Shirley Higham
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
"Instead of saying, I'm damaged, I'm broken...
Say I'm healing, I'm rediscovering myself,
I'm starting over..."
I love a good quote, I find they often say enough to reach inside a person and tug at something there which needs a response. You had that feeling ? is there something there that needs you to respond, needs your attention? Perhaps you've reached a point in life where nothing makes sense anymore, you just don't 'fit' or you just need a moment to catch your breath - I can offer you a place to try to make sense of it all, to find your place in your life - for me to be with you while you pause to catch your breath... my being there for you to lean on until together we find your way forward. This is what counselling is..
How...?
We talk, it sounds simple and in one respect it is, but in counselling we talk in a different way - and as our professional relationship develops you'll understand what I mean. If you've had counselling before, or if not, the aim of our work together is to give you the chance to find your way through the challenges, to experiment with solutions, maybe take a step back.. but then find your way. And when you find that way, when you "fix" what you feel needs to be fixed, or at least some of it - then our work together has been worth it.
I am a person centred counsellor, I won't pretend I know everything about your challenges, you are the expert on that and what you bring shapes our time together - I will listen so I can learn, encourage, support and through the development of our relationship, enable you to make the changes you want to make, at your own pace without pressure or judgement.
As I said, talking.. it sounds simple... get in touch (a call, text or email - I will try to reply within 24 hours)... and together we can build on your decision to begin.
Training, qualifications & experience
My qualifications to date are:
Level 3 Safeguarding - DSL
Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Skills
Level 6 Bsc (Hons) Behavioural Science
Access to Nursing and Social Work Training
Member Suicide Prevention Network Calderdale
As a Registered member of the BACP this includes an ongoing commitment to my CPD which supports my work with you, most recently includes but not limited to:
Level 3 Safeguarding - DSL
EDI for Managers
L2 Understanding ADHD (to support previous CPD in this area including Autism Awareness)
Experience of working in the voluntary sector
In addition to my clients in private practice I have several years experience working with adults and families who have been exposed to a variety of challenging situations that have resulted in them seeking additional support, most recently;
Local Charity - I am currently the manager of a counselling service within a local charity working alongside a team providing not only low cost counselling as a placement provider for counsellors in training, but also working in partnership with other charities and organisations to provide what is needed, in the way it is needed at the point in time it is needed for all adults in the local community. Recognising, responding and acknowledging the need for the whole individual to be considered, not just part - this is delivered through various means such as hubs, alternative therapies, creative groups, the employee support line and more. This combined with raising awareness on issues relating to mental health through aiming to remove the stigma surrounding it, have enabled the service to grow and develop.
Creating, developing and growing the service to what it has become combined with what it offers the community compliments my private practice and offers fresh insights to my professional and personal development.
Mosaic II - Here I worked as a volunteer counsellor offering support and stability to adults who were survivors of childhood sexual abuse.
As part of my time with this charity I was given the opportunity to attend training on issues surrounding sexual abuse such as;
- Sexual abuse: the impact on family members and survivors
- Sexual Exploitation
- Perpetrators: targeting and grooming
- Perpetrators: how they are managed by the police
- Post Traumatic Stress
- Self Harm and Suicide
- Domestic Violence
- Eating Disorders
- Personality Disorders
- and further training on Generalised Anxiety Disorder
Homestart
Here I worked in the community with parents who were finding parenting a challenge or who were struggling with issues such as isolation and depression along with support in developing parenting skills such as bonding, nutrition and safeguarding.
As a Registered Member of the BACP (reg no 380428) I work within its ethical guidelines, a part of which being to undertake a minimum of 30 hrs CPD training a year. (See above)
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
Further issues I can support :
Identity
Self Awareness
Men - what it means to be a man in todays world
Feeling stuck or lost
Therapies offered
Fees
£55.00 per session
Free initial telephone session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
The initial consultation is free by phone and takes up to 20 mins
Our sessions then are £55 for up to an hour
Trainee Counsellors £50
I offer short and long term counselling, working with your needs being the priority.
Workshops - costs dependent on individual or organisation, please contact for further information.
When I work
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I may be able to offer some flex - please ask and we can discuss
Further information
Workshops
I have plenty of experience of developing and delivering workshops to a variety of service users, the most recent of which being Sure Start Children's Centres and in the conference room at my base in Brighouse.
The subjects are varied ranging from anxiety, stress, self esteem to self awareness or assertiveness to name but a few each of which being tailored to suit the organisation or the interest of a particular groups needs.
The workshops are delivered in a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere with lots of participation and activities to embed learning and encourage continuation and further personal development into the future.
Male Clients
I have experience of working with male clients and am aware of the shift in what it means to be a man in todays world and the challenges that presents. I am keen to encourage more men to seek counselling as a means to not only support themselves but to also further reduce stigma and acceptance of counselling as a place for men to learn to thrive. I provide a safe, confidential place for you to openly and honestly talk about what you need to talk about but perhaps have not been able for reasons such as fear, ridicule or just not knowing how. We can find a way, try new things and get you back to being the you you want to be, not who you're expected to be.
Being a Registered Member of the BACP and working within its ethical guidelines also means I am fully insured and attend monthly supervision to support my development and to keep you safe.
I have an enhanced DBS.
