Sonia Wilding
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This professional is temporarily unavailable and will not be responding to enquiries until they return.
This professional is temporarily unavailable and will not be responding to enquiries until they return.
About me
Hi I am Sonia. Welcome and thank you for taking the time to read my profile.
People often come to me feeling overwhelmed, numb, fearful and unable to find the words to describe what they are experiencing. Sometimes they are deeply distressed and unable to cope with their life and/or relationships. As a counsellor I help clients to explore their difficult thoughts, feelings and sensations.
I am an Integrative Counsellor which put simply means I am able to adapt my practice to suit your need. My approach is kind and gentle. In my work I integrate Person-Centred, Gestalt, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and the Transpersonal. I am very aware that for those of you who are not counsellors that this may feel like counsellor's jargon. In short, working with these approaches and a model which suggests that mind, body, soul and emotions are connected enables me to adapt my practice and to find a way of working that fits the client.
I offer short term therapy and longer term psychotherapy.
So how can I help you? I can help you by offering a calm space and time in which to share your thoughts and feelings. Clients have expressed that truly feeling heard for the first time is life-changing in itself. It may be that as you are reading this you are feeling unable to speak the words. It is my role as a counsellor to help you to express what you are feeling and thinking whether that be through words, visualisation, art or mindfulness techniques such as noticing.
I have specialist experience of working with anxiety and/or depression and trauma. I have helped many individuals to gain control of their life. I have many years experience of working with people who have been diagnosed with invisible disabilities such as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia.
Clients often initially express that they have no idea what it is that they need they just know that "something does not feel right". They tell me that they experience a whole range of feelings, thoughts and behaviours that are disrupting their lives and have no clue as to the reason. I can help you to explore your overwhelming feelings and thoughts and work with you to enable you to gain some clarity. I have been told by many clients that this has helped them to feel empowered and has enabled them to regain control of their lives.
My work within my own practice and within the G.P practice has also led me to develop an interest in working with complex trauma. I work in a way that enables clients to understand, process and manage their trauma related symptoms.
I can help with the following:
- Anxiety, including but not limited to, Social Anxiety, Panic Disorder (Panic Attacks) and Generalised Anxiety Disorder
- Depression including Seasonal Affective Disorder and Persistent Depression
- Feelings related to low self worth and self esteem
- Conflicting and recurring thoughts or feelings such as persistent worry, guilt, overwhelm, anger and emptiness
- Difficulties in relationships - including making connections to others and/or sustaining relationships
- Loss and Grief related to change of circumstances, including but not limited to, changes in health, loss of relationships, loss of financial stability, loss of sense of self
- Bereavement including pet bereavement.
- Processing Trauma
The people that I see often express feeling fearful about making the initial contact and a sense of immediate relief following the session.
Our sessions will always be led by you. You choose what you wish to bring to the sessions and how you would like to work. You will never be required to share anything that you do not wish to.
What's Next?
I know it can feel really hard to pick up a phone to a stranger and tell them that you need to talk about your personal thoughts and feelings. Please do not be scared. I work in a very gentle, open, honest way and will not judge you.
If you are interested in finding out more about how we could work together you can enquire or arrange a free initial 30 minute session by phone, text or email. I would welcome any questions that you may have.
What Happens at an Initial Meeting?
It is important to me that you find the counsellor that is right for you. During our initial 30 minute session you can discuss what you would like from counselling and you will be provided with the space to ask any questions or address any fears that you may have. We can take the time to discuss how we may work together. During this session if I felt that I could not offer what you required I would do my best to recommend a practitioner that may be able to support you. I want what is best for you. There is no expectation that you make a decision or book an appointment after the session.
Training, qualifications & experience
Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling (Level 5)
Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling (Level 4)
Certificate in Online and Telephone Counselling (NCS and Acto Approved)
Advanced Certificate in Online and Telephone Counselling (pending)
Janina Fisher Certified Complex Trauma Professional (CCTP Level 1) October 2021
Janina Fisher Certified Complex Trauma Professional Training (CCTP-11): Treatment of Complex Trauma and Dissociative Disorders (2023)
Adult Safeguarding
Ongoing Continuing Professional Development and training.
Other Qualifications
B.A (Hons) Degree in English Literature and Language studies
Diploma in Nursing
Certificate in Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sectors (CTLLS)
Experience
I gained my initial experience as a Counsellor at the Wolseley Trust working with people who predominantly were experiencing anxiety and depression including suicidal ideation. I have also spent time working for two GP practices in the north of Plymouth. I currently run my own private practice.
Prior to training to become a Counsellor/ Therapist I worked for the M.E Association on their helpline M.E Connect. During this time I provided support and information to those who had been affected by M.E/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Post Viral Fatigue Syndrome. I also worked as a nurse from 2002 until 2015 in the N.H.S and with the elderly in the private sector. My experience as nurse and and on the M.E Association's helpline has enabled to gain insight into the impact of chronic ill health on individuals and those who support them. Specifically, it has provided me with a greater understanding of difficulties that individuals face living with a fluctuating, debilitating conditions and invisible disabilities.
I currently work with a range of clients and have a specialist interest in working with clients who have experienced trauma.
As a counsellor I am never failed to be amazed by the growth and change that can occur during the sessions both for my clients and myself.
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
Photos & videos
Fees
£45.00 per session
Free initial telephone or online session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
I offer an initial 30 minute session free of charge via Zoom or telephone. I currently charge £45 for a one hour session. I offer counselling via phone, online using Zoom and face to face counselling. The face to face counselling takes place in a office within my own home.
I accept payment by card (contactless), bank transfer and cash
When I work
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My working day begins at 0800 and my final appointment for the day is 8pm.
Further information
My aim is to offer counselling that is accessible. I do offer a limited number of concessionary spaces so please feel free to ask if the full fee is not viable for you.
