Stella Goddard
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
I work face-to-face and on Zoom office hours. I am at Nicholson House in Weybridge on Mondays and Wednesdays and at The Eaves in Godalming on Tuesdays and Fridays. My clients are adults aged 18 upwards.
I have extensive clinical experience over 16 years working with a range of presenting issues. Much of my work relates to trauma past or present and the impact of this. This can lead to depression, anxiety, grief, physical symptoms and much more.
I also work with other presenting issues including, but not limited to, relational difficulties, job loss, a change in life circumstances, managing uncertain circumstances including health difficulties, anger, stress, feeling stuck, bereavement, loss.
My client base is diverse and I honour the intrinsic worth and dignity of all my clients.
My training at Waverley Abbey College has equipped me to work with people of faith/no faith.
I offer a safe professional place to talk, be heard and reflect on what has happened or is happening to you. I pace this carefully with an awareness of the importance of showing you how to self-soothe. We do this through greater connection to and awareness of your internal and external self.
I encourage potential clients to give me a call so that we can talk briefly about your difficulties and see if we both feel that we would like to meet and potentially work together. If I am not able to help I will do my best to suggest colleagues who might be appropriate.
The focus of our collaborative work is your choice and I work in a sensitive, respectful way at your pace. If you want to work on unprocessed distress from your past which is affecting your present we can do that. On the other hand if your difficulty is about something which is happening in the present we can focus on that.
When you contact me by phone or e mail please will you let me know if you would prefer to come to my Godalming or Weybridge Practice or would like Zoom appointments. Do feel free to ask me any questions that will help you decide if I am the right professional to help you.
At our initial appointment I will listen to the reasons that you are considering counselling and what you would like to be different should we decide to work together. It can be helpful to consider what your best hopes from coming to counselling might be. There is no obligation to continue after the initial appointment.
We will have regular reviews to ensure that you are getting what you need from your counselling sessions. Counselling is an important commitment for both of us and the length of time could be weeks (6-12 weeks) or several months (or longer). I am experienced working both in a time limited way and medium to long term. We can discuss this at your initial appointment and during the course of your therapy. You do not need to continue for any longer than you feel is right for you. We meet weekly on the same day and time. I ask please for at least 24 hours notice of cancellation of an appointment if possible. I will also do my best to let you have at least 24 hours notice if I am unable to keep your appointment.
Training, qualifications & experience
BA (Hons) Counselling - Waverley Abbey College , Farnham, Surrey (validated by Roehampton University)
I qualified as a Counsellor with a Diploma of Christian Counselling in 2009. I then continued my training and was a awarded a degree in Counselling in 2012.
I have undertaken further specialist training to work with trauma. This is an area of particular interest for me. The impact of trauma can be complex and long-standing. Trauma affects not only our mental health but our physical health too as these are inextricably intertwined. Trauma leaves scars some internal, some external. However I believe that with professional support it is possible for post traumatic growth to happen.
Integrative - Psychodynamic Theory, Attachment Theory, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.
I also give space to reflect on faith and the impact of your beliefs on your sense of self, relationship with others and ways of making sense of the world.
- BACP Registered Accredited Counsellor
- ACC Registered Accredited Counsellor
- NCPS Registered Accredited Professional
- Bupa, Cigna and Aviva recognised Registered Accredited Counsellor
Some of the Workshops I have attended are:
Rape and Sexual Abuse
Attachment Theory - an Integrationist Approach
Ethical Issues arising from Integrating Christian Spirituality into Counselling Practice
Strengths-Based CBT for Vulnerable Clients & Chronic Issues
The Similarities and Differences between Counselling and Spiritual Accompaniment
Trauma, Dissociation and Recovery
Introduction to Working with Couples
Working with Relational Trauma
Working with Suicide and Self Harm
Couples in Conflict
Working with Couple Relationships affected by Asperger Syndrome
Working with clients addicted to internet pornography
Working with sexually compulsive clients
Mindfulness in Counselling
Working with Couples - Dealing with Affairs
Understanding and Working with Anxiously Attached Clients
Working with young people who self-harm (BACP On-line Delegate)
Working with identity and self-esteem in young people with eating disorders (BACP On-line Delegate)
Solution Focused Therapy
Working Successfully with Men in Therapy
Effective Anger Management Tools for Working with Men
Working with Couples - Meeting their Partner's Needs
- Therapeutic Writing Group - Writing, Coffee and Conversation
- Counselling Male Victims of Domestic Abuse
- Poetry Therapy Workshop - Writing for Resilience
- Dealing with Distress - Working with Self-harm and Suicide
- Loss: What does life mean for me now?
