About me
About me and my service
I am Susan and my practice is called Rock Counselling. I am a fully qualified, BACP registered, Integrative Counsellor. Which means I am trained in a number of different modalities, including Psychodynamic, CBT, Person Centred and Pluralistic Counselling. This allows me to collaborate flexibly with you, with you choosing a way that works best for you
What is counselling?
Counselling is a form of talking therapy. It is not about fixing you or changing you beyond recognition. It is about helping you to live in a way that is fulfilling and true to who you are, as well as addressing aspects of your life that are not working well for you.
Counselling is about working together, providing a space for you to examine, explore and clarify where you are at present. To grow in self-awareness, not only about yourself, but also how you interact with others and in different environments. Finding a way forward in your life that has meaning and value to you. It will help you to address the ways that you think, feel and behave. It will assist you in identifying your own inner strengths and resources, helping you to find solutions to the issue/s that brought you to counselling. All whilst promoting healing both psychologically and emotionally.
Training, qualifications & experience
Qualifications
- Diploma Integrative - Counselling
- Higher National Certificate - Counselling
- BACP Certificate of Proficiency
- PDA - Addiction Counselling
Experience
I have several year’s experience of working within an addiction setting, both as a counsellor and as a group worker.
I came to counselling later in life, having spent my working life in finance. An extended period of living abroad led me to volunteer as a Samaritan. After several years of volunteering I decided to train as a counsellor, as I longed to collaborate consistently with clients, to develop strong therapeutic relationships, over both short and long term work.
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
£55.00 per session
When I work
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Monday - Thursday 7am till 8pm
Friday 7am till 6pm
Further information
I am based in Dumbarton, a 12 minute walk from Dumbarton East Train Station, with close links to local buses. I work from a Garden Room at home, which is accessed via the side entrance to the garden. There is private, off street parking available if you are driving.
I also offer online/telephone therapy sessions.
I understand that it can be a daunting prospect reaching out for support from someone you do not yet know. If you send me a message, I will typically respond within 24 hours. I offer a free 15-minute introduction, either by telephone or on zoom, at a time that works for us both. During the introduction, you will have the opportunity to share what led you to counselling and what you wish to achieve. I will provide insight into how we could work together and how the therapeutic approaches I use could assist you. You are then free to take your time to decide if you wish to proceed.
This should help you in deciding if working together is right for you. It is important that you find a counsellor that is a good fit for you and your circumstances.
If you do proceed, then during our first session together, after we have discussed and agreed our working contract, you will have the opportunity to share more fully, the issues you are experiencing. We will then formulate a plan and timeline for our work together, of your choosing.
