Tim Branson CBT EMDR BSc Counselling MSc MBACP (Snr Accred). Covid friendly!!
About me
Covid 19 Alert! Currently all sessions are held by telephone or video (FaceTime, WattsApp etc) until lockdown reduces, when all robust safety measures will be in place.
GDPR PRIVACY NOTICE: Please be aware that should you contact me by email and become a client, I keep your e mails electronically for the duration of our relationship, whereupon they are deleted. I would keep them longer if our sessions have determined issues of risk or crime. Sorry to be one of these informed consent - opt in types, but I'll assume you're OK with this if you e-mail me! Please ask if you want more information. Thank you!!
Hello, and thanks for taking time to look at my details. Hopefully you will find a fair bit of general information below, not only about how I work, but what you might need to know before choosing a counsellor to share your concerns with.
I am an NHS experienced Psychological Therapist / Specialist Counsellor / Clinical Supervisor and for ten years worked for the Acute Mental Health Team. I now have a private therapy and Supervision practice in Southsea and Ryde, Isle of Wight.
I have great and varied practice experience and have endeavoured to become as qualified and well practised as I possibly can as I have an extremely strong ethic toward giving my patients and clients my very best practice, whatever their concerns might be.
So if you are thinking of having counselling for issues like:
- Relationship Issues
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
- Family Issues
- Panic
- Phobias
then don't hesitate to call to discuss what it is that is troubling you, and how you might be able to move forward.
So what kinds of therapy are there... what happens?
Counselling helps you to look at problems you are facing now. You might focus on a specific problem, process, decision or crisis for example. I'll help you talk about the difficult feelings you have about yourself and your situation, and identify things that help, and facilitate change. I ask questions that other people don't and I'll help you interpret the answers effectively.
Whilst many counsellors like to work in their own way, actually different approaches suit different people and/or issues in different ways. That is why it is important to choose a therapist who can work in a way tailored to your precise needs. Because of this an initial ‘assessment’ session is really important. I am happy for you to ‘test drive’ me first - before committing to sessions!
It shouldn’t be difficult to work out what sort of therapy you are being offered. Ask what experience potential counsellors have with your type of issue. Look for Accreditation and long years of training! Most important to your therapy is the strength of the relationship you have with the counsellor. You should feel safe, mutual trust, equal, empowered and not judged, patronised or feel like you are being told what to do.
A couple of different ways counsellors work:
You may have heard about Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. CBT therapists aim to help people change patterns of thinking or behaviour that are causing problems. Changing how you think and behave also changes how you feel. It is a structured approach – you agree goals for treatment with your therapist and try things out between sessions.
EMDR. If you are experiencing trauma, for example like an attack, domestic violence, accident - in it or witnessed it, war zone stuff, traumatic near miss, fire, flood, crash etc., EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) can help. Google it!
Psychodynamic Therapy explores your experiences and identifies connections between present feelings and actions and past events. We might make more sense of the ‘cause and effect-ness’ of your past on your present. I integrate these models and more.
I do not work Analytically (where the therapist doesn’t talk much).
Unless working with Couples or Families, sessions are usually one-to-one and last for 50 minutes.
I do not work with addiction, sorry, though am happy to recommend a determined and professional clinician with many years of experience in treating substance misuse. Likewise with Family and Couple therapy.
I don’t offer ‘Hypnosis’ either.
What sort of thing brings people to counselling?
I have encountered all of these presenting issues and client groups and counselling is an evidence based intervention with proven 'success' in many instances:
Depression Work Stress Negative Thinking Uncertainty PTSD Worry Relationship issues
Phobias Anxiety LGBT issues Couples Family difficulties Fear Loss Low Confidence Self Esteem Sexual Problems Panic disorder Guilt Miscarriage Social Phobia Workplace Bullying Anger Mental Health Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Obsessive Compulsive Disorder OCD Sexuality Health Anxiety PAIN Illness Chronic Diagnoses (Cancer, Diabetes) Relationships Breakdown Affairs Betrayals Divorce Grief Bereavement Rape Abuse (Emotional, Physical, Sexual) Obsessions Debt Stress Adults Students Young People Problems Redundancy Unhappiness Cultural issues Sadness Confusion Self Harm Suicidal thoughts Trauma Attack Flashbacks Pregnancy Termination Violence Domestic Violence Personality Disorder Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse Pet loss Men's issues Ageing RAGE Crying Personal Development Terminal Illness Unwanted thoughts Love Disgust Isolation Meaninglessness Groundlessness Death
My specialisms are Anxiety, Depression, OCD and 'difficult' cases, and working with most presenting issues.
