I have worked at an IATP service in Southwest London working with patients living in the local area presenting a variety of different difficulties. I have experience of working with a wide range of presenting issues such as eating disorders, depression, anxiety, relationship difficulties, stress, job loss and many other issues.
I have experience with telephone counselling when I used to work on the helpline with the charity organisation No Panic who specialise in supporting individuals who suffer from anxiety-related conditions.
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.
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
Disability and impairment
Depression
Anxiety
Relationship difficulties
Personal development
Wheelchair access and parking
Student mentoring
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
Additional information
Online counselling - £50 per session (50 minutes)
Telephone counselling - £50 per session (50 minutes)
I do not currently offer face to face counselling.
Availability
Appointments available please contact me for a booking.
Further information
Also, I work in health and social care sector assisting young adults with physical impairments to employ their own care team to enable independent living to study at university. Having a diagnosis of spinal muscular atrophy type II has enabled me to empathise on deep levels with clients from marginalised groups within society, particularly physical impairments. My research interests aim to contribute to fresh ways of transforming society to be more inclusive, equal and accessible for physically impaired individuals.