Polly Seward
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Maybe it feels daunting thinking about therapy, maybe there's an overwhelming amount of choice of therapists and really how do you choose? Maybe it feels too complicated or difficult and you're questioning the whole thing. I understand, I've had those questions myself. From my experience what's important is that you find someone you can feel safe and comfortable with. I can't know if that will be me but I can offer a free - no pressure - call to help you decide if you want to take a next step. I also promise it doesn't have to be complicated, I have some slots available and can offer in person / online or a flexible combination and we can adjust as we go.
In a warm, real, respectful, relationship I will carefully listen, thoughtfully challenge and deeply care as you start to share the things you feel you need or want to share. Perhaps these are things causing distress, shame, fear or frustration, perhaps they feel too big, perhaps too small, perhaps you have no idea where to start. I will hold a space all of this is welcome and where we will find our way through together.
I will never see you as someone to be fixed but as a person sitting in front of me who is an expert on your own life. Trained in an integration of psychodynamic, humanistic and existential approaches I specialise in an existential approach which means that we will closely explore your lived experience and how you exist within it. We'll explore your individual history, your present experiences and your future aspirations; how all of these influence thoughts, feelings, behaviours. Together we'll seek to find greater clarity and open up new possibilities for living, with the hope that your life becomes more fulfilling and satisfying.
Training, qualifications & experience
I have a postgraduate diploma in psychotherapy and counselling (level 7) from Regents University and I am currently completing an MA in Existential Psychotherapy. I also have 16 years experience in the voluntary sector working with older people, carers and young people.
Member organisations
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
Therapies offered
Fees
£65.00 per session
Free initial online session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
I offer both video (zoom) and face to face sessions from my home in Stoke Newington - Lordship Road (between the West reservoir and Church Street). Email me for a free video or phone intro call, 15-30 minutes.
When I work
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Please do get in touch to discuss availability
Further information
Making therapy as accessible as possible is very important to me. If you are on low income or are a student please get in touch to discuss concessions. I offer both video (zoom) and face to face sessions - between Manor House and Stoke Newington. Email me for a free video intro call, usually around 30 minutes.
