Rachel Allen
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
At Rallentando Therapy I offer spacious listening to encourage recovery and growth.
I have recently acheived BACP Accreditation, which is a validation that my practice meets a high standard of competent, independent, ethical practice. I have over 3000 counselling hours
I offer counselling and psychotherapy for adults, time-limited or long term, face to face in my therapy room in New Abbey (15 minutes away from Dumfries) or over Zoom/WhatsApp or phone nationwide.
I'm doing a couples therapy training and offer low cost couples/relationship therapy during this.
I'm integratively trained which means I'm skilled in a variety of approaches to support you in facing and making sense of whatever is troubling you.
These include exploring the past, present and future. For example, how the past is showing up painfully in your present experience and what inner conflicts unconsciously hold you back from living as you would like to. Also very practically looking at what is difficult in the present and what support you need in making changes you would like to going forward. Relationships are key and can deeply shape us. I work in a relational way, and people have described my style as warm: both compassionate and challenging, supportive and open. I'm experienced in using mindfulness and creativity as part of therapy if these are approaches which appeal to you.
I believe in people's capacity to grow from life's painful events and relationships and offer a non-judgemental, safe space for you to explore what you need to at whatever pace you need and rebuild your sense of who you are.
My past work includes supportive roles and management in mental health, physical health and palliative care settings. I have a post graduate diploma in family therapy. I have experience of offering counselling for organisations offering 6 sessions to employees through occupational health or staff wellbeing services, and also of delivering training.
Training, qualifications & experience
Experience:
I have experience of -and enjoy- working with a broad range of people on issues such as trauma, grief, childlessness, confidence, stress, anxiety, depression, sense of self, post traumatic growth and many more. Post qualification CPD includes on working with shame, trauma, attachment, relationship with food, using imagery and visualisation therapeutically.
Qualifications:
Couples and Relationship therapy (completion by October 2025)
Advanced Diploma in Humanistic Integrative Counselling.
This is a 3 year training rather than the usual 2 for counsellors.
PG Dip Systemic Approaches in Working with Individuals, Families and Organisations - a two year training in family therapy
Other training:
Introduction to Compassion Focused Therapy
8 week mindfulness course.
Open Dialogue Practitioner Training
I am accredited through the Train the Trainer programme to deliver training to groups and have taught counselling skills and end of life holistic care among other things.
Member organisations
school Registered / Accredited
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.
COSCA is the professional body for counselling and psychotherapy in Scotland, and seeks to advance all forms of counselling and psychotherapy and the use of counselling skills by promoting best practice and through the delivery of a range of sustainable services. COSCA Counsellor Accreditation is a pathway to entry onto the UKRC. It is a requirement of all individual and organisational members of COSCA to abide by its Statement of Ethics and Code of Practice and be accountable to the Complaints Procedure. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
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
Photos & videos
Fees
£50.00 - £75.00
Concessions offered for
Additional information
I offer a free intial conversation abut therapy if you'd like to ask questions and test out if you think i'm a good fit for what you need. This is typically around 15 mins: just let me know if this is of interest.
I offer a limited number of reduced cost spaces when possible. Let me know if you'd need one of these when you make contact.
Couples/Relationship Therapy sessions are usually priced at £75 (for an hour and a half), but during my training will be offered at a reduced rate, discussed with each couple/relationship configuration.
When I work
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Do ask if my availability doesn't match yours as flexibility is sometimes possible.
