Richard Leah
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This professional is available for new clients.
About me
I have been involved with psychotherapy and human growth for forty years - working alongside people in mental health, social work, education and the commercial world.
I embarked on my own personal therapy journey back in my twenties - a basic requirement before one can help other people on their journey; therapists are not people without problems - the good ones just know what their problems are and have worked out how to be with them, to avoid them interfering with their professional work) .
One never finishes the journey - the experiencing and the learning; although much older and wiser I still see myself as a fellow traveller.
Over the last few years therapy/counselling has often been presented as you being fixed by an expert in your 'problem' -as if one were attending a dentist to have a tooth extracted. Its not like that of course.
You are the only one who has experienced your problem so I focus on working with you to help you clarify what the problem is. Then, we can shift to how to resolve it; you are the only one who can know what is appropriate for you -so we will then be exploring those possibilities - from your point of view. And of course, finally, the decision about what to do will come from you - when you are clear and when you are ready. And all that needs to include both intellectual understanding and emotional experiencing in both of us in order to be successful.
At this point in time it may sound impossible that you could find a way through your current problems but it can and does happen. And in the process of finding that way forward you become better equipped to face future problems.
I don't claim to be able to fix hundreds of categories of 'problems' -because those are just labels. I know what the labels are but I work with you, a unique human being - not with a label; the label is just what shows on the surface - like a bruise. The label can be a handy shorthand but whatever is behind the label is unique to you; your bereavement, your anxiety, depression, confusion or sense of being off course is unique to you - so there can be no preset formula to 'fix' it. I accompany you whilst we explore your feelings and experiences. Out of exploring will come different ways of seeing the issues and from this will come different ways of dealing with them.
Training, qualifications & experience
I have my own private practice. In the past I have worked as a therapist for Social Services, the NHS, and an F E College, My work has included running therapeutic groups and anxiety management groups. I am also a trained yoga teacher and have considerable experience of Bioenergetic therapy which contributes to my knowledge of the mind - body link.
I have experience of and am qualified as, a social worker.
I have also worked in education teaching liberal studies and sexual relationships.
I have also worked in the commercial world -including engineering and software.
As a young man I set out to experience as much of life as I could - from working on building sites to nursing, from working with the homeless on the streets of London to working -and living - as a decorator in Amsterdam. I've been a bus conductor and a manager in a major software company. This too is part of the relevant experience I bring to my work as a therapist. And parallel to that experience is my emotional experience; I have lived my life as fully as possible -and like so many human beings have had times of both great happiness and of great sorrow and pain. All that comes together to help create the person I am - the person, the counsellor and therapist that you will encounter on meeting me.
Diploma in Counselling; Middlesex University at Harrow College; 2001
Certificate in Group Facilitation: Norwich Centre with Professor Brian Thorne: 2003
Certificate in Brief Counselling: Psychology Matters with Dagmar Edwards: 2005
Year 1 of Institute of Group Analysis: Bedford: 2005 ( not an approach I warmed to)
Advanced Diploma in Therapeutic Supervision: Warwick University: 2007
Accredited (MBACP) with BACP
UKRC Registered Independent Counsellor
Member World Association of Person Centred and Experiential Psychology
Diploma in Social Work: CCETSW: Oxford Brookes University 1996
BA (Hons) Humanities: 1975
My personal experience - which I regard as an essential part of training to be a therapist - includes 300 hours of my own one to one personal therapy and 1,000 hours as a participant in group therapies. And I did that before I even thought of becoming a therapist myself.
As a one to one therapist I have seen over 400 clients and provided over 3,500 hours of therapy.
As a group therapist I have facilitated ongoing groups over a five year period
As a trainer I have taught counselling - and this has been very valuable experience -because I have been asked so many searching questions -to which I had to find the answer within me and within the knowledge base of counselling
Member organisations
Being registered/accredited with a professional body means an individual must have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by their member organisation.
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
Anything; I work with you
The labels attached to people -or adopted by them - are often just a hint of whatever symptom is on the surface whilst the deeper problem - the one that may be the root cause of the distress - may be something else; I support you in facing both the symptom and the possibility of an issue at a deeper level.
The Engineering Stuff
- And, having said that, whilst on our exploring it may become clear that something like eg anxiety symptoms, are interfering with your ability to live your own life; If you wish I can work with you to reduce those 'mechanical' symptoms. This may mean looking at breathing, body posture, relaxation, eating patterns etc
Personal Development
some people are clear about what the issue is and just want to focus on that. For others there is maybe a general feeling of life not feeling ok, not as they hoped; maybe nothing they can quite put their finger on - maybe just a general anxiety or feeling sad - or conversely a feeling of carrying a heavy weight around. It could be that you want to look at the meaning of life - of your life. It may feel as if you want to take a look at where you are going.
Any of this could mean you are interested in what is often called personal development; in growing personally, in becoming the best that you can be ( not the best that someone else can be or that someone else wants for you!) It is often spoken of as a journey - an exploration. It may mean going off the beaten track - perhaps at times there won't even be a track visible. And there are no maps, no rules. I have done my own exploring and am there to accompany you on your journey wherever you choose to go.
Fees
£45.00 per session
Additional information
I charge £45 for a one hour session. (I don't do that 50 minute thing - and I don't rush you out of the door). However, the first session is £20. This first session is an opportunity for you to establish if you want to continue to work with me
Some clients find longer on going sessions more productive and I am happy to discuss that at any time.
TO CONTACT ME:
The easiest way to set up an appointment is for us to compare diaries over the phone. Initially, if you will contact me via this directory I will give you a phone number and we can talk at your convenience.
If I am not available you can leave a number for me to get back to you (I will be discreet)
If you choose to e mail that's fine but it generally takes longer to establish a mutually convenient date to meet.
When I work
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I am now taking new clients for face to face meetings. I am flexible about life eg shift work so please do talk to me about your situation.
Further information
Since the covid lockdown I have had a heightened awareness of our need to provide people with safe distance in sessions. The layout of my house allows for social distancing at all times and I provide hand sterilizer. I do not require clients to wear face masks.
When we have arranged a first appointment I will e mail you location maps and safety procedures
The importance of the relationship in counselling leads me to suggest that you regard our first session as an exploratory one where you decide if you feel comfortable working with me.
Parking is no problem.
Although I am a qualified supervisor of counsellors and psychotherapists I no longer provide supervision.
