Sam Hughes
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Hello, I'm Sam and I'm a fully qualified counsellor who provides hope-filled, healing sessions to clients in two private and comfortable settings: in Folkestone and in Ashford (Kent).
Sessions are 50 minutes long, and usually occur at the same time each week. However, monthly 'check-in's are available as are more regular sessions for clients who feel the need for more intensive work.
I adhere to the BACP's Code of Ethics, I'm fully insured, and I am registered for Data Protection with the ICO. All my work is 100% confidential and I receive regular supervision to maintain the high standard you should expect from a loyal, professional, and trustable counsellor.
Training, qualifications & experience
I'm trained in a number of approaches to counselling, ranging from creative thinking to philosophical and spiritual discussions. I don't believe there is a 'one-size-fits-all' method to counselling, although I'm always rooted in the 'Person-Centred' philosophy; this means YOU lead the way in our sessions, and together we can find a way of working that suits your needs, and which is taken at a pace that is right for you.
I welcome all clients over the age of 18 and I have experience working with bereavement and a range of mental health issues, plus I've provided many therapeutic hours in a drug and alcohol service, so my door is open to clients who struggle with a reliance on alcohol or other substances.
I also have a strong interest in working with people who hear voices, and those who have unanswered questions about their gender or sexuality.
Outside of counselling, my background features creative writing, music making, and a passion for nature and the great outdoors.
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
Hearing Voices
Therapies offered
Fees
£50.00 per session
Free initial telephone session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
Sessions cost £50. I have a limited number of spaces available at concessionary rates - please contact me to discuss your preference.
When I work
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I currently have availability in Folkestone on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and in Ashford on Thursday afternoons and evenings.
Further information
Life can be a confusing, scary, and sometimes lonely experience.
Perhaps you're feeling stuck and are longing for movement and change; perhaps you feel as if time is whizzing along while your life is on hold. Maybe you've found yourself carrying the weight of unbearable loss, or maybe you're feeling anxious, or depressed, or both.
Sometimes we find ourselves having to make a decision but we're not quite sure which path will serve us best, and sometimes we know what we need to do but we feel like we don't have all the pieces of the puzzle, or we're not quite feeling brave or confident enough to do it just yet.
Talking things through with a counsellor can help with all of these problems and more.
Therapy gives you a space where you can hear yourself think, where you can lay everything out and see it with a fresh pair of eyes, and where a new perspective can become available to you.
You may discover various patterns, strategies, habits, and beliefs that have served you in the past but are no longer working for you. By raising your awareness of the connection between your thoughts and behaviours, you can be empowered with the wisdom and courage to take control of your life and the decisions you make.
I believe that most of life's challenges boil down to relationships: your relationship with the world, your relationships with those around you, and most importantly your relationship with your self. By offering a trusting, reliable, non-judgemental, and fully confidential relationship with me as your counsellor, I invite you to meet yourself, to find peace and calm in your mind, and to learn to improve the way you relate with every element of your experience.
Our First Session
I offer a free telephone consultation which usually takes around 20 to 30 minutes. This call gives us the opportunity to talk about who we both are, to discuss our availability, and to clarify what can be expected from our work together.
If you decide you'd prefer to try a different counsellor, there is no obligation to work with me after our introductory call. But, if you do decide that we are a good match, then this call can be a good time to choose a date and time that suits us both.
