Sonia Lucas
About me
Thank you for taking the time to view my profile.
I am a qualified and experienced Therapeutic Counsellor working with adults in Woking, Surrey.
Life can be a challenge and hard to make sense of at the best of times. You might recognise that you have found yourself at a point in your life where you need support. Taking those initial steps in acknowledging how you feel can seem like a challenging hurdle but it can also be immensely empowering and rewarding, given time.
As an integrative therapist I have come across people experiencing a broad range of problems from depression and anxiety, disordered eating to abuse and trauma. Having the opportunity to talk about the past and present will allow you time and space to gain an understanding as to why you may be experiencing difficulties with your emotions or have worrying patterns of behaviour, maybe you experience intrusive thinking that leads to overthinking and unsettling feelings. When we make the connections to the root of difficult patterns of thoughts and behaviours, we begin to realise we can facilitate change.
I follow the BACP code of ethics and adhere to the belief that the counselling relationship is based on a mutual respect with emphasis on a positive regard for the client's needs, trust, growth and change, in a safe and confidential space. What I aim to offer you through counselling is a non-directive approach in looking at your life, applying changes to help you move forward to experience the life you deserve to live.
Training, qualifications & experience
Experience and Background:
Over the last 15 years I have worked as an Integrative Counsellor in private practice.
Following my professional training as a Psychotherapeutic Counsellor, I worked for a counselling practice within their Tier 2 service assessing and supporting clients with mild to moderate mental health issues. In 2015 I completed a PGDip with a focus on the emerging relevance and connection of neuroscience in therapy. From that training I developed an interest in trauma, and in particular the idea of stored trauma in the body, and the connection to psychosomatic illness; physical illness/disorders linked to stressful and traumatic emotional experience. I often witness the impact of upsetting events on psychological and physical health. This led me to follow an interest in Emotional Freedom Technique where I engaged in ongoing practitioner training, early 2019. I have also completed a number of clinical CPD training courses, including CBT with Heart, with Dr Adrian Hemmings, Clinical Psychologist.
My approach to counselling would be described as holistic, meaning that it helps clients to heal by taking the entire human being, you, and your life experience, into consideration. My focus is to adapt and tailor particular models of therapy to accompany our work. I use a blend of theories and, where appropriate, some strategies from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).
My experience in counselling supports areas of, but not limited to:
- emotional and behavioural problems
- autistic spectrum disorder; diagnosed and undiagnosed
- adoption (this is specialised work closely supported by an expert Adoption Supervisor)
- disordered eating
- bereavement and loss
- psychosomatic illness
- cancer support
- depression
- anxiety
- attachment
- low self-esteem
- abuse (physical, emotional and sexual) and mild to moderate addictions.
Qualifications:
- PGDip in Integrative Psychotherapeutic Counselling
- PGDip in Adolescent Therapy
- Dip in Clinical Supervision
- Cert in CBT
- Cert Counselling and Psychotherapy
- EFT Level 1&2
I have regular clinical supervision to support all client work.
CPD Training in:
- Depression and Anxiety
- Bereavement, Grief and Loss
- Autism Spectrum Disorder - ASD
- Dementia and Family/Carers
- Disordered Eating
- Sexual Abuse and Trauma in Adults
- Trauma and Somatic Illness
- Safeguarding and Child Protection
- Addictions
- Mindfulness
- Trauma & Attachment
- EMDR and PTSD
- Adoption
- Amygdala and Trauma Response
- Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)
- Gestalt
Member organisations
British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy
BACP is one of the UK’s largest professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy. Therapists registered with the Association fall into a number of different membership categories such as Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP and Registered Member MBACP (Accred), each standing for different levels of training and experience. MBACP (Accred) and MBACP (Snr Accred) members have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by the Association.
Registered members can be found on the BACP Register, which was the first register to achieve Accredited Voluntary Register status issued by the Professional Standards Authority. Individual Members will have completed an appropriate counselling and/or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but will not appear on the BACP Register until they've progressed to Registered Member MBACP status.
All members are bound by a Code of Ethics & Practice and a Complaints Procedure. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
Accredited register membership
Accredited Register Scheme
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
Fees
£50.00 per session
Free initial telephone session
Additional information
Woking:
Sessions: £50 per 50 minute session - Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
Availability
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Further information
You may feel there is something more personal and specific to you that is not addressed or noted. I am happy to discuss any areas of concern and, if I am not the right counsellor, there may be a fellow professional I can refer you to for support and guidance.