About me
Hello, and a very warm welcome to my page.
My name is Sophie and I am a BACP registered therapist offering sessions from two very comfortable settings in either Gillingham, Sittingbourne, or online.
What can I help with?
It might be that you are finding it hard to trust, and feeling anxious, disconnected, or easily triggered by everyday situations.
Perhaps you have experienced a significant loss? After the loss of someone close to us, we can experience profound emotions and feelings that accompany grief and loss. Perhaps it feels like you no longer recognise yourself and the world as you knew it, looks and feels completely different.
You might be struggling with anxiety, and feeling as if things are completely outside of your control or like your anxiety controls you?
Maybe you struggle with low self-esteem? And it’s affecting your ability to form and maintain relationships. Perhaps you are going above and beyond for others at your own detriment, and feeling as if you are “not good enough”?
Whatever it is, I know it can feel all-consuming and as if you are “stuck”.
I can help you to:
- Develop your self-awareness and understanding of you.
- Find new meaning and purpose after a loss.
- Understand your coping strategies and defence mechanisms- not just what they are but how they came to be.
- Have the chance to begin to trust in yourself and your ability to find the answers within.
- Improve the relationship you have with yourself and others around you.
- Understand and break free from unhealthy relationship patterns.
- Let go of core beliefs that hold you back or no longer serve you.
My Approach
I specialise in working with a client-led approach which places you at the heart of the work, where you can feel free to express what works for you and where you need to be in the moment. I am not here to "analyse" you, but instead work alongside you and empower you to navigate life’s challenges and move you towards your personal goals.
The cornerstone of my approach is the therapeutic relationship, with an emphasis on the importance of experiencing empathy, unconditional positive regard, and authenticity.
I believe that fundamentally, you are the expert of your 'self'; you know what it truly feels like to be you, and so, I do not offer advice or tell you what to do. Instead, I will be listening to you intuitively to understand how you think, feel, and perceive the world around you, and work with you in identifying what may be preventing you from moving forwards.
I welcome you into a non-judgemental space, where you can feel free to express how you truly feel to someone impartial to your “outside reality”, and I offer a warm, compassionate, and validating approach, grounded in a deep understanding and appreciation for what makes us all human beings. This way of working can help you to take back a sense of control in your life, helps you to realise your true potential, gaining deeper self-awareness & self-acceptance.
Together we will find insight into what is holding you back and explore the deeper meanings behind these barriers.
Working creatively
I will sometimes offer to work creatively, which can help you to express difficult emotions that might be hard for you to articulate with words, and help you to gain deeper insight into your thoughts and feelings. I may also introduce theoretical models (sometimes referred to as 'psychological education') to develop your understanding of your experiences. I offer this way of working as an option and if you feel comfortable to do so.
You do not have to face your struggles alone. If you feel like now is the right time for you, let's explore the possibility of working together.
What next?
In the first instance after receiving your enquiry I aim to reply to you within 24-48 hours where I will offer a free 30-minute introductory phone call where you can ask any questions you might have and establish your needs and expectations of counselling and of me. From there, we can arrange our first session either face-to-face or online.
Training, qualifications & experience
- Volunteered as a Bereavement Counsellor.
- Worked in the mental health industry as a mental health recovery worker.
- I commit to regular CPD to enhance my safe and ethical practise.
- I am also registered with the ICO.
- Fully insured and hold an enhanced DBS certificate
- Level 2 Certificate in Counselling
- Level 3 Certificate in Counselling
- Level 4 Diploma in therapeutic Counselling
- Trauma informed practice
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
- Each session is 50 minutes, sometimes referred to as a ‘therapeutic hour’.
- Payment to be made 24 hours in advance of the session.
When I work
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Availability is dependent on a few factors such as available slots and the preferred location. I can let you know my availability during our initial telephone session.
Further information
I work from two locations; Gillingham and Sittingbourne. I also offer online sessions if this is more convenient for you.
**Please check your junk folder if you have not heard from me within 24-48 hours of your enquiry.**
