Shelley Cannings
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Hello and thank you for looking at my profile. I hope reading this will give you some idea of how I work. I am a person-centred counsellor for adults and young people (age11+), counselling online and in Devizes. I can offer both long-term and short-term counselling for however long you feel you need it, once a space is open for you, it remains that way.
How counselling can help:
With my warm and gentle approach, I provide a safe, empathic, confidential, supportive and non-judgmental space to talk through any difficulties or life concerns that you may be finding hard to face alone. I work in a person-centred way, which means keeping you and what is important to you at the centre of everything we reflect on together. I also integrate other therapeutic approaches such as transpersonal which can help us explore your life from a spiritual perspective if you feel that would be helpful to you. You are in control of all the work that we do together.
What to expect in your first session:
The relationship between counsellor and client is of the utmost importance; our therapeutic relationship is where the change you’re looking for becomes possible and the power to heal is found. To ensure you find the right counsellor for you, I offer an initial assessment for an hour where we will meet and discuss your requirements. If you feel I am the right person to work with after the assessment session, then together we will begin that journey. Along this journey we will discover your inner strengths, and we might uncover hidden patterns of relating and behaving which we will unfold and process together. We may also bring in an awareness of your spiritual self that will help you in understanding yourself better. This process can take time, so I offer an open-ended form of counselling, to allow us the time we need.
I can offer help with a range of areas including:
• anxiety
• depression
• mental health distress
• bereavement/loss
• relationship split/ending
• identity issues
• sexuality issues
• gender stereotypes
• loneliness/isolation
• abuse
• misunderstandings
• Low self-esteem and self-worth
• Spiritual concerns
I like to lay down any labels you may be holding and seek to see the person underneath.
Taking the first steps of finding a counsellor can be scary. Some see it as a sign of weakness; however, I see it as a sign of strength that you are strong enough to ask for help. At our first session you will have a chance to explore your expectations and goals for counselling, whilst I gain more of an understanding of what you are experiencing in life, then as long as we both feel that we can work together, we will agree further sessions from there. Please do feel free to get in touch if you have any questions or require any further information.
Training, qualifications & experience
Experience & special areas of interest:
I started my counselling career volunteering and later worked as a 1:1 counsellor for Olive Branch Counselling in Chippenham for 8 years. I currently work (online only) with the Family Centre for Deaf Children of Bristol. I also work as a youth and adult counsellor for Wiltshire Mind, and a staff counsellor for our local NHS hospital. I have my private practice also and offer face-to-face counselling in Devizes, Wiltshire.
I have an interest in working to support lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, non-binary or questioning (LGBTQ+) clients and have experience as an LGBT youth support worker. I am comfortable talking through identity and gender issues and I am also able to signpost to agencies who will assist you in embracing and enhancing your sexuality/gender.
I also have an interest in working with D/deaf and hard of hearing clients, I am passionate about inclusivity for all the above and believe Deaf people should have the same access as hearing to counselling services. I am therefore learning British Sign Language (BSL level 6) to enable this to happen.
I am also a Christian; however, I do not bring the spiritual aspect into my work unless you (my client) seek for this to happen. I am keen to combine my experiences and ensure I hold a space for everyone to feel safe.
Training & Professional Standards:
Level 5 Post Qualifying Diploma in Youth & Children Counselling
Foundation Degree in Humanistic Counselling
Level 5 Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling
Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
I have full professional liability insurance.
I am a registered member of the BACP, so adhere to their code of ethics.
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
Youth & Children Counselling
LGBT issues - sexuality and gender
D/deaf, hard of hearing issues
Autism/ASD
Therapies offered
Fees
£50.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
Initial assessment & Counselling sessions - £50 per hour
On discussion, I can offer a sliding scale for students/low-income.
When I work
Please contact me to discuss a mutual agreeable time you and I are available for counselling.
