Penny West
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
I'm an experienced counsellor working with depression, anxiety, relationship issues, loss trauma & life crises. Together we'll explore the challenges & difficulties you may be facing so you can go into the future with renewed confidence & motivation.
What are you looking for?
I work with adults and young people facing various difficulties : depression, anxiety, relationship issues, loss, trauma and life crises.
How I work
I am trained as Biographical Counsellor.
In our sessions we would look at your current difficulties and the important events of your life. We would begin to make sense of what has led you to where you are now, how this is affecting you in the present and where this could take you constructively in the future. We would look at what is important to you, what is painful, what is helpful, and what you would like to be different.
The process would be guided by what you would wish to explore. Through looking at your life in this way it may become clearer to you how you can work with your challenges and find new ways to go into the future with a greater sense of well-being.
I have worked with people with a wide variety of ages and difficulties that can occur in life.
I also have a wide experience of working with young people and can offer support to parents and carers of children and young people.
My Background
In 2000 I changed direction and trained as a Biographical Counsellor. I had previously worked with and taught young people with learning disabilities and mental health problems for many years. I have also spent time creating and teaching weaving and pottery. My work as a counsellor has been enhanced by my previous experiences and I find that the process of counselling is similar to many creative processes. It requires time, care and concentration in a warm and supportive environment. This helps something new to grow, to change and develop in a person.
I have worked as a counsellor for the last sixteen years, mainly at St Luke’s NHS Practice in Stroud, which is now St Luke’s Therapy Centre, and in other venues in Stroud.
I work with individuals, both adults of any age and young people. We can work for just a few sessions or can work longer which would give time to go into more depth. A session is sixty minutes and I find it most useful to work weekly. I offer a free thirty minute introductory session.
For more information please do contact me
Training, qualifications & experience
2000-2004 Diploma in Biographical Counselling
2010 Accredited member of BACP
Member of Professional Association of Biographical Counsellors
I am a member of BACP and abide by its Code of Ethics
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.
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
Fees
Additional information
I charge £40 a session and can offer concessions in some situations.
If you wish you can contact me for a conversation and further information.
When I work
I can offer daytime and evening appointments.
Further information
St Luke's Therapy Centre has its own car park, is in easy walking distance of the centre of Stroud and is on bus routes.