I am an associate lecturer in counselling at a local university and facilitate men’s groups for men affected by cancer, and also supervise all level of counselling work including counsellors working in private practice, the NHS, third sector voluntary and GP referred organisations both on the mainland and the Island, Primary Care therapists, NHS Drug & Alcohol counsellors, Psychologists and Community Psychiatric Nurses.
Training, qualifications & experience
Until 2015 working in the NHS as a Psychological Therapist / Specialist Counsellor and Clinical Supervisor in an Acute Mental Health setting, I am a:
- BACP Senior Accredited member (Supervisor), holding a
- Masters degree in Counselling Supervision
- BSc (Hons) degree in Integrative Counselling
- BSc (Hons) degree in Psychosocial Interventions for Psychosis
- Post Graduate Diploma in CBT Advanced level
- I am further registered with the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy (BABCP),
- the Universities Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (UPCA Clinical Member) The UPCA is a member of the
- UKCP (UK Council for Psychotherapy), and I am
- Accredited with the National Counselling Society (NCS Accred).
- I am also UKRCP registered which means my training has also met the standards required to gain entry onto the BACP Accredited Register (Registration No: 045332). This Register is approved by the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care and provides assurance to clients that the counsellor offers good quality care. This is the Counselling equivalent to being registered with the Health Professions Council (HPC).
These accreditations and professional registrations mean that my practice is deemed to meet the standard of competent, ethical and independent practitioners (BACP, 2014).
I have long experience of working with NHS patients at all levels (and supervising other NHS clinicians), working in Private Practice at all levels (Counselling and Supervision), working for voluntary agencies (Counselling and Supervision), Employee Assistance Programmes, Insurance Companies etc., and can confidently assure you that whatever it is that brings you to counselling, I will be as well equipped as any appropriately placed counsellor to help you consider your issues. I am fully insured to practice.
I also have long experience of offering group therapy, training other therapists on many counselling and therapy related issues (for example: CBT, OCD, Working with complexity, Mental health Assessment - when to refer, Counselling with Interpreters etc.) and facilitate the Doctors Reflective CBD group on the Isle of Wight for GPs, Consultant's SHOs and trainee Psychiatrists.
Gosh, I sound such a geek! There's more!
I am a fully qualified EMDR practitioner and if you are unsure what EMDR is, and you are suffering from any kind of trauma related problems (hyper-vigilance, flashbacks, nightmares, crying etc.) then do google it. It is an evidence based intervention ideally equipped to deal with trauma and post trauma.
I love to integrate CBT into how I work, and recognising the value of helpful tools, I often customise or design disorder specific help sheets with, and for my clients, that help them understand their problems better, and what maintains them. Some of these have been published on the now mainstream CBT website of downloadable tools for CBT therapists: www.get.gg.co.uk; one dealing with anxiety tolerance and the other, OCD repetitive symptoms. I'm sure there will be one or two more out soon. I recommend the website to you for many helpful concepts. It is free to check out and use.
One of my specialist areas (real geek mode) is dealing with OCD. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. If you have it - or think you do and are struggling with obsessive thoughts and compulsions to repeat meaningless ritualised activities like checking or cleaning - or experiencing any kind of distressing unwanted thoughts (probably really disgusting, terrifying or revolting in nature) then there is a good chance that you have OCD, and hence ideal for treatment. (Most people think OCD is about cleaning and germs, and only sometimes is) so if this is you or you are getting any distressing unwanted thoughts or compulsions to repeat senseless actions - call me! I can help you make sense of it very quickly, and help you overcome your anxiety.
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.
