Ruhena Akhtar
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
My name is Ruhena, I am a registered and experienced Counsellor and Psychotherapist. At times you may feel sad, it can be difficult and daunting experiencing certain feelings such as low self-esteem, low self-confidence, anxiety and social anxiety or even panic attacks. Counselling can offer a safe, non-judgemental space which enables you to explore your own thoughts and feelings, perhaps find ways of managing these emotions in a safe way. My experience of working with adults and children include abuse, depression, anger issues, health concerns, loss and bereavement, identity and diversity, family issues, harmful practices and more.
I am bound by the BACP and work within their Ethical Framework for Good Practice as a registered member of the BACP (British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy). This ensures that I work safely and ethically with all my clients.
I provide an integrative approach to therapy whilst still holding the core principles of the Person centred theory. I ensure all my work is tailored around you and your needs. During our first session we would see what you aim to gain through therapy and to ascertain whether you feel comfortable enough to continue working with me. It is very important to have a safe and comfortable relationship with your therapist as intimate feelings are revealed during therapy. You as an individual need to feel that you can trust your therapist to hold those feelings and feel they are treated with respect.
I am passionate about mental health and making a difference in peoples lives, enable them to make positive changes. I engage with youths to develop positive mental health through activities and mentorship, to help break stigma of mental health.
I offer time limited and open ended counselling sessions to suit your needs.
My hours are flexible and I offer some evening sessions depending on availability.
Training, qualifications & experience
I completed my Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling and Advanced Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling in Hertfordshire. I have over 10 years experience working in mental health and 20 years working with abuse, sexual violence and harmful practices.
I have worked for various Local Authorities, women centres, private organisations with adults and young people, complex needs as well as working at multiple GP practices.
I work with charities, Womens centres, GP surgeries and NHS, hospices as well as Privately and independent companies with issues such as depression, anxiety, stress and work related problems, abuse, sexual violence, gender abuse, relationship and family issues, women problems, fostering and adoption, harmful practices including FGM, arranged forced marriages, cultural issues and identity, bereavement and loss and many more.
I work with adults, young people and adolescents offering short term time limited counselling or long term to open-ended work.
I have over 20 years experience working with diverse clients including LGBTQ and marginalised communities.
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 work in Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and West London.
Fees
£60.00 per session
Free initial telephone session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
£60.00 per session
Discount offered for low income families and students.
Reports: £120.00
When I work
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I am flexible and offer evenings if needed, please contact me for further details.
Further information
Sessions are offer remote counselling via Zoom/Skype? Teams and I will visit clients at home if necessary.
Office space available for one to one counselling is in Letchworth Garden City.
Unfortunately I am unable to offer wheelchair access for my face to face counselling, in these circumstances, we can discuss home visits. Alternately, I offer online and telephone counselling.
