About me
I provide professional counselling in Manchester, Wigan and the West Lancashire area, specialising in person centred therapy.
I understand the daily frustration of living with depression and anxiety. Having had counselling myself, I know how it feels to sit in front of a stranger and talk about my inner most feelings. I'm here to accompany and encourage you on your own personal journey.
I specialise in person-centred counselling which means that during a session, you'll work with me by talking through issues, key events, concerns, behaviours and how you’re feeling...anything that’s bothering you. I immerse myself into your world to understand your perspective. I offer a safe and encouraging environment, one where you aren’t judged, so that you feel accepted and “held”. You’re then able to piece things together that may not have been clear before; acknowledge aspects of your behaviour; work through any hurt and get to a point where you feel capable to move forward and live your life.
As well as the talking aspect, I can also provide practical techniques to support you outside of our sessions.
Alongside private practice, I have also worked with 1Point at St George’s Centre in Bolton for over 2 years, dealing with NHS and self-referrals and supporting people with mental health concerns.
Everybody who comes to counselling has different aims and outcomes that they want to achieve. Regardless of your reasons for seeking counselling, I believe it can enable you to reach your potential; help you to process your experiences and have a healthy mindset and behaviours; help you to fulfil whatever you desire; help you to develop a relationship with yourself; help you be the master in your own life.
How I Work With You:
Our sessions are 60 minutes in duration and we will talk in depth about your background, key events and people in your life and how your emotional and psychological wellbeing is affected by your history and these contributing factors.
There is no pressure, no judgement, you can stop at any time you choose, sessions are led by your needs.
Although the sessions focus on talking therapy, I will also suggest appropriate practical techniques for helping you manage your responses to relationships and events that affect your behaviour and may be detrimental to your levels of anxiety or depression .
I know from experience, that everybody comes to counselling with different aims and outcomes that they want to achieve.
By exploring key life events and relationships from your past and beginning to understand how these histories affect your behaviour and mindset today, I believe that you can take control of your mental wellbeing and lead a more confident, positive and happier life. You can reach your true potential.
Feedback from clients
I had considered myself to be abnormal from my colleagues and kept being made to feel different. Working through this with Rachael, I was able to gain confidence and felt able to stand in my own power instead of comparing myself to others. I was able to challenge the view I had of myself, as well as the negative way I was viewed by others. Wow! It’s made a massive difference to my life - EM
Rachael’s warm and inviting personality gives you the foundation to explore your worries and thoughts safely. Her support and empathy is the pillar to lean on as you question your thoughts and actions. She doesn’t only invest her time in you, she also invests her support. Rachael has been an invaluable sounding board for me - RP
I worked with Rachael for roughly 5 months a few years ago. Rachael was a kind and compassionate professional who helped me grow throughout my treatment. I am truly thankful for Rachael supporting me during this difficult period. I would highly recommend Rachael to anyone and once again so thankful for all her help! - DB
After a devastating loss I sought counselling to help me deal with this traumatic time. Rachael immediately made me feel comfortable with her authentic compassion and empathetic listening, helping me deal with the emotional loss and feeling sad. I value my sessions as Rachael is giving me the confidence to take steps forward in rebuilding my life - she genuinely cares. She is a credit to the profession and I can highly recommend her - OP
Training, qualifications & experience
I have undertaken 4 years of professional training to become a qualified, person centred, counsellor.
I have a Level 5 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling as well as a level 2 certificate & level 3 certificate in Counselling Skills.
Professional Experience
2013-2017
1Point Counselling & Psychotherapy, Bolton: providing counselling services to NHS clients and self-referrals for
- anxiety
- depression
- low self esteem
- relationship issues
2018 - Present
Private Practice - Omega Counselling
Since opening my private practice it has enabled me to support people experiencing a greater variety of mental health issues than previously and work with people that have both short and longer term needs, which I have found rewarding. It is critical to me, that the client has control over their counselling sessions and what they want to achieve from them and having my own practice lets me work with people in this way.
- anxiety
- depression
- low self esteem
- relationship issues
- loneliness
- bullying
- anger management
- self harm
It also enabled me to do charitable work with the Rainbow Trust (see below)
2022 - Present
Rainbow Trust Charity - Providing Support to Families with Children Suffering from Life-threatening or Terminal Illnesses
I am proud to be involved with the Rainbow Trust and provide professional counselling support for their staff helping families with terminally ill children.
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
£45.00 - £50.00
Concessions offered for
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
I offer an initial 30-minute consultation free of charge. This can be conducted face-to-face or via phone/online to ensure that everything is the right fit for you. If you decide to start sessions, they are charged at £45 per session. Concessions may also be available depending on your circumstances, so please discuss this with me during the consultation.
When I work
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Further information
I work with all adults over the age of 18.
Face-to-face sessions are available at my office space in Manchester Royal Exchange, situated in St. Ann's Square in Manchester city centre, or in Wigan.
Remote sessions are conducted via phone, Zoom or FaceTime.
