About me
Hello my name is Rhonda (she/her) Welcome to my profile.
Often contacting a therapist can be a very difficult step to take. I would like to assure you I provide an empathetic, non-judgemental, confidential counselling space.
For over 12 years Polly the therapy dog has come into the room, she is almost 15 now and often pops in and out, I will ask you first if you would like Polly popping in.
I work both face to face and online. Offering both short term focused counselling such as Solution Focused Therapy and CBT and long term Psychotherapy, they can often overlap.
Over the years I have worked with a variety of areas within therapy these include working with clients who are neurodivergent, young people, many areas of trauma, anxiety, depression, self harm, suicidal ideation, addiction, eating disorders, gender identity, loss, relationship breakdown, body dysmorphia, exam pressure. Along with long term health conditions and the perimenopause/menopause, both I have great personal knowledge of.
I started out as working with terminally unwell young people on a Summer Camp when I was 19 which led into training as a Play Therapist in my 20s and many healing modalities such as Colour Therapy, Reiki, Meditation and Relaxation Therapy. Along side my Holistic work I also worked as a support/wellbeing worker within education and different therapeutic environments for over 35 years.
Psychotherapy felt like a natural progression for me, it is an embodied holistic therapy working with awareness in the here and now. Often emotions from the past come into the present as unfinished business this is a natural process in Gestalt therapy, together we will create a regulated space to process what may arise.
As Gestalt is a creative holistic therapy working with the whole of you (physically, emotionally, mentally and social/ spiritually PEMS) explorative ways of working will often come into the space. We may work with nature, this will naturally include the awareness of how nature heals us on an holistic level, along with drumming, chanting, movement, mindfulness, meditation, inner child work, art as therapy, two chair work, creative writing amongst many other techniques which may naturally ebb and flow while working together. I will always check in with you first if we are to use any explorative methods. Or you may choose to talk without exploring,
Having worked through many life challenges including mental health issues, trauma, co-addiction, abuse, low self esteem, loss this awareness will naturally flow into the therapy space. I was diagnosed with dyslexia and dyspraxia while at University, I also live with family members who have autism and ADHD, which has provided me with great awareness in working with both neurotypical and people under the neurodivergent umbrella.
I look forward to hearing from you, Rhonda
Training, qualifications & experience
The beginning, in 1988 I worked on Paul Newman's Summer Camp "The Hole in The Wall Gang Camp" with terminally ill young people.
It was here I was first introduced to great team work and one to one connections such as Relaxation Therapy, Meditation and Mindfulness along with Counselling Skills. This experience set me up at a very early age towards my focus in life.
Following this I studied:
1992-1994: Leeds Metropolitan University: Diploma in Higher Education Play Work including modules: Play Therapy (including a Play Therapy Placement/ Art as Therapy/Drama Therapy) Covering the importance of creative expression for both young people and adults.
1998-2002 Relaxation Therapy M.A.S.C
2000-2004 Colour Therapy: Iris International School of Colour Therapy Totnes
Certificate and Diploma in Colour Counselling and Colour Therapist ( including the Psychology-of Colour, Art as Therapy, Chakra Healing, Nature as Therapy, Colour Vibrational Healing within the Environment, Body Mind and Spirit.
Reiki Practitioner levels 1, 2 and Masters.
COUNSELLING :
2009 Level 1: Certificate in Introduction to counselling skills/ AQA/Wiltshire College
2010 Level 2: Certificate into The First steps into the Theory of Counselling/AQA/Wiltshire College
2010 to 2011: Level 3: Certificate in Counselling Studies/Theory and Practice/ CPCAB/Wiltshire College
2012 to 2014: Diploma in Higher Education in Humanistic Gestalt Psychotherapy/Counselling: The University of Winchester
2012 to 2015: Workshops attended and CPD ( Continue Professional Development)
Sand Tray Therapy/ Creative Expression/ Dream Workshop/ Mask Therapy/ Art as Therapy/ Methods to work with anxiety and depression/ Sculpting
Gatherings I have attended, Meditation and Mindfulness groups, The Red Tent Women’s gatherings ,I also facilitate Women’s Circles in Andover and Chanting Gatherings
2013 Certificate: Weekend/ 2 days training: The Endorphin Effect/ William Bloom: Glastonbury (covering ways to release endorphins, serotonin and working with melatonin and techniques for everyday stress)
2015: Certificate: 2 days training: ASIST Training/ Suicide Intervention/PAPYRUS (Prevention of Young Suicide UK) How to work with young people and adults with suicidal ideation.
