Rob Stuart
About me
I’m Rob Stuart, a qualified and experienced Psychodynamic Counsellor registered with the British Psychoanalytic Council.
In this short introduction, I’d like to be clear: I'm a good listener. I'll always be on your side and I’m not here to judge or be critical. I want to find out what it’s like to be you – to see things from your perspective.
Then, with a little time and patience, my hope is that we will be able to create new perspectives together.
I use a psychodynamic approach, which means I’m interested in unconscious as well as conscious thoughts, feelings and behaviour. I’m interested in how significant relationships and/or patterns of behaviour have impacted on your life – and how they may be affecting you right now.
The aim of counselling, as I see it, is to help you reach a new understanding of what does and doesn’t work for you in your life. My hope is that by increasing your conscious awareness of what may or may not be happening, you’ll be able to make better, more informed choices.
I’ve over 12 years of experience as a mental health practitioner, including 5 years in the NHS as an Honorary Psychotherapist, a 2 year stint in an NHS crisis service, 5 years in private residential care and around 2-3 years working with the suicide prevention charities Maytree and Samaritans.
After those formative years, there is little I haven’t seen or heard before. I’ve worked with people suffering from anxiety, depression, acute stress, suicidal ideation, personality disorders, bipolar disorder and psychosis – although thankfully, not all at the same time!
I’m relaxed with regards to medication, clinical diagnoses and psychiatric treatments but having worked in acute settings, my overwhelming feeling is that it is better to talk BEFORE reaching crisis point. That’s why I named my private practice “Start Counselling”.
"Life’s too short to let stress, depression, anxiety and relationship difficulties stop you. Start counselling today and start living your life again!"
If you’d like to make contact (and I hope you will), I’m ready to receive your email. I’m based a few minutes’ walk from Bell Corner, Walthamstow, which is very well served by public transport. And, after more than a year of lockdown, I’m now fully vaccinated against the virus!
If you’d like to get in touch, then please do click the “Message me” button above. I aim to respond to all enquiries within 24 hours, Monday - Friday.
Coronavirus Update:
- I am now able to offer in person, face to face appointments,
- I will continue to use Skype to connect with clients who prefer to meet online,
- I am offering a 10% DISCOUNT to all clients. See below for more details,
- I am prepared to offer further limited concessions to people on a low household income,
- I am offering a free 15 minute consultation to every new client, with no obligation to continue.
If you’d like to take up my offer, please send me a message using the button above.
Training, qualifications & experience
Training and Qualifications:
- MSc Psychodynamic Counselling and Psychotherapy - Birkbeck College, University of London
- Graduate Certificate in Psychodynamic Counselling and Organisational Dynamics - Birkbeck College, University of London
- Graduate Diploma in Psychology - The Open University, Milton Keynes
- BA Philosophy and Politics - University of East Anglia, Norwich, Norfolk
Experience:
- Honorary Psychotherapist in the Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster (KCW) Psychotherapy Team, Central and North West London (CNWL) NHS Foundation Trust.
- Clinical Support Worker at The Rivers Crisis House, St Pancras Hospital, Camden and Islington (CANDI) NHS Foundation Trust.
- Mental Health Support Worker at Connifinn Limited (private healthcare provider).
- Community Link Worker at Maytree (suicide prevention charity).
- Listener at Samaritans (suicide prevention charity).
- Director at OPUS - An Organisation for Promoting Understanding of Society (registered charity) responsible for the "Listening Post" (a forum where people can share their thoughts and feelings about society).
Member organisations
Registered / Accredited
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.
British Psychoanalytic Council
The British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC) is a professional association, representing the profession of psychoanalytic psychotherapy.
The organisation is itself made up of fourteen member organisations and BPC accredits the trainings of its member organisations. An individual who qualifies from one of these trainings is then eligible for entry into the BPC's register.
BPC registrants are governed by a code of ethics, a policy of continuing professional development, a statement on confidentiality and a complaints procedure. The BPC is a Member Society of the European Federation for Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy in the Public Sector (EFPP). 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
Therapies offered
Fees
From £54.00 to £63.00
Free initial telephone or online session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
Prices reduced by 10% from £60/£70 (daytime/evenings).
Availability
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I prefer working in the mornings but have limited afternoon/evening appointments available. Please contact me for more information.
Further information
I'm interested in how society shapes us as individuals and - spoiler alert - I don't believe that people can always or should always shape themselves to fit society. Maybe it's society that needs to change?
