Sophie Simmons
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Hello, and thank you for viewing my profile. I am a BACP accredited Person Centred Counsellor and an EMDR trained trauma focused therapist registered with the EMDR Association UK. I work with clients facing a wide range of issues and experiences, whether from the past or present, that may impact their quality of life and well-being. I have extensive experience working with emergency services, as well as in the private, voluntary, and charitable sectors of psychological provision. I offer a discreet, safe, and welcoming environment where positive change can occur.
My approach
I base my approach on the Person Centred principle, that individuals have the potential for growth and self-awareness. I integrate other perspectives and techniques to be able to meet the needs of each individual.
I believe that each person is unique, and you are the expert on your own experiences. Our feelings and experiences are individual to each of us. I aim to build a trustworthy relationship with my clients that encourages the exploration of their issues and experiences. I feel privileged to walk alongside each individual as they discover their potential, find new hope, understand how to move forward, and create positive change in their lives.
I also offer EMDR ( Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) therapy, which is incredibly effective for healing all types of trauma, whether that be a single significant event (e.g. an accident) or continuous traumatic experiences (e.g. childhood abuse, neglect, sexual violence). EMDR helps create the connections between your brain’s memory networks, enabling your brain to process the traumatic memory in a very natural way.
Areas of interest
I have a strong interest in various areas, including:
Anxiety (social anxiety, generalized anxiety, panic attacks, phobias, agoraphobia, anxiety attacks)
Depression
Trauma
Relationships
Bereavement
LGBTQ+ issues
Mindfulness
Overwhelm
Transitions and life changes
Low self-esteem and self-worth
Difficult emotions (neglect, jealousy, loneliness)
Neurodivergence
Inner conflict
Stress and burnout
Body image
Grief and traumatic loss
Sexual violence/ abuse
My Service
The number of counselling sessions required varies from person to person. I offer both short-term therapy as well as longer-term and open-ended counselling as needed. I regularly review the counselling sessions with my clients to assess how the process is progressing.
I am flexible and provide appointments on weekdays and evenings.
Location
I practice from my private office in the Stanway area of Colchester.
Professional membership
I am an accredited member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and adhere to their ethical guidelines and their ethical framework. I also hold full professional indemnity insurance and continue with my ongoing personal and professional development.
Contact me
I understand that taking the first step in finding the right counsellor can be an overwhelming experience. If you like my profile and how I work, then do contact me. I would be pleased to answer any questions you may have. I would like to thank you for reading my profile and wish you all the very best on your journey.
Training, qualifications & experience
Certificate in higher education in Person-Centred Counselling. Essex University.
Advanced BA (Hons) Diploma in Person-Centred Counselling. Essex University.
EMDR Phase 1,2,3, EMDR Europe
Certificate in Sandtray therapy skills.
Certificate in Working with Self Harm.
Certificate in Child Sexual Abuse: Hope for Healing.
Certificate in Trauma, Dissociation and Recovery/Certificate in Dealing with Distress, working with Self Harm and Suicide.
The Ministry of Parenting STOP level 1 Parent Training Programme.
The Ministry of Parenting The Incredible Years Programme.
I volunteered at Colchester Institute counselling service. I worked with a diverse range of people each experiencing a wide variety of issues.
I have volunteered at Open Road working with people that are confronting drug and alcohol addictions.
I have also volunteered at CRUSE working with people that have suffered a bereavement and are struggling with the impact that has on their lives.
Substance Misuse Training - Essex Young People’s Drug and Alcohol Service,
Mental Health Awareness Training - Enable East NHS 2011 New Beginnings,
Solution-Focused Training - Harvey Ratner, Briefer Training, London
The Ministry of Parenting STOP level 1 Parent Training Program
Open Road induction, Drug and Alcohol Addictions
Certificate in Sandtray therapy skills - Nicky Haybridge
Certificate in Working with Self-Harm - Person-Centred Workshops
CARA induction, Rape and Sexual Abuse - Centre for Action on Rape and Abuse
PODS Training, Certificate in Child Sexual Abuse: Hope for Healing
PODS Training, Certificate in Trauma, Dissociation and Recovery
Matrix College, Certificate in Personal Insights into Attachment Theory
EFT and Trauma Practical Workshop
PODs Training, a certificate in Dealing with Distress, Working with self-harm
CARA, a certificate in Specialist Sexual Violence Training
CARA, Certificate in Specialist Safeguarding Refresher Training
PODS, Certificate in Mental Health and the Body Treating Trauma
PODS, Certificate in Working with Shame
PODS, certificate in Working with trauma in a time of trauma
The Link Centre, certificate in Exploring Resistance to change
The Link Centre, certificate in Existential Contributions to Counselling and Psychotherapy
PESI UK, Janina Fisher, Shame and Self Loathing in the Treatment of Trauma Strategies
PESI UK, Shame -The Meaning of Shame in the Treatment of Trauma
PESI UK, Trauma and Dissociation: Essential Skills for Working Online
PESI UK, Releasing Trauma from The Body: Essential Strategies
Confer, Stephen W. Porges, PhD and Sue Carter, PhD, Insights from the Polyvagal Theory and the Oxytocin Hypothesis
PODS, Working with Trauma That Has Become stuck
BACP, Myira Khan, Working with Muslim children and young people
BACP, “The dehumanisation of the Covid -19 pandemic and my fight for justice”
Confer, The Relational Montage of Eating Disorders: An Interpersonal Approach to Treatment.
PESI UK, The impact of childhood trauma on the brain: critical insights from neuroscience.
CARA, Safeguarding Training.
PESI UK, Gabor Mate’s Compassionate Inquiry in Action: An Experiential Course for the Healing of Deep Traumatic Wounds
National Police Wellbeing Service, Psychological Structured Interview
Essex Police, TRIM (Trauma Risk management) Practitioner Training
PESI UK Dr. Bessel van der Kolk on How the Body Keeps the Score: Intensive Trauma Treatment Course
PESI UK The Enduring Neurobiological Effects of Abuse & Neglect, Martin Teicher, MD, PhD
Gabor Mate _ Trauma, Illness and Healing in a Toxic Culture
Linda Cundy - Attachment, Food and Identity
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
Fees
£60.00 - £90.00
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
Fee per counselling hour 50 minutes.
Person Centred Counselling £60
EMDR ( Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) £90 for 1 hour
Payments are accepted on the day. Receipts/invoices supplied on request.
