About me
My name is Rachel, and my counselling practice is located between Oxted and Redhill, Surrey.
I am a warm, approachable and experienced therapist and have been working for 25 years with clients in a variety of settings, 15 years of which were spent within the NHS as a Registered Mental Health Nurse.
Sometimes, life can be overwhelming to such an extent, that you may feel stuck and helpless. This may be to do with relationships, family or work difficulties, bereavements or any losses, or deep seated childhood issues and trauma that can have an effect on your day to day living and relationships.
You may feel chronically unhappy, but are unable to pinpoint why. You might be suffering from depression, anxiety and low self-esteem for instance.
Reaching out for help can be immensely difficult and frightening, and so many people try and battle on alone.
I offer a confidential, empathic and peaceful space, where you will be listened to with respect and understanding.
Counselling is not about giving advice, but offers an empowering experience, to enable you to find answers within yourself. It is an opportunity to begin a journey of discovery of who you are, and your individual patterns in relationships and attachments. Together, guided by your pace, we can begin to unravel your personal story.
I can offer longer term open ended or short term therapy. I mainly work within the psychodynamic model which recognises that your experiences in childhood may affect who you are today.
I appreciate it may feel daunting choosing a counsellor, and believe the relationship between us constitutes the central part of the work. With this in mind, I offer an initial session that may take up to 90 minutes. This will give us the opportunity to decide together whether I am the right counsellor for you, as well as looking at the difficulties that have prompted you to seek help, and to address any questions you may have. I will also ask for some details about your background in this meeting.
Training, qualifications & experience
As a Mental Health Practitioner, I mainly specialised with people suffering from eating disorders. I also worked within Transcultural Psychiatry, and I have a specific interest in how our cultural background influences who we are and how we relate. As well as working with individuals, I ran psychodynamic therapy groups for many years.
In the past 18 years, I have gained in depth experience working with adults and children with disabilities. I have become familiar with the many issues facing families and carers, and I have provided counselling sessions at Orpheus College, an innovative performing arts provision for young adults with special needs.
I also worked at a counselling organisation in Greater London for 5 years both as a Counsellor and Assessor.
I hold a diploma in Psychodynamic Counselling from the University of Surrey.
I am a qualified Mental Health Nurse and General Nurse.
As a member of the BACP, I am committed to working within their ethical code and guidelines.
Member organisations
British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy
BACP is one of the UK’s largest professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy. Therapists registered with the Association fall into a number of different membership categories such as Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP and Registered Member MBACP (Accred), each standing for different levels of training and experience. MBACP (Accred) and MBACP (Snr Accred) members have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by the Association.
Registered members can be found on the BACP Register, which was the first register to achieve Accredited Voluntary Register status issued by the Professional Standards Authority. Individual Members will have completed an appropriate counselling and/or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but will not appear on the BACP Register until they've progressed to Registered Member MBACP status.
All members are bound by a Code of Ethics & Practice and a Complaints Procedure. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
Accredited register membership
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.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
Additional information
Initial session - up to 90 minutes: £35
Ongoing therapy - 50 minutes: £70
Availability
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursdays, mainly daytime, some evening spaces available.
Further information
Website: http://www.sanctuarysurrey.co.uk
Email address: r.birdcounselling@gmail.com
Telephone: 07523 496139
If I am unable to take your call, please leave a message with your name, telephone number and whether it is appropriate for me to call you back or leave a message.
I do understand it may feel incredibly difficult to pick up the phone whilst taking these initial steps, and you may prefer to email me instead.
My practice is easily accesible from Redhill, Reigate, Oxted, Westerham, Caterham, Tadworth and surrounding areas. It is close to M25 junction 6 and there is a regular bus service that is approximately a 5 minute walk. Off road parking is available.
