Sonia Lucas

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MBACP, BSc, PGDip, Counsellor, Disordered Eating Therapist
Unavailable until 02/05/2024
Unavailable

This professional is temporarily unavailable and will not be responding to enquiries until they return.

Woking, Surrey, GU21
Unavailable until 02/05/2024
Unavailable

This professional is temporarily unavailable and will not be responding to enquiries until they return.

About me

Currently unable to accept new client referrals due to relocation early April 2024.  Therapy appointments will reopen in May 2024 for online therapy only.  

I am a BACP Therapeutic Counsellor assessing and working with clients within a quiet comfortable and confidential space centrally located in Woking and have been qualified for over 18 years.   

I am trained to work with clients experiencing a spectrum of past and present problems encompassing distressing areas of disordered eating to depression and anxiety, low self esteem and low confidence.  I work with clients navigating cancer, grief and loss, anger, affairs and betrayal, abandonment,  relationship issues, abuse and trauma.  Additionally, I offer therapeutic support to women struggling with endometriosis, peri-menopause and menopause and the complexities associated with these conditions and life changes.   

My approach is centred around individual needs and I am trained in several  modalities; Person Centred and Psychodynamic perspectives to Existential and Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT).  At times CBT may incorporated.  

During our lifetime we will undoubtedly face emotional challenges unique and personal to each of us.   These challenges may have roots from our childhood or adolescence connecting us to the here and now.   When facing challenging times we often find that we feel great overwhelm,  preoccupied with how we think, feel, act and react based on what we have experienced.  While it is true that life can be tough at times, having a calmer mind can help us navigate through difficult situations by allowing us to be more aware of our emotions and thought processes. This awareness can help us identify negative patterns of thinking and behaviour and take steps to change them.  As we all have an inherent ability to internalise difficult experiences and try to cope alone, we can often find that we struggle to make sense of why we think or behave in the way we do and this can lead us to feel lost at certain times, feeling unable to ask for help. 

Taking the initial steps in acknowledging how you are feeling and coping can seem overwhelming as can seeking support.  However, given the time that is essential for you  you will hopefully discover how immensely empowering and rewarding the experience of therapy can be.  The relationship between counsellor and client(s) provides the foundation to explore, understand, challenge and change patterns of behaviour which may be at the root of difficulties and distress.

Counselling can offer you the opportunity to talk about past and present issues; you may recognise concerns within particular relationships, how you manage your emotions or notice particular patterns of unhelpful behaviours or coping mechanisms.  Therapy can facilitate change in allowing time and space to gain an understanding of what you need. 

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:

I have worked as an Integrative Therapist with adults, adolescents and children in therapeutic and educational organisations with group work and one to one therapy.  I now focus solely on my private practice with adult clients.

Sessions are centred around individual needs and I have trained in a several modalities working with Person Centred and Psychodynamic perspectives to Existential and Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, (CBT) 

My approach to counselling is holistic;  I listen to your unique life story, adapting and tailoring particular tools to accompany the work best suited for you.  My primary concern is to help each person feel seen and heard and to help support a positive move towards taking better control of your life.  

Following my professional training as a Psychotherapeutic Counsellor I worked as a supervisor within a Tier 2 local authority counselling service assessing and supporting clients with mild to moderate mental health issues.  In 2015 I completed a PGDip with a focus on the emerging research and relevance of neuroscience in therapy.   

I am mindful of the impact of traumatic events and the connection they may correspond with in psychosomatic symptoms; physical and emotional distress/disorders linked to stressful and traumatic emotional experiences that are felt in our bodies and mind.   Neuroscience continues to inform therapists of the connection around exposure to upsetting or stressful events and the possible psychological and physical health responses we may experience.  This does not mean that we cannot change and are conditioned to struggle.   

Over the years I have seen how there are many ways in which we can reduce and change the impact of stress on mind and body.  To understand and help clients on a deeper level, away from traditional methods, I discovered an interest in Emotional Freedom Technique where I engaged in ongoing practitioner training in 2019.  

Emotional Freedom Techniques, commonly known as EFT or "tapping",  is a psychological and alternative therapy that combines elements of acupressure and cognitive therapy.  EFT is designed to address emotional issues, negative emotions, traumas and physical pain by tapping on specific meridian points on the body while focusing on the issue at hand.  The theory behind EFT,  is based on the concept that disruptions in the body's energy system, according to traditional Chinese medicine, can lead to emotional and physical distress. By tapping on these meridian points, which are the same points used in acupuncture, the flow of energy is believed to be balanced, leading to relief from emotional and physical symptoms.

In addition to EFT and Counselling I have also undertaken training in a number of clinical CPD  courses,  including CBT with Heart, with Dr Adrian Hemmings, Clinical Psychologist.

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:

  • BSc (Hons) Top-Up Counselling 
  • PGDip in Integrative Psychotherapeutic Counselling
  • PGDip in Adolescent Therapy
  • Dip in Clinical Supervision
  • BSc Psychotherapeutic Counselling
  • 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

BACP
British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP)

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

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy
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.

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy

Fees

£60.00 per session
Free initial telephone session

Additional information

Woking:  

Sessions: £60 per 50 minute session - Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday

When I work

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Night

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.

Chertsey Road, Woking, Surrey, GU21

Type of session

In person
Online

Types of client

Adults
Older adults

Additional languages

None

Sonia Lucas
Sonia Lucas