Sonia Hall
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Hello. I am an experienced and committed person-centred therapist who is passionate about providing attuned support to those experiencing emotional distress or dealing with other challenges in life. My Growing Room practice is informed by my own lived experience of these issues, which I feel adds much to the therapy that I offer.
I am guided by a 'non-pathologising' approach to understanding emotional and relational distress, which means I am much more interested in hearing what has happened to you in life than working out what's 'wrong' with or how to 'fix' you. But I also understand and can work with 'diagnoses' people may have been given or identify with, such as anxiety or depression.
Entering therapy can be a daunting experience so I aim to help build trusting and non-judgemental therapeutic relationships from the outset. Founded on honesty, compassion and acceptance, my hope is that you can feel safe enough in this relationship to explore any issues that you choose.
In order for me to work therapeutically with you when we may not be able to meet in person, I also offer sessions via telephone or video call.
What to expect when we meet
Our initial meeting will last around half an hour and gives us both a chance to get to know each other a little and discuss what you hope to gain from therapy. We can talk about the way I work and you can see if this feels a good fit for you. I can find out more about you and the sorts of things you may be finding difficult. If we are both happy to proceed we will book our first session.
My way of working
As a person-centred therapist I aim to work alongside you, trusting you to make sense of your own life experiences, and so enabling you to effect positive changes for yourself. I will not try to interpret or direct your behaviour, but instead offer a nurturing space in which you can explore your own life story. I will be guided by you, and we will go at your pace, so you can move towards meaningful, personal growth.
How therapy can work
As with all living things, humans have within them an innate drive to develop and grow. Just as plants need nutrients and water to thrive, I believe that we need an environment of warm, empathic understanding so we can strive - just like a flower in bloom - to reach our fullest potential. I believe that given these optimum conditions for growth, we can become more fully who we want to be, and not perhaps just how others perceive or define us.
I feel honoured and privileged when I meet new clients and they choose to work with and share their life stories with me.
Training, qualifications & experience
Training
- Applied Suicide Intervention Training (2019)
- Self Harm training (2019)
- Introduction to Eating Disorders (2019)
- Complex Trauma, PTSD and Dissociation (2020)
- Safeguarding Training (2020)
- The Challenge of Racism in Therapeutic Practice (2020)
- Autism Adapted Safety Plans (2021)
- Transforming Trauma-Shame into Self-Compassion (2022)
- Words that Heal: An Introduction to Poetry Therapy (2022)
- The Impact of Trauma at Different Developmental Stages: A Person-centred Perspective (2023)
- Embracing The Shadow (2024)
Qualifications
- BA (Hons) Applied Social with Clinical Psychology
- Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
- Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies
- Level 2 in Counselling Skills
- Peer Support Worker Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
- BACP Certificate of Proficiency
Experience
Since starting to see clients in 2014 I have worked therapeutically with all genders and age groups (excluding young children), experiencing a variety of difficulties in relationships, both with others and within themselves. For example, experiences known as anxiety and depression; issues with food, eating and body image; post-traumatic stress; low self-confidence and self-esteem, can often accompany breakdowns in relationships or communication and have roots in various forms of abuse and trauma. I have also worked with other issues including self-harm and suicidal thinking, as well as bereavement, loss and grief over this time.
I have also enjoyed the role of peer mentor for over fifteen years and was for several years co-facilitator of a women’s sexual abuse survivors' support group.
I currently organise a monthly person-centred group for those with an interest in the approach, aimed at both personal and professional development.
My experience affirms my belief that it is the therapeutic relationship (and the interactions that take place within it) which is the most healing and growthful aspect of person-centred therapy.
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
£50.00 per session
Additional information
My current fees are:
£25 per 30 minute initial meeting
£50 per 50 minute session
If therapy proceeds after initial meeting, I ask for full payment of fee, preferably via bank transfer, prior to the next session to guarantee the booking.
When I work
Please make contact for my current availability.
Further information
Growing Room is conveniently based at the Humber Therapy Centre in Beeston, Nottingham. The centre is easily accessed by car, train or bus, being close to Beeston town centre. There is parking for clients at the front of the centre or free on street parking nearby.
I am fully insured and have an Enhanced DBS certificate. I am a registered member of and adhere to the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy’s (BACP) ethical framework. I will always be mindful of whether I feel able to work safely, ethically and professionally with you.
Please do not hesitate to text, call or email me for further information and to make a booking. If I can’t answer or reply straight away rest assured I will get back to you as soon as possible.
I look forward to hearing from you.
