Ralph Williamson MSt (Oxon), PGDip, MBACP
About me
I am a psychodynamically trained Counsellor and Psychotherapist and work from the aptly named Calmer Clinics in Dolphin Square, close to Pimlico, and in Victoria.
I also work online and find this to be an effective way to offer counselling and therapy if face to face meeting is not possible.
I offer a safe and confidential space to explore feelings, emotion and troubling behaviour, without judgement, to gain understanding and to overcome life's challenges. I have experience of working with depression and low self-esteem, relationship issues and breakup, abuse, self-harm, eating disorders, work related issues, trauma, bereavement and loss.
I provide time-limited or open-ended (solution-focussed) counselling with adults of all ages. I am very happy to work with young people, and with couples too. My counselling and psychotherapy is relational and based on attentive listening, creating space for understanding, change and personal growth.
My other professional life is as an Anglican priest with 30 years experience of working with people in parishes and in university chaplaincy. The experience of encountering great emotional need and seeing the effectiveness of counselling persuaded me to train as a therapist and counsellor myself. I qualified on the Oxford University MSt programme in 2013, and working throughout that period in a local community counselling organisation before moving back to London in 2015, since when I have had a small private practice.
I have particular respect for cultural difference, and for both the absence and presence of religious belief. In counselling, I do not make reference to spiritual issues unless asked to. My starting point is a deep respect for each person as an individual and a care for real human flourishing.
I work at the Calmer Clinics on Wednesday afternoons but am available to see clients in Victoria at some other times, and online.
How does this work?
If you are considering counselling then get in touch and tell me a little about your circumstances. Then we would arrange an initial session lasting an hour and a half. In that session we would aim to identify the key issues which have brought you to therapy and I would explain confidentiality, payment, arrangements for missed sessions and other practical things. If you and I are each happy that this is going to be helpful and you wish to go ahead, we will arrange to meet weekly at the same time.
Training, qualifications & experience
Qualifications
- MSt Psychodynamic Practice (Oxford University)
- Postgraduate Diploma Psychodynamic Practice (Oxford University)
- Postgraduate Certificate Psychodynamic Counselling (Oxford University)
- Previous undergraduate and graduate qualifications in Social Anthropology (LSE) and Theology (Oxford University)
Professional Membership
British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) – Registered Member 826840
As a registered member of the BACP I adhere to its Ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling and Psychotherapy and am subject to their Professional Conduct Procedure, which upholds the highest standards of ethical behaviour.
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
Fees
For individuals and couples:
£95 Initial Assessment of 1½ hours
£80 Subsequent sessions of 50 minutes
Further information
For more information, to discuss any aspect of counselling or to make an appointment, please contact me on 07872040418 or email me. Alternately you can contact me through the Calmer Clinics, on 0207 798 6831.
Testimonial:
I was unsure about seeking counselling during a period of sadness and some objective difficulty, but a series of sessions with Ralph Williamson, quickly became an important haven within my week. Ralph is an enormously insightful and empathetic person; he helped me gain a healthier perspective, which was crucial in re-establishing my well-being. Knowing that someone can help you work through difficult patches is valuable. Finding that person is priceless. I am hugely grateful to the friend who introduced me to Ralph’s counselling practice, which I recommend unhesitatingly.” - Anonymous 2017.
Calmer Clinics in Dolphin Square: location map
