Rhonda Cleary
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Hello and welcome my name is Rhonda (she/her) at present I work face to face and online from The Wooden Round House over looking the River Anton.
We also have Polly the beautiful therapy dog, it is your choice if Polly comes in with you, she has been in the room with many clients over the years.
I offer short term focused counselling which works very well with a specific area to focus on and long term psychotherapy.
I have been a qualified psychotherapeutic counsellor for several years. There may be times in your life when you feel you may benefit from some professional listening support.
Over the years I have worked with many areas within therapy such as anxiety, depression, low mood, self harm, suicidal ideation, addiction, eating disorders, gender identity, loss, trauma, relationship breakdown, body dysmorphia, exam pressure, abuse on all levels. Areas around school trauma, bullying and identification.
I offer a confidential, non judgmental space, having worked within the area of wellbeing, people support, one to one work within education and within different therapeutic environments for over 30 years, counselling felt like a very natural progression for me.
Being under the neurodiverse umbrella, having been diagnosed with dyslexia and dyspraxia while at University along with living with close family members who are ASD and ADHD gives me great awareness of holding space for people whom may be neurodivergent along with neurotypical clients.
Humanistic Gestalt works with the here and now, often things from the past emerge as unfinished business into the present, this can naturally happen within therapy. We can work together with this unfinished business in the present, if you choose to do so.
Having covered modules within the areas of Mental Health, CBT, Psychodynamic, Play as Therapy, Drama as Therapy and Humanistic Gestalt all modalities will ebb and flow into each other. Gestalt works very closely with the whole being, I will connect with you within an embodied way.
Bringing your awareness to your internal self and external field by creating space for you to become aware of your whole self and environment.
At times elements of creativity using tools such as mindfulness, meditation, relaxation techniques, art work, sea glass therapy, stones, drumming, hitting a punch bag, colour therapy, two chair work, creative writing, exploring dreams, releasing blocked energy and trauma through movement, two chair work amongst many other areas may naturally ebb and flow while working together.
Or you may prefer to talk without experimentation, I will always check in with you first before we use any explorative methods.
A little bit about me, I have worked through many life challenges including mental health issues, co-addiction, abuse, trauma, low self esteem/self-worth and confidence issues. I have a lifetime genetic condition ( Marfan syndrome) which I manage on a daily basis, as well as being Neurodivese. These have all given me much self-insight and great awareness in working with others within therapy.
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 Therapy/ Methods to work with anxiety/ What is depression? /Meditation/ Group Sculpting/ Groups have attended and ran workshops. The Red Tent Women’s empowering and awareness groups.
I hold Women’s Circles in Andover.
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)
Having Dyslexia and Dyspraxia and living with family members with ADHD and ASD aids me with skills and awareness of people living with Neurodivergent diagnoses (self or medical) which are naturally used within my practice.
Anxiety and Low Mood are areas I have personally experienced and I have had much success with young people and adults.
Self Harm is an area I work very closely with, witnessing some wonderful outcomes.
Sea Glass Therapy is my own method of working with Sea Glass in a Therapeutic Way, I am very open to discuss this therapeutic sea glass method.
Along with therapeutic Earth Chants.
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
* I believe Nature is a great healer and offer Therapy in Nature ( weather depending)
*Retreat Style Therapy can work with clients who feel they need more one off longer sessions of 2-4 hours, If you feel longer sessions may work for you please ask for details.
* Gestalt works in the “here and now" and follow what becomes figural within the counselling room, sometimes this will stay in the present or take us back to unfinished business.
*Gestalt is a creative therapy, some clients may like to explore through creatively and others may prefer to talk
*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 had my own challenges with these which gives me a greater awareness of holding space for others,
*I have counselled many young people around A-levels and University
*Blocks to Creativity and Self-Awareness
*Women empowerment and the menopause ( I hold a regular Women’s Circle)
*All areas around Gender Identity
*Confidence/Self- Esteem
*Awareness/Mindfulness/Affirmations/Relaxation Releasing and Becoming present
*I have professional and personal experience around areas of recovery/addiction.
*Mental Health
*Sea Glass Therapy and other areas of Psychotherapeutic Creative Exploring to release deep blocks.
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£40.00 - £50.00
Free initial telephone session
Additional information
I offer a free 15/20 minute telephone/online consultation.
Young adults age 18 to 24: £40 for 40 minutes online and face to face talking therapy. For a block of 6 there is a reduction of £10 making the total £230
Adults: Age 25 and up: £50 for 50 minutes online and face to face talking therapy. For a block of 6 there is a £10 reduction, total £290
I offer 1 off therapy sessions for all clients.
I recommend at least 6 continues sessions if this is your first step into counselling to support you in your processing and progress.
Online counselling consists of Zoom is a similar experience to working within the therapy room. The client and therapist can see and hear each other, just as face to face therapy this form of counselling also works very closely with the therapeutic relationship.
When I work
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One off counselling/ 6 weeks blocks/ long term therapy.
Early sessions before Work/College/Uni.
7am to 3pm Tuesday
7am to 3pm Wednesday
7am to 3pm Thursday
Further information
I hold full Balen's Medical Insurance.
I hold a recent 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
Present date I work as an independent Psychotherapeutic Counsellor with adults and young people online and within The Wooden Round House Charlton.
The Olive branch Winchester
2019: Creative Explorative experiments in Gestalt psychotherapy
2020: Workshop of different attachment styles
