Rhian Lewis

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Registered MBACP, Qualified Counsellor.
Accepting new clients
Accepting new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

location_on Garndolbenmaen LL51 & Colwyn Bay LL29
Accepting new clients
Accepting new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

About me

Welcome / Croeso

Helo a chroeso. Mae cwnsela ar gael drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg hefyd.

Hello and welcome. We can all feel anxious, stressed and overwhelmed at times. I am here to help you explore your world, in your own way with warmth and without judgement. I offer a warm and safe space for you to explore anything you wish. I aim to help you feel comfortable, heard and accepted. 

Introduction

I've been a qualified counsellor for over 13 years, and have 20 years experience of supporting people therapeutically across a range of sectors and services.

I have specialist knowledge and experience of working with trauma, domestic abuse, sexual violence, grief especially around baby loss, anxiety and building self esteem/self confidence. 

I offer Person Centred talking therapy through a 50 minute session for clients over 18. There are no set time limits with counselling and it can take an average of between 6-12 weeks, but everyone is unique and therefore this will be set at your own pace.

I offer sessions over the phone or through zoom. I usually offer counselling sessions during the evening and on a Friday. 

How counselling can help?

Counselling can be be life changing and it's an opportunity to learn more about yourself. But it can also be emotional, challenging and hard work. 

Counselling is not a quick fix - it's a process that we'll go through together. We will hopefully be able to build a strong relationship which can help you towards a positive way of living. 

We can work on a set amount of sessions with a specific goal in mind, or you can engage in counselling for as long as you require. It's whatever works best for you. 

What to expect in your first session?

It’s normal to experience nerves, anxiety, and fear, as well as many other thought processes when thinking about accessing counselling especially if it's for the first time. Many clients find it helpful to know a little bit more about what will happen in our first session together to manage some of those feelings. 

I offer a free 10 minute initial call as an introduction and to see if you’d like to continue working with me. 

The first session will then:

  • Be an introduction to counselling, and what I can offer as a counsellor. I will ask you about your presenting issues and will discuss with you the way that I work.
  • We will complete some paperwork around assessment and risk. During the first session you will be asked certain questions about yourself and your life. This information will ensure that I'm the best person to be able to best meet your needs. 
  • There will be an opportunity for you to ask any questions. You can also check to see if I'm the right person for you. You may not be able to answer that straight away, but trust your instincts. The relationship between the client and counsellor is central to the ongoing sessions. 
  • You will also be required to sign a contract. This will include factors such as confidentiality, privacy, time boundaries, what to do if you can’t attend a session and situations when I may be required to disclose information about you. This does not mean that you are contracted to carry on with counselling, or be able to change your mind at a later date. 

Training, qualifications & experience

Qualifications

  • Graduate diploma in counselling from the University of Chester. 
  • Completed MSc modules in the University of Chester on PTSD, and the treatment of PTSD.
  • Post graduate certificate from Edgehill University in Health and Social Care in modules around Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.
  • I'm currently studying Somatic Trauma Therapy on Babette Rothchild's trauma course. 
  • MBACP registration.

Training

I've undertaken many training courses over the years in trauma, safeguarding, mental health first aid, grief, baby loss, substance misuse, ASIST suicide intervention, anxiety, depression, self esteen, post traumatic growth and many more. I'm also a Trauma Informed Educator. 

Experience:

Current Roles:

  • Private practice counsellor for The Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre North Wales.
  • Private practice counsellor for a baby loss charity. 
  • Private practice counsellor for a school wellbeing organisation. 
  • Private practice counsellor for a North Wales Employers Assistance Programme for many large organisations.  
  • I also hold roles within the domestic abuse sector in a senior management role and also work for Sands (the national baby loss charity). 

Previous Roles

  • Managed and worked front line in a variety of domestic abuse services.
  • Managed and worked front line for a national domestic abuse and sexual violence 24hr helpline. 
  • Trainee counsellor with a national substance misuse organisation. 
  • Support worker for a sexual abuse support service. 
  • Qualified teacher/tutor.
  • National trainer. 

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

Fees

£50.00 per session

Concessions offered for

  • check_circle Low income
  • check_circle Trainee counsellors
  • check_circle Unemployed

Additional information

£40.00 per session for individuals. 

Additional information

Client Sessions - 50 minutes. 

When I work

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Night

Further information

I am a registered member of the BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) and work to their ethical framework. 

I am registered with the ICO and comply with data protection legislation and maintain the security of all client information. 

As evidence of my ethical framework, I receive regular supervision in accordance with BACP guidance, where client confidentiality is maintained throughout. 

Garndolbenmaen, Gwynedd, LL51

Colwyn Bay, Conwy, LL29

Type of session

Online
Phone

Types of client

Adults (25-64)
Employee Assistance Programme

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

Additional languages

Welsh

Online platforms

Zoom