Sheila Lowe
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Hello, I’m Sheila. If you are looking at this page you are probably experiencing some difficulty in your life and are seeking someone who can listen to your problems and help you to move forward. It may be traumatic events from the past that are troubling you, or more recent or current difficulties you are finding it hard to cope with. You may know exactly what it is you want help with, or maybe you are not sure what it is that’s causing you difficulty and making you feel the way you do. There are many reasons that bring people to therapy and if you think I can help you I can offer you my time and a confidential environment to discuss anything that is causing you distress or concern. We can work together to help you explore your feelings and thoughts and support you towards finding your way to resolve your issues.
I am a fully qualified counsellor and a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). I work in accordance with the BACP's Ethical Framework and I receive supervision with a fully qualified supervisor on a regular basis.
Training, qualifications & experience
My counselling training focussed primarily on Person-Centred counselling, a modality which views the client as the expert in their own life and helps them develop the potential in themselves to understand their problems and work towards the changes they wish to make in their lives. I passionately believe that change is possible for everyone if we have the opportunity to increase our personal awareness and develop the skills for a better life.
My training also incorporated modules on other counselling approaches including Psychodynamic, Gestalt, Transactional Analysis, Solution-focussed therapy and CBT. I have a background of working for over 30 years in social work and probation practice where I have trained extensively in the use of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI) and the Good Life model, to help people address their problems and bring about change. While working within the social work field and the Criminal Justice System I have worked with people who have experienced a wide range of problems in their lives. Issues such as managing their emotions, or relationship difficulties, or problematic behaviours. I have specialised in issues related to sexual violence and domestic abuse.
Last year I left employment within a statutory organisation in order to expand my private practice in counselling. Although at heart I am a person-centred counsellor I believe other types of therapy are equally valid and I work in an integrated way, using different therapeutic theories and techniques creatively when they are appropriate to meet the needs and goals of the people I work with. I have considerable experience of working with adolescents and adults who have suffered trauma, and I have worked with a charity that supports and helps those who have experienced sexual abuse in their childhood or as adults. I have trained specifically for working in this specialised area of work. I have also worked for several years with a charity which supports those who have suffered bereavement and feel lost and confused.
Qualifications
- Certificate of Qualification in Social Work (Probation Option)
- Post Graduate Diploma in Educational Studies (Counselling)
- Cruse Bereavement Care training
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
Therapies offered
Fees
Additional information
I offer a free 30 minute telephone consultation to enable us to discuss your needs and to give you a better idea of the counselling on offer. This allows you to consider if you think I could help you and whether you wish to proceed with counselling or not. There is no obligation to proceed with counselling afterward.
Fees for sessions are variable depending on your personal circumstances.
Further information
I offer online video counselling via a secure platform which allows you to receive counselling in the privacy and comfort of a place of your choice.
Face to face counselling is available and can be negotiated to take place in a venue convenient to you.
