About us
Who we are
Serenity Counselling Services consists of Joanne and Tricia. We are both Person Centred Therapists holding Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling awarded by The Counselling and Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body. We are both members of a recognised professional body, DBS checked and are fully insured.
After you get in touch with Serenity, you will be offered an initial assessment. If we feel that we would like to work together then sessions will be offered. These are usually weekly but can be fortnightly and last for fifty minutes. We offer face to face sessions in a warm and relaxing environment but if you prefer, then telephone sessions or video call can be arranged. Sessions are for individuals or couples.
JOANNE
Whilst working within the community for the past 24 years, supporting families, becoming a member of The Mental Health Carers Reference Group and rearing and supporting my own family, I feel I have gained a good understanding of the diverse problems people experience. This led me to make the decision to train as a counsellor. I enjoy working with people and understand the diverse problems many people experience through various times in their life. My aim is to accompany them along their journey of self exploration, whilst providing a safe and ethical environment to build a trusting, confidential and professional relationship between my clients and myself.
I have experience working with clients encountering unresolved issues from the past, mental health related problems, depression, self esteem, relationship counselling, anxiety and stress, family work, problems relating to eating disorders and bereavement plus many more. I worked within a counselling agency for many years prior to opening my own practice five years ago.
Tricia
Throughout my life I have experienced many things good and bad. There have been times when I have needed help and it hasn't been there and I didn't want other people to feel like that. There have been other times when Ive needed help and people have been there for me. For this I would like to pay back. So I started an online Ladies Help and Support Group eight years ago which is still running. After a while, one of the members of the group casually made a comment that I should become a counsellor as I would be good at it. The seed was set and seven years after the comment and despite family difficulties ad major upsets including bereavement and a two year break from studying, here I am fully qualified in Person Centred Therapy and in the process of doing a CBT course. I have also spent time volunteering with two different Counselling Agencies.
I follow Ethical Guidelines where Confidentiality and Equality are key. Sessions are client led giving the client complete autonomy to explore their issues. Empathy, Honesty and Unconditional Positive Regard are shown to help and encourage the client to reach their goals.
Training, qualifications & experience
Both of us are Level 4 trained Person Centred Therapists plus Joanne uses CBT if required and is also trained in Couples Counselling. We also use what we call 'tools' if we believe that our clients will benefit from these. These can include things like timelines, Russian Dolls, art, the ball of grief, pebbles and many more.
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 we deal with
Therapies offered
Fees
Fees are as follows:-
Initial Assessment 30 - 45 minutes £20 Individual
Initial Assessment 30 - 45 minutes £10 student Counsellor
Student Counsellor 50 minute session £25
Individual 50 minute session £40
Couples 50 minute session £50