Siobhan Bracken
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
I'm a humanistic therapist - in a nutshell, this means that I see the value and potential in everybody. With all my clients, I provide acceptance and empathy for who they are. I work to see things in your perspective so that I can get a good idea of why you think and feel the way that you do. In providing acceptance for you, I hope that over time, you can come to provide it for yourself.
I can also provide practical guidance on how to improve your mental health. What happens outside of therapy sessions can be just as important as what happens within them, so I work alongside you to help you build positive mental health strategies into your day to day life.
Therapy can be nerve-wracking, whether you have been through the process before or not. I always try to make it feel as natural and comfortable as possible with my easygoing nature. I value the importance of building up the relationship and allowing you to gain trust in me so that you feel you're in safe hands.
I allow my clients to take the lead by bringing the topics that are of the most priority to them. If you find that you don't know where to start, I can help you prioritise by talking things through and considering the different areas that you'd like to work on. Depending on what you would like to get from therapy, I am there to support, advise or challenge you as appropriate.
I hope to hear from you. If you have any questions or any uncertainties, please do feel free to reach out as I would be more than happy to explore them with you.
Training, qualifications & experience
With a degree in Psychology and a Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling, I combine the disciplines to gain a holistic understanding of my clients.
I have extensive experience working with self-esteem, anxiety and stress management. Alongside those, I am experienced in supporting with depression, body image concerns, grief and relationship issues (whether that be partner, family, friend etc.). I will cater the therapy to you by allowing you to guide me in what you would like to gain from the process.
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
£30.00 - £40.00
Concessions offered for
Additional information
Initial 15 minute phone call and first session free
£30 for trainee counsellors
£40 for regular sessions
Further information
I primarily provide face-to-face therapy in my comfy therapy space at home, or online therapy via Skype.
I'm based in Southend-on-Sea and work from home in a cosy, confidential office space. I aim to make the room as welcoming and comfortable as possible for anybody seeking support, and will always try to accommodate additional needs as and when possible. Just a few things to note:
- There is a flight of stairs between the entryway and the counselling room, so unfortunately the room is not accessible for wheelchair users or those with limited mobility.
- Although he is kept well away from the room during sessions, I have a cat who likes to spend time in the room, which may cause reactions for those with pet allergies.
Should you reach out for support, I will arrange a free 15 minute phone call with you so we can get to know each other and decide if I'll be the right fit as your therapist. During this phone call, I will ask you some questions to see what you would like to get from therapy and to talk through your experiences with your mental health. It is also your time to ask me questions too, please do not hesitate to gather as much information as you need to know that you are happy to work with me.
