The Old Surgery Counselling & Therapy
About us
The Old Surgery is a growing counselling and psychotherapy practice based on two sites in central Church Square, Leighton Buzzard. Since 2006 we have been offering a caring, confidential and professional service helping people with relationship problems, anxiety, bereavement, depression, and drug and alcohol problems amongst other issues.
Our Associate counsellors are all Registered and fully qualified in counselling, and members of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. Student counsellors are qualified to at least Level 3, under professional supervision and members of BACP. All counsellors are fully insured.
As well as working with individuals and couples, we provide counselling, therapy and supervision on behalf of several organisations including Central Bedfordshire Social Services, RAPT and Victim Support. We get regular referrals from GPs and Crombie House, and provide a low cost service when needed.
BACP Registered Counsellor Emma Alabaster holds a Degree in Counselling from the University of Greenwich (Level 6) Emma has worked with organisations including Victim Support, Brook, Mind, Bedford Open Door, Youth Information Service and in many schools across Bucks and Beds. Her private practice is based at the Old Surgery and also in Stony Stratford, and her session rate is £40, low cost spaces available.
BACP Registered Counsellor Sonia George holds a CPCAB Level 4 Diploma in Counselling and is presently studying for Level 5 Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling. As well as working at the Old Surgery, Sonia is also a Counsellor with BLMK Mind. Sonia has daytime, evening and weekend appointments. Her session rate is £40, low cost spaces available.
BACP Accredited Counsellor Jean Harding holds a Diploma in Gestalt Counselling. Jean has more than fifteen years experience including EAPs, based in Leighton Buzzard and Stony Stratford. Jean is a highly experienced Senior Counsellor and her session rate is £50 for individuals, £60 for couples.
BACP Accredited Counsellor/ Psychotherapist Kate Hardy has a BA in Counselling from the University of Middlesex, a Postgraduate Diploma in Supervision (Level 7) from the Sherwood Psychotherapy Institute and is in advanced clinical training In Transactional Analysis at the Berne Institute. Kate is also a lecturer and tutor on the Open University/ CPCAB Foundation Degree in Counselling. Kate is a Senior Counsellor with over fifteen years’ experience, and her session rate is £50 for individuals, £60 for couples.
BACP Registered Counsellor Dawn Hodge has an Edxcel Level 5 Advanced Diploma in Counselling from Bedford College. Dawn has been practicing since 2013, within a sexual health clinic and schools. She works as a School Counsellor as well as at the Old Surgery. Dawn is a Registered Counsellor and her session rate is £40 for individuals, £50 for couples.
BACP Registered Counsellor Jackie Howell holds a Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling and also holds a Diploma as a Fusion Therapeutic Life Coach. She has undertaken Couples counselling training at Counselling Works and is presently undertaking Level 6 training as a Supervisor. Jackie is an experienced tutor, key worker and work skills coordinator with children and young adults. Her session rate is £40, £50 for couples
UKCP Registered Psychotherapist Janet Joosten holds Post Graduate diplomas in Existential Psychotherapy and Integrative Counselling from Regents College, and a Postgraduate Diploma in CBT. Janet is highly experienced and her rate is £50.
BACP Registered Counsellor Simonetta Juniper holds a BSc (hons) in Psychology and a CPCAB Level 4 in Counselling. Simonetta has been practising since 2014 and has a background in social care. Simonetta has daytime and evening appointments and her session rate is £40.
Student Counsellor Wes Kapon holds a Level 3 Certificate in Counselling from CPPD Counselling School and is studying for a Diploma with CPPD. His session rate is £30. Wes has daytime and evening appointments and his rate is £30.
BACP Registered Counsellor Judy Knight qualified in 2014 with a degree-equivalent Diploma in Psychotherapy and Counselling from Temenos in Sheffield. She has been involved in the field of therapy and personal growth for 25 years. She has daytime appointments on a Tuesday and a Wednesday, and her session rate is £45.
BACP Accredited and EMDR Counsellor Agata Turney has a level 5 Diploma in Person Centred Counselling and qualified in 2015. As well as working at the Old Surgery, Agata is a counsellor with BLMK Mind. She has attended additional training on CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) and is able to utilise this in her practice. Agata’s session rate is £45, daytime and evening appointments availalble.
Training, qualifications & experience
Kate Hardy:
- Advanced Clinical Training in TA Psychotherapy (Ongoing), Level 7
- Foundation Certificate in Transactional Analysis Psychotherapy, Berne Institute (2017), Level 6
- Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Supervision, Sherwood Psychotherapy Training Institute 2016, Level 7
- BA Counselling University of Middlesex (first class) 2006, Level 6
- MA Health Services Studies University of Leeds 1986
- Experience of NHS, EAPs
BACP Registered Counsellor Emma Alabaster holds a Degree in Counselling from the University of Greenwich (Level 6) Emma has worked with organisations including Victim Support, Brook, Mind, Bedford Open Door, Youth Information Service and in many schools across Bucks and Beds. Her private practice is based at the Old Surgery and also in Stony Stratford, and her session rate is £40, low cost spaces available.
Emma Alabaster:
- BA(hons) Counselling University of Greenwich (2017), Level 7
Foundation Certificate in Transactional Analysis Psychotherapy, Berne Institute (2017), - Jean Harding:
- Gestalt Centre diploma in counselling
- Metanoia certificate in couples counselling
- Further training in CBT
- Experience of EAPs
Dawn Hodge:
- Level 5 Advanced Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling, Bedford College, 2014
- Experience of working with adolescents and in sexual health
Simonetta Juniper
- BSc (hons) Psychology, Open University
- Level 4 Diploma in Counselling, Aylesbury College
Sonia George
- Level 4 CPCAB Diploma in Pastoral Care and Counselling
- Level 5 Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling (Ongoing)
Member organisations *
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.
British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy
BACP is one of the UK’s largest professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy. Therapists registered with the Association fall into a number of different membership categories such as Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP and Registered Member MBACP (Accred), each standing for different levels of training and experience. MBACP (Accred) and MBACP (Snr Accred) members have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by the Association.
Registered members can be found on the BACP Register, which was the first register to achieve Accredited Voluntary Register status issued by the Professional Standards Authority. Individual Members will have completed an appropriate counselling and/or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but will not appear on the BACP Register until they've progressed to Registered Member MBACP status.
All members are bound by a Code of Ethics & Practice and a Complaints Procedure. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
Areas of counselling we deal with
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
Kate Hardy:
Individuals: £50 per hour
Couples: £55 for one hour, £55 for 1.5 hours
Supervision: £50 per hour, student rate on request
Dawn Hodge
Individuals: £40 per hour
Couples: £45 for one hour, £55 for 1.5 hours
Simonetta Juniper:
Individuals: £40 per hour
Emma Alabaster:
Individuals: £45 per hour
Judy Knight:
Individuals: £45 per hour
Agata Turney:
Individuals: £45 per hour, EMDR £50
Sonia George:
Individuals: £40 per hour
We also operate a low cost scheme offering a limited number of places based on circumstances. If this is something you might need in order to access counselling, please talk to Kate about it on 07979 654 124.
Further information
Training Placements:
We are occasionally able to offer a small number of training placements at the Old Surgery. Please call 07979 654124 for details.
