Rachael Graveley

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she/her/they/them
Pg-Dip MBACP
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

location_on Buckingham, Buckinghamshire, MK18
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

About me

I am a fully qualified, Level 7  Psychotherapist. I completed my Postgraduate Diploma with The Sherwood Psychotherapy Training Institute in 2021. 

I'm a Person-Centred and Experiential psychotherapist working with individuals to promote well-being, growth & self-development. I will listen carefully and skilfully to the details of your life & communicate with empathy and warmth so that you may develop a greater understanding of yourself. 

You are the expert on your life, so I will work with you to explore your own resources and wisdom,  in a non-judgmental way.  In our sessions you can express the thoughts and feelings which you may keep hidden or suppressed in other areas of your life, and I offer you the valuable opportunity to be truly and deeply listened to. We can work together to support you through your difficulties, and create opportunities for positive change in your life. 

I pay close attention to issues regarding discrimination and inequality that clients may experience in their lives, and endeavor to work following the principles of anti- discriminatory practice. Please ask me about this if you wish to explore or challenge how I address this in my work. 


My primary placement hours were completed at a cancer charity where I supported clients going through their own cancer journey, or that of someone close to them. Working with loss and bereavement is an important part of that work and an area that I have studied and worked with, with compassion, care and commitment. Many people don't wish to burden their families or loved ones but need to talk honestly about fear, loss, and grief with someone who can sit with their distress and accept every part of that experience with them. 

Grief and loss don't just relate to death; we can grieve the loss of identity, health, security or relationships or be dealing with anticipatory grief when we are facing the loss of someone close to us.Identifying and sharing your loss in counselling can be extremely useful, growthful and supportive. 

Many people are navigating the grief and losses experienced through the Covid-19 pandemic. I have offered psychotherapy support throughout the pandemic & can provide time and space for you to process and understand the impact this may have had on your life. 

I am passionate about the evidence-based Person-Centred approach to therapy which promotes the therapeutic relationship as key to healing and growth. I don’t analyse, dictate, diagnose, or advise- I listen and work alongside you, paying careful attention to what you need from me and the therapy you receive.

I have a particular interest in the area of post-traumatic growth. Person -Centred therapy can play an important role in recovery and growth for those who are suffering the effects of historical or recent trauma. I am aligned with the ethos behind positive psychology which supports people to consider their strengths alongside their difficulties, their growth alongside their struggles and to foster the self-compassion that allows them to understand and appreciate themselves more

I previously worked in education for 13 years teaching young adults with learning difficulties and disabilities, specialising in teaching and pastoral support for those with emotional and behavioural difficulties. I understand the complexity of diagnosis for issues such as autism and ADHD and support individual choice around this area. Labels can be a useful way of understanding yourself and communicating that to others, but they can also limit people's understanding of your own unique experience and needs. I am confident in offering therapy to people looking for support with their neurodiversity experience, and understand that this will be different for each unique person. 

My clients report:

- finding it easy to talk to me
- relief in being able to express themselves in an honest way during our sessions
- feeling accepted
- supported through difficult times and feeling less alone
- appreciating the safety of being able to explore things at their own pace and  figure out what is right for them
- being able to meet the challenge of knowing themselves better and move forward with the support of a good therapeutic relationship

- gaining new perspectives through working with me

I am experienced in working with:

  • Recent and historical grief and bereavement
  • Serious and life-limiting illness (yours, or someone close to you)
  • Depression  and anxiety
  • Low self-esteem and lack of self-worth
  • Suicidal thoughts
  • Relationship or family difficulties
  • Working with diversity and difference
  • Trauma
  • Mental health diagnosis
  • Neurodivergence
  • Post-traumatic growth
  • Covid-19 stress, trauma and bereavement
  • Student issues and study stress
  • Narcissistic abuse

I can sign-post clients to resources, educational tools and further support where necessary and appropriate.  

I am offering face-to-face sessions, online video sessions, and outdoor sessions according to your needs so feel free to discuss this with me. 

