Penny Blake
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
A relational approach;
I offer a discreet, confidential private counselling and psychotherapy service to young people over 14 and adults of all ages. I have 30 years clinical experience, and have training and experience in a range of theoretical models and of working in both brief and long term models in the NHS and in private practice.
Our first meeting is an important mutual process during which we will see how it feels to be together. I will learn from what you tell me, something about your needs, wishes and fears and make an assessment of how I can help you. You will also be assessing how you feel talking to me, and whether or not you feel safe enough that you would like to begin therapy with me. It's important that before committing to working with a therapist, you feel as safe as possible. Clinical research consistently shows that the quality of the therapeutic relationship is the most important factor in predicting a good outcome from therapy.
As a Psychotherapist my core model is psychoanalytic, a model that is interested in the rich sometimes confusing inner lives we all have and how complex the relationship between our past and present experiences are, and how exploring and understanding past injuries can make the present less confusing and less overwhelming. As a Counselling Psychologist, I am trained in humanistic phenomenological models (approaches which focus on what it feels like to be you, how you feel and experience the world, and how your strengths can be used to overcome your difficulties). The aim of therapy is to help you achieve the emotional stability you need in order to feel hopeful and to look forward to new experiences in life.
Do feel free to contact me if you have questions which aren't answered by the information on these pages or on my website.
Training, qualifications & experience
My qualifications are;
- Batchelor of Arts (Hons) Open University 1991
- Master of Science in Counselling Psychology Goldsmiths College, London 1993
- Master of Clinical Science in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy University of Kent at Canterbury 2001
- Doctoral Level Qualification in Counselling Psychology by the independent route British Psychological Society with Middlesex University 2005.
I am registered with, and bound by the ethical codes and continuing professional development requirements of the following Member Bodies;
- Healthcare Professions Council (HCPC) Registered Practitioner Psychologist; Counselling Psychologist reg No.PYL02668
- British Psychological Society (BPS) Chartered Counseling Psychologist. member No.030561
- United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) College of Psychoanalysts and Jungian Analysts (CPJA) reg No 00313501
I have 30 years clinical experience including 16 years in the NHS working in a range of services including primary care (brief therapy), specialist outpatient psychotherapy and in a multidisciplinary forensic psychiatry team in a medium secure hospital working with patients with severe mental illness or personality disorder. In my private practice of 14 years I provide brief and open ended therapeutic Counselling drawing on a range of models; and once or twice weekly mid to long term Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy.
Member organisations
Being registered/accredited with a professional body means an individual must have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by their member organisation.
British Psychological Society
The HCPC are an independent, UK-wide health regulator. They set standards of professional training, performance and conduct for 16 professions.
They keep a register of health professionals who meet their standards, and they take action if registered health professionals fall below those standards. They were created by a piece of legislation called the Health Professions Order 2001.
Registration means that a health professional meets national standards for their professional training, performance and conduct.
The UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) is a leading professional body for the education, training and regulation of psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors. Its register is accredited by the government's Professional Standards Authority.
As part of its commitment to protect the public, it works to improve access to psychotherapy, to support and disseminate research, to improve standards and to respond effectively to complaints against its members.
UKCP standards cover the range of different psychotherapies. Registration is obtained by training or accrediting with one of its member organisations, or by holding a European Certificate in Psychotherapy. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
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
Fees
Additional information
My fee is £80 per 50 minute session
Occasional concessionary rates may be available. For full terms and fees for consultation and supervision please see my website.
When I work
I am available for therapy sessions from Tuesday to Friday' appointment times by arrangement. Sessions are offered at the same time on the same day every week.