- Identity and Belonging: It's not so Black and White
- Children, Young People, Families - Working with Risk & Therapists Dilemmas
- Who am I? Poetry Therapy Workshop
- Let's talk about Addictions
- Working with Shame
- Mind or Body - What's in charge? (Under the skin:Body Modifications, Cosmetic Surgery, What triggers the Eating Disorder gun? Menopause)
- Mental Health and the Body: Treating Trauma
- What you need to know about Family Law
- The Story of Us: Relationships, Trauma and Adversarial Growth
- Treating Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Treating Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
- Working with Trauma in a Time of Trauma
- Enhancing Your Practice Using Transactional Analysis
- Working with Trauma that has become stuck
- Covid-19 and Me - Disorientation-Reorientation
- Covid-19 and My Practice - Disorientation-Reorientation
My degree Dissertation considered the Literature on Absent Fathers - the possible impact of this on children and young adults.' 'Absence' can take many forms and can happen for a variety of reasons.
The early developmental years are crucial in forming children's initial sense of self, others and the world. If they have not been securely attached to their mother, father or main caregiver this can impact how they relate to other people as they grow up. In counselling, it is possible for insecure attachment styles to gradually become more secure.
As part of my Continuing Professional Development, I have attended a number of workshops on Attachment and the impact on people physically, emotionally and spiritually of dysfunctional relationships. People need to feel soothed and comforted when they are hurting.
I work with the wounded Inner Child to bring healing. This may involve working creatively using writing, drawings or small objects such as pebbles.We would discuss what would work best for you.
Member organisations
school Registered / Accredited
Being registered/accredited with a professional body means an individual must have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by their member organisation.
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.
The Association of Christians in Counselling and Linked Professions (ACC) is a Christian professional membership organisation for those involved in counselling/psychotherapy and linked professions, i.e. pastoral care, coaching and spiritual direction, in the UK. The organisation is made up of various different membership categories, including Counsellor and Accredited, and requires all members working as counsellors to undertake Continuous Professional Development on a regular basis.
The National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society This Not For Profit association of counsellors and psychotherapists aim to support the counselling profession, members and training organisations. In 2013 the NCS register was accredited by the Professional Standards Authority under the Accredited Voluntary Register Scheme. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
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.
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.
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
Other areas of counselling I deal with
Loss, Life transitions, Boarding School Survivors, Feeling low, Feeling unmotivated, Procrastination, Feeling Stuck, Feeling Disempowered, Feeling Lost
Fees
£70.00 per session
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
Individuals: £70 - 50 minutes
Couples: £85 - 1 hour
Payment is due on the day of your appointment before your session time please by Bank Transfer.
I encourage potential clients to call me so that we can have a brief conversation to see how best I may help you. There is no charge for this.
When I work
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Weybridge: Monday 9 a.m.- 2 p.m. Wednesday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Godalming: Tuesday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday 1 p.m.- 5 p.m.
I don't work evenings or weekends.
Further information
My training at Waverley Abbey College (validated by Roehampton University) included extensive personal and professional learning and development over 4 years. This has given me a desire to continue to learn and I attend workshops and read professional literature to increase my knowledge, understanding and skill-set. Meeting with colleagues regularly is also an important aspect of my continuing professional development. In addition, I see my Clinical Supervisor each month in line with the requirements of BACP, ACC and NCPS
I am also a Bupa, Aviva and Cigna Recognised Counsellor. If you are insured with these companies you will need to follow their protocol and then contact me with either a pre-authorisation number (Bupa) or policy number (Aviva and Cigna). It would also be helpful to know how many sessions have been approved.
I am experienced in working with student Counsellors. I have worked with counselling students from Roehampton University, Waverley Abbey College, London School of Theology and Guildford College.
My training at Waverley Abbey College has equipped me to work with matters of faith should my clients wish to do so.
Clients come to me through my website, professional directories, (BACP, ACC, NCPS, Counselling Directory, Waverley Abbey College, Bupa, Aviva, Cigna) organisations, GP's, Churches, colleagues, current and former clients.
