Sandra McElwee
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Hello and welcome to ‘The Big Blue Chair’!
I’m Sandra and I’m a fully qualified therapeutic counsellor and member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.
My approach to counselling is rooted in empathy, compassion and non-judgement. I strive to create a warm, safe and supportive environment where you can feel comfortable exploring your thoughts and feelings, get to know yourself better and understand the motivators behind your thoughts and behaviours. I will work with you to encourage positive change and improved well-being, whilst developing the skills and tools you need to navigate life’s challenges with increased resilience and self-value.
I work with a wide range of issues and have a special interest in male abuse. I am a firm believer that men also experience abuse and that as a society, we tend to overlook this. If you are male and have experienced and/or are experiencing abuse within the home environment or your relationship and/or are a survivor of abuse, I welcome your enquiry with equal concern.
I offer evidence-based counselling from a person-centred stance to adults and young people aged 14 and over.
As a person-centred counsellor, I encourage you to start each session where you feel comfortable. My role is non-directive, instead allowing you to take the lead. I will not attempt to fix your issues for you, or delve into areas where you do not feel ready to go. Instead, I will help you explore the challenges which you are facing in greater detail, gaining a deeper understanding of the connections between your thoughts, feelings, beliefs and behaviours. Through this exploration, my role is to help you gain greater self-awareness, ultimately leading to you becoming the expert on you.
I consider that each and every one of us is unique, and as such, I will tailor our work together according to your individual needs. If you struggle to find the words to express yourself, you may like to try working creatively or with a feelings wheel, or we may introduce basic techniques from other therapeutic approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy to better meet your needs. This can work particularly well with anxiety.
Training, qualifications & experience
I hold a Level 5 BTEC Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling.
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.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£50.00 per session
Free initial in-person, telephone or online session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
Concessions available - please feel welcome to enquire.
When I work
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Further information
I offer one-to-one, 60 minute counselling sessions on an open-ended basis, meaning you can come for as many sessions as you feel you need or even just the one.
You may like to schedule a weekly session at the same time and on the same day every week or you may like to book a one-off session as and when you feel the need. You may also like to vary your sessions between online and face-to-face to suit your schedule.
I offer a free no obligation, 60 minute initial meetings where we can discuss your needs, alongside what has brought you to seek counselling and if you have anything in particular that you would like to achieve. You may have a specific goal or you may feel that you just really need an outlet to share your feelings.
My practice is based in Newport, Wales where I work in person. It is 3 minutes by car from the M4 at junction 26 and free, private, off-road parking is always available. It is also a 3-4 minute walk from regular bus routes 16a and 16c.
I work both nationally and internationally online and by telephone.
