About me
Hello and welcome to my page.
We can experience feelings of anxiety, depression, low self esteem, low self confidence, shame and anger or find ourselves struggling with family or relationship problems. Sometimes we can just feel stuck, unable to make sense of what we are feeling, quite often what we are experiencing is a result of unresolved traumas.
It is my belief that we have all experienced trauma in our lives whether it's been trauma with a Little 't'or trauma with a Big 'T
Little 't' trauma feels personal, they are ego threatening and often cause significant feelings of helplessness. They are cumulative and an accumulation of small events over time can cause significant mental health issues that we frequently overlook because they are common experiences, people often blame themselves for being "too sensitive" or "dramatic", or overreacting.
Some examples Of Little 't' traumas are:
Interpersonal Conflicts: Ongoing relationship conflicts, divorce, separation or infidelity.
Social Distress: Bullying, social humiliation, rejection by friends, or being left out.
Loss and Emotional Neglect: The death of a beloved pet, emotional neglect or indifference, and abandonment.
Career & Financial Stress: Losing a job, financial instability, or conflict with a colleague or boss.
Life Changes and Transitions: Moving to a new location, having a child, or children leaving home.
Minor Accidental Events: Minor Accidents or medical procedures that still cause intense fear or helplessness.
Big 'T' Traumas are often sudden, intense and involve feelings of extreme helplessness and lack of control.
Some examples of Big 'T' traumas are:
- Violent Crime and Abuse: Sexual assault, physical assault, domestic violence or armed robbery.
- Sudden Traumatic Loss: Sudden death of a loved one or witnessing a violent death.
- Serious Accidents: Major car crashes, plane crashes, or life threatening injuries.
- Life Threatening Illness/Medical Events: Receiving a terminal diagnosis or severe health crisis.
- War and Combat: Exposure to combat, war torn areas, or terrorism.
- Kidnapping or Captivity: Being held against one's will.
In my lifetime I have experienced Big 'T' and Little 't' traumas ranging from narrowly surviving a multiple rocket attack whilst on active service in the RAF to being bullied at school and then later as an adult at work for my sexuality. Therapy helped me come to terms with the rejection, frustration, shame, low self esteem and low self worth those experiences left me with and enabled me to grow into the strong confident person I am today.
I believe most of the struggles we experience with our mental health whether trauma related or not, are created in relationship with others therefore, to heal we need to experience a healthy relationship (therapy) where we can feel heard, valued and understood helping us to heal and grow into our full potential.
With over 12 yrs experience and a wealth of tools and strategies to share, I will help you discover and access your inner strengths and resources to gain a more positive outlook on life, heal from the psychological pain you may feel and gain a sense of release from the struggles weighing you down.
For therapy to be a positive and successful experience, I believe the quality of the therapeutic relationship is key. Your therapy will be tailor made to suit your needs and will focus on what is important for you, working at a comfortable pace set by you to ensure you don't feel overwhelmed.
Our work will be on a one to one basis in a safe, comfortable space where you can feel heard, valued and understood, perhaps for the first time in your life.
I provide long and short term therapy.
I offer a free no obligation 20 minute introductory telephone consultation for you to see whether you think we may be a good fit for each other and discuss your therapeutic needs. This can take place over the phone or online - please feel free to email me to arrange.
Contact me on 07827326035 or email me at steven@beunderstood.co.uk to book an appointment or visit my website and fill out the easy to use contact form there.
You can visit my website at www.beunderstood.co.uk where you will find more information about counselling and how I work along with an easy to use contact form.
If you call and I am unable to take your call please leave a clear message with your name and contact telephone number and I will call you back as soon as I am able.
Training, qualifications & experience
Bsc(Hons) Humanistic Integrative Counselling
Level 3 Counselling Studies CPCAB
Level 2 Counselling Skills CPCAB
Level 2 Mental Health Awareness Ascentis
I have a registered Enhanced DBS Certificate.
As a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) I adhere to their ethical guidelines for safe practice, attend regular supervision and Continuous Professional Development (CPD) workshops to keep up to date with the latest research and developments within Counselling and Psychotherapy to support my work.
My clinical experience comes from working as a Counsellor within:
- A Category C Prison
- Peterborough Rape Crisis Care Group (PRCCG)
- Peterborough Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC)
- Young Peoples Counselling Service (YPCS)
- Leicester college
- Private Practice
I am currently studying a level 7 certificate in working with trauma and my recent CPD events have included attending a lecture with Bessel Van Der Kolk Author of "The Body Keeps The Score" (Paris lecture) I also attended a four day seminar at Oxford University - Transform Trauma - attending lectures by Dan Seigel, Esther Perel, Richard Schwartz, Ed Tronik, Ruby Wax and Bessel Van Der Kolk.
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.
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
Other areas of counselling I deal with
I am passionate about mens mental health and raising awareness to help break the stigma that men experience in connection with Mental Health. This is reflected in some of my posts on Instagram and Facebook, please have a look and like and share my pages, it would be great to see you.
Be Understood Counselling is an inclusive safe practice. All are welcome.
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£50.00 per session
Free initial telephone session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
My fees will be reviewed annually at the end of each financial year, any increase will be implemented at the beginning of the new financial year, on the 5th April.
When I work
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Opening times 8.30am-8pm Monday to Friday.