Training, qualifications & experience

Level 4 Diploma to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector

Level 5 Diploma in Group Facilitation, Conflict Resolution and Couselling Skills with distinction

Pg-Dip Person-Centred and Experiential Counselling and Psychotherapy 

Counsellor at The Hummingbird Centre Cancer Support therapy

Clinical Lead for The Hummingbird Centre (1 year)

Student Counsellor at The University of Buckingham (2 Years)

Restorative Justice Facilitator with Thames Valley Restorative Justice Service (2 years)

Teacher in FE (13 years)

Certificate in Outdoor Therapy

Member organisations

BACP
British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP)

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

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy
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.

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy

Areas of counselling I deal with

Therapies offered

Photos & videos

Fees

£65.00 per session

Concessions offered for

  • check_circle Students
  • check_circle Trainee counsellors
  • check_circle Refugees

Additional information

£65.00 per 50 minutes for a full session

Initial consultations usually take between 30 minutes and are charged at £25.00

When I work

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Night

Yuesday 9.30am-2.00pm

Wednesday 9.30am-8pm

Thursday 9.30am -8pm

Friday 9.30am-5pm

Further information

I am a fully qualified Person-Centred and Experiential Psychotherapist. I completed my Postgraduate Diploma with The Sherwood Psychotherapy Training Institute in 2021. 

I pay close attention to issues regarding discrimination and inequality that clients may experience in their lives, and endeavour to work following the principles of anti- discriminatory practice. Please ask me about this if you wish to explore or challenge how I address this in my work. 


My primary placement hours were completed at a cancer charity (where I continue to work) and I have supported clients going through their own cancer journey, or that of someone close to them. Working with loss and bereavement is an important part of that work and an area that I have studied and worked with, with compassion, care and commitment. Many people don't wish to burden their families or loved ones but need to talk honestly about fear, loss, and grief with someone who can sit with their distress and accept every part of that experience with them. 

Grief and loss don't just relate to death; we can grieve the loss of identity, health, security or relationships or be dealing with anticipatory grief when we are facing the loss of someone close to us.Identifying and sharing your loss in counselling can be extremely useful, growthful and supportive. 

Many people are navigating the grief and losses experienced through the Covid-19 pandemic. I have offered psychotherapy support throughout the pandemic & can provide time and space for you to process and understand the impact this may have had on your life. 

I am passionate about the evidence-based Person-Centred approach to therapy which promotes the therapeutic relationship as key to healing and growth. I don’t analyse, dictate, diagnose, or advise- I listen and work alongside you, paying careful attention to what you need from me and the therapy you receive.

I have a particular interest in the area of post-traumatic growth. Person -Centred therapy can play an important role in recovery and growth for those who are suffering the effects of historical or recent trauma. I am aligned with the ethos behind positive psychology which supports people to consider their strengths alongside their difficulties, their growth alongside their struggles and to foster the self-compassion that allows them to understand and appreciate themselves more

I previously worked in education for 13 years teaching young adults with learning difficulties and disabilities, specialising in teaching and pastoral support for those with emotional and behavioural difficulties. I understand the complexity of diagnosis for issues such as autism and ADHD and support individual choice around this area. Labels can be a useful way of understanding yourself and communicating that to others, but they can also limit people's understanding of your own unique experience and needs. I am confident in offering therapy to people looking for support with their neurodiversity experience, and understand that this will be different for each unique person. 

Buckingham, Buckinghamshire, MK18

Type of session

In person
Online
Phone

Types of client

Young people (13-17)
Young adults (18-24)
Adults (25-64)
Older Adults (65+)

Key details

DBS check info

In England and Wales, the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS, formerly known as CRB) carry out criminal records checks for individuals working with vulnerable groups, such as children. To find out more, visit gov.uk , or contact this professional directly

Wheelchair user access info
Wheelchair user access

Wheelchair-accessible premises should have step-free access for wheelchair users and individuals who are unable to climb stairs. If a Counsellor's premises aren't step-free, they may offer alternative services such as telephone/web-based appointments, home visits, or meeting clients in different location, so you can choose the option that suits you best.

You can contact the Counsellor to discuss the options available.

Under the Equality Act 2010 service providers have a duty to make reasonable adjustments to ensure that individuals with disabilities can access their service. You can read more about reasonable adjustments to help you to access services on the CAB website.

My venue in Buckingham is 2 storey's up, accessed by steep stairs. I can request the use of a ground floor therapy room in Winslow suitable for some wheelchair users

Online platforms

Whatsapp
Zoom
Skype
Rachael Graveley
Rachael Graveley