Ruth Hill
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This professional is accepting new clients but may have a waitlist. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.
This professional is accepting new clients but may have a waitlist. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.
About me
Welcome. I'm Ruth.
I'm a warm, down to earth counsellor with 12 years experience based in Scarborough, North Yorkshire.
I have a background in humanistic counselling, and am experienced in using this, CBT and various other models and techniques to help support you.
I have lots of experience with supporting and working with anxiety, emotional literacy (recognising and understanding what we feel when we feel it), hopelessness, insecurity and sadness, both on their own and as part of wider issues around family and relationships, grieving, OCD, confidence and autonomy. More importantly, I have lots of experience in seeing and supporting people who just want to find a way to feel better.
I work online, which means you can find me wherever you (and your WIFI connection!) are.
I'm passionate about co-creating a counselling experience with clients. I bring counselling experience, knowledge, and the ability to safely hold what you need to work with, and help you make sense of it. You bring yourself, your experience of your world, and your desire for change and support. Together, through warmth, respect, understanding and connection, we explore what might change, and how you might get there.
How I work
Through my training and experience, I have a well-developed toolbox of skills and approaches we can pick from when approaching counselling. If you are forward thinking and solution focussed, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy may feel supportive - If you are reflective, and looking for answers though connection and exploration, humanistic therapy might make more sense. It may be that a combination of processes, as unique as you are, is what offers you the most. I can support you in working out what works for you.
Who do I work with?
My practice is open to all kinds of people. I have lots of experience in working with university students, young adults (18+) moving into their own independence and autonomy, and the LGBTQIA+ communities, and its intersections.
What can I expect from counselling?
At its simplest and most recognisable, you can expect sessions to look and feel like a supportive conversation.
In the beginning... you can rely on me to help you get comfortable. I'll focus on making sure you know how sessions will work, helping us get to know each other, and working out what you might want from therapy. That might be as focussed as, 'I want to work on a particular issue', or as simple as 'I just want to feel better'. Together we'll make decisions about how best to work, and build a trusting professional space where you can start to explore whatever you need to bring.
While you work... you can expect me to stay present as you explore ideas, try things out, see what fits, and what doesn't. Sometimes it may be challenging. Sometimes it may be funny. Sometimes it may be sad. You may want to unpack the past, or build for the future. Sometimes you may not want to say very much at all. However you are will be met, seen and respected as you explore. I'll ask supportive questions, reflect your experience, help you reframe what might benefit from a different perspective, and help you be present with and give space to things it might be hard to experience in your everyday life.
At the end... Some clients only want short term therapy with a specific focus or goal. Some want a longer process where they explore ideas, identity, or their past over a long period of time. Experienced clients may use therapy as an 'emotional gym' - working it into their lives as a permanent, ongoing act of maintenance or self-care. Some clients decide therapy isn't right for them, or isn’t right for them right now. As a period of therapy draws to a close you can expect me to support you in that ending and help you make plans for after.
How do I know we'll work well together?
It can sometimes take time to work out who will work for, and with you, as a counsellor. I believe nothing is wasted. Just one session with someone you never see again can be supportive, enlightening or useful - even if all that does is help you work out what you do or don't want from a counsellor.
You can get more information about me from my website, and if you feel we might work well together, or even if you’re not sure but, 'hey, you've got to start somewhere!', get in touch. As an additional note, the best/fastest way to reach me is always email as I often teach and travel for work.
I'll do all I can to make you feel welcome, and informed. We can start from there.
Training, qualifications & experience
I have a BA(Hons) In Counselling Theory and Practice from the University of Hull, qualifying me to level 6.
I'm currently in the process of completing my dissertation by research for a MSc in Psychology of Mental Health and Wellbeing.
I have a background in private practice, probation services, domestic abuse, Student counselling in higher education and creative industries.
I am a registered member of the BACP, have regular professional supervision and undertake additional training and development in support of my practice.
I'm currently employed as student counsellor for Coventry University Scarborough campus. Please note that as such, I regretfully cannot see clients who currently study or work at CUSU.
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
Fees
£50.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
My fees are £50 per 50 minute session. I also have a limited number of spaces that I can offer on a concessionary basis. Please contact me for more details.
Weekly sessions are usual, particularly initially while establishing a working relationship - however, after a time, some clients choose to come fortnightly, or at other intervals to spread the cost or give themselves more processing time.
Thank you for your interest in my profile. As of the 1st of December I will have more availability opening up, including days and evenings Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, and some more limited availability on Mondays and Fridays. Please feel free to contact me via email to make an enquiry or book an initial appointment.
When I work
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