National Counselling Society
The National Counselling 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
Accredited Register Scheme
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
Therapy for other therapists and counsellors! Counsellor self development, personal therapy. (Offering the same robust confidentiality of course that our clients receive, and members of our profession should also rely on).
Men's issues.
Unwanted upsetting intrusive thoughts that form part of the Anxiety Disorder OCD (though many people experiencing them do not realise this) usually falling into the following categories: disgusting thoughts, abusive thoughts, violent thoughts, thoughts of hurting or killing others - thoughts of hurting or killing loved ones, any horrific, or distressing thoughts.
I also offer counselling supervision. Please see my supervision profile.
Fees
I have maintained the cost of sessions for several years without increase but sadly have to now make a small increase hence therapy is £60 per hour for new private clients.
I allow a space for one client at any one time to see me at reduced fees if appropriate. Call to see.
If we meet and you can get a similar service elsewhere free then I will refer you to it if required. If one of us feels that therapy with me would not feel quite right then there is of course no commitment to any further sessions and I will happily refer you to a suitable colleague or specialism.
I often write onward referrals and GP or Consultant letters, and unless a great deal of work is involved (such as in report writing or formal assessment) I do not make further charge.
Like all other therapists however, I do charge for missed sessions, but endeavour to rearrange wherever possible.
I do not offer Skype therapy as I feel that something can be lost in such an interaction, and would only offer a phone session as a last resort say if you were unable to attend a cancelled session in person, rather than you lose the session fee.
Further information
How do you choose a therapist?
Well we all have a lot of qualifications and letters after our names so you'd be well advised to find one with an actual degree in counselling or psychotherapy; be accredited to one of the main credible professional organisations and have years of experience. Ask if they've completed an accredited University course that included their own personal therapy as this can make a vital difference to your therapy. I'm guessing you wouldn't want a therapist who had never experienced having therapy themselves? Or a dentist who had never had a filling?
Some counsellors train in one core model and believe that this will work for everyone.
Others have experience and training in many and can tailor their therapeutic interventions to suit not only the person, but the problem itself.
Be advised, the NHS National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommend certain evidence based therapies for certain problems or disorders and do not recommend others. You may be well advised to check out what you're worried about and see what approach they advise. They have a website www.nice.org.uk
Meanwhile... POSSIBLE QUESTIONS TO ASK WHEN YOU ARE INTERROGATING A POTENTIAL THERAPIST! (Warning - if they are not sure about their answers, try someone else!)
- What kind of therapy do you offer and what is it trying to achieve?
- Have you had your own personal therapy as part of your training? (You're looking for a 'yes' here!)
- How long are sessions and how often are they held?
- How long might therapy last for and how does it end - is there a set number with regular reviews?
- How long before I should expect to feel some benefit from therapy?
- Can I contact you between sessions if I need to?
- What training have you had, and how many years have you been practising?
- What professional organisations are you accredited with?
- Have you had experience of working with people with similar problems to mine?
- Is therapy confidential and when might confidentiality be broken?
- Might you refer me to, or contact other health professionals involved in my care - and is this something you are experienced in? Can you discuss my medication needs for example?
- How much do I pay per session, and is there a missed session fee?
- Do you work from home or from a professional office or rooms?
- Do you keep notes about me and are they kept confidentially? What will happen to them if you drop dead!? How will I know?
- What if we don't get on?
That said, research shows that generally, the most important influencing factor linked to therapeutic 'success' is the strength of the relationship you have with him or her. So choose someone you like!
If at any time you experience any difficulty with any therapist, if it cannot be resolved once you have discussed it with them, I would encourage you to contact their registering body for information and support. The BACP being my primary registration, at www.bacp.co.uk
If at any time you feel pressured into doing something you don't want to by your therapist, the chances are it is not right. Your therapist should be very much 'on your team' and as such NEVER tell you off or be judgemental about what you tell them! If they do, contact their professional body for advice.
If you have a long standing problem it is not automatically the case that it will take ages to address - but beware the 'magic' or 'quick fix' for any upset as it is unlikely to be an effective intervention. (EMDR is sometimes an exception to this as it can work really quickly on simple trauma).