2020: Different Attachment Theories: 6 hours training: CPD: The Olive Branch Winchester
2019: Exploring Creative Methods in Psychotherapy: CPD: 6 hours of training: The Olive Branch
2016: February to April: Salisbury: CPD>3 months training in Mindfulness Stress Reduction
2018: Working with Shame and Secrecy associated with Self-Harm Certification ( BACP)
2018: Compassion Focused Therapy for People with an Eating Disorder Certificate ( Ken Ross BACP)
2019: Broken Lives, broken brains, broken hearts- Find Joy in healing the residue of Trauma Certificate (Judy Crane) BACP
2021: October CPD: GIRES: Training in Gender Diversity for Primary Care Team
2021: October: CPD: Certificate in Cognitive BehaviouralTherapy: CBT: Course Central
2022: February: CPD: Virtual College> Certification in Understanding Young Minds.
2022: February: CPD: Virtual College>Certification in Self-Harm
2022: May: CPD 6 hours; Creative Explorative Therapy The Olive Branch
2023: Practitioners Diploma in Menopause Well-being ( Holistic and Well-being Course Academy)
2023: Complete Meditation, Mindfulness and Mind Training Certificate with Michael Bijker
2023: Solution-Focused Brief Therapy Certificate ( SFBT) ( Chris Worfolk, Holbeck College)
2024-2025 Understanding & Working with Autistic Clients in Therapy ( Dan Jones)
2025/Certificate in Coaching Adult ADHD/ The Growth Lab / Adrienne O’Brian
2025/The Science of Trauma and the Body/ Dr Ravi Gill 2025/ July / SEED Talk
Healing Trauma through Meditation, Mindfulness and Embodiment.
R.G Shore / November 2025
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
Other areas of counselling I deal with
Quick Reference
*Trauma I work very closely with embodied trauma
*Gestalt is a creative therapy, some clients may like to explore through creatively and others may prefer to talk
- CBT and Solution Focused Therapy
*I work with both Neurotypical and clients under the Neurodiverse Umbrella
*Having a life time genetic condition of Marfan syndrome has presented me with a natural understanding of long term health conditions.
*Anxiety and Depression, I have worked with many clients within these areas and have had my own challenges which gives me a greater awareness of holding space for others,
I specialise in working with Women Empowerment/ Perimenopause and the Menopause ( I hold a regular Women’s Circle)
*All areas around Gender Identity. *LGBTQ
*Confidence/Self- Esteem
*Awareness/Mindfulness/Affirmations/Relaxation Releasing and Becoming present.
*Empowerment, Releasing and Internal connection via Voice Work with Earth Chants
Photos & videos
Fees
£45.00 - £55.00
Concessions offered for
Additional information
I offer a free 15 minute telephone or WhatsApp, Or a 30 minute face to face consultation for £35.
Cost: age 18 up: £45 for 40 mins
Age 25 up £55 for 50 mins
We can take one week at a time or book a 6 week block, which works well if you are new to counselling or there are specific areas you wish to discuss. There is £10 discounted for booking a block. The block guarantees the same time each week.
Counselling/ Psychotherapy can be short or long term, we would work together until you feel you are ready to move on.
The online platforms we would use are Whatsapp/ FaceTime.
When I work
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I also offer longer sessions of 75mins the cost is £80, these can be taken every two weeks, monthly or as a one off session. These work well if you have a build up of emotion’s you would like to process. Please ask for details.
Further information
I hold full Balen's Medical Insurance.
I hold a Uk Disclosure Certificate
Registered Member of The British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP) and abide/follow there code of Ethics and Moral qualities.
I have regular Supervision with a qualified Psychotherapist/Counselling Supervisor.
2000 to 2007 Worked within a college as a Student Learner support Assistant for 7 years, with young people and adults (both mainstream and specific learning difficulties)
2013 to 2014 Worked as a Volunteer Counsellor at Basingstoke College of Technology with young people and adults (students and staff)
2013 to 2014 Worked with adults as a Volunteer Counsellor at MIND/ Covering many areas of mental health
I hold Women’s Circles and Earth Chanting Gatherings
The Olive branch Winchester
2019: Creative Explorative experiments in Gestalt psychotherapy
2020: Workshop of different attachment styles
