Tessa Abbas
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Each one of us deserves a space to be heard, to explore what's troubling us, to reflect on inner strengths, and to take next steps. As a counsellor, this is what I offer clients each session. I am also trained in EMDR Therapy (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing), a highly effective and well-researched advanced trauma therapy, and am a Member of EMDR Association UK.
Please note that I work online via Zoom.
Whether you're interested in counselling or EMDR therapy, or a mixture of both, it can take a lot of courage to seek professional support. I meet each person with respect and acceptance and offer a confidential environment where we can explore what you are finding challenging, and how you would like life to be different. We work together to ease distress and develop tools that will help, deciding between us as we go what the next therapeutic steps are according to your individual needs.
When we experience traumatic events, the brain can become overwhelmed and, as a result, mightn't heal as it needs to. This could be following a sexual assault, childhood abuse, a sudden death, bullying in school, plus many others. It could have begun from a single traumatic episode or a number of life events. These traumas can create distressing symptoms such as flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety, uncomfortable physical sensations, depression, low self-esteem or distressing thoughts as the trauma remains 'stuck' in the brain. EMDR therapy encourages the brain to process traumatic memories and for you to be free of the distress that these difficult memories cause. This is done using eye movements or tapping and enables emotional distance from the traumatic memories. You can read more about EMDR here, and I welcome any enquiries or questions about how EMDR could work for you: www.emdrassociation.org.uk
I firmly believe in the body and mind's ability to heal given the right therapeutic environment, and this is dependent upon a good 'fit' between you and the counsellor you choose. Please feel free to book a free introductory call to get a sense of how I work, or go ahead and email/phone and we'll arrange an initial session.
If there is an area for which you would like therapy that isn't listed below, please email or call me and we can discuss how we could work together.
Training, qualifications & experience
I am an accredited, registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). I trained with an integrated approach and draw on humanistic, CBT and psychodynamic theories, recognising the power of the therapeutic relationship.
I am also a member of EMDR Association UK and am a trained EMDR Therapist.
I have worked within NHS, Cardiff University, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, New Pathways, as well as within private practice.
I have completed extensive training on rape and sexual abuse, as well as many other areas including Polyvagal theory, the Flash Technique, Internal Family Systems, and increasing inclusivity within therapy for all client groups. I continue to learn and train alongside my counselling practice. I'm skilled at brief-focused therapy as well as longer term work.
I have undertaken specific training on supporting neurodivergent clients and working in a neuro-affirming manner.
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
Therapies offered
Fees
£65.00 - £75.00
Additional information
£65 per 50 mins counselling session
£75 per 60 mins EMDR session
Bank transfer to be made within 24 hours of the session
When I work
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Please contact me if you have specific requests regarding availability.
