Valerie Gage
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Hello 👋🏾
I’m Valerie, a BACP Accredited Counsellor & Psychotherapist, and Trauma Therapist. I currently offer online sessions to individuals, couples and groups.
My practice is based on humanistic principles, which means that our work will focus on you – your thoughts, your feelings, your behaviours and how you experience the world.
How Are You?
It can be hard to acknowledge that you are not feeling okay, and even harder pretending that you are. If you’re feeling sad, lost, or stuck, if low self-esteem is causing you to make poor choices and decisions, if you’re experiencing family issues, or feel unhappy in your relationship/marriage, if you're struggling with being a new parent, if you're recently separated, or you feel depressed, numb or detached after experiencing something traumatic; I may be able to help.
Getting Started
I know how hard it is to take that first step but if anything here resonates with you and you want to have a chat, please get in touch by phone or email. We can arrange an initial session where you can gently explore your needs, you can ask any questions that you may have and we can get a sense of whether it feels right for us to work together.
If after our chat you decide that working with me feels right for you, we can make arrangements for our regular sessions. We can arrange to have sessions for a limited period of time and work with a specific focus in mind, or we could leave it open-ended to explore at greater depth. You can decide which feels right for you.
Sessions are typically offered weekly. Please let me know during our consultation whether you have any alternative or additional needs.
My Approach
My approach is empathic, non-judgemental and non-directive, which allows us to explore whatever feels important to you, at a pace that feels right for you. This has proven to help clients to develop a sense of safety which can create a space for deep reflection and provides an opportunity to heighten self-awareness; the catalyst for change and personal growth to occur. I have a naturally warm and compassionate presence which enables me to offer you a comfortable, reflective and confidential space in which we can work together to develop a trusting relationship where you can feel heard, understood and accepted as you are.
Training, qualifications & experience
Training & Experience
I studied at The City Literary Institute (CityLit) where I undertook years of experiential training. This enabled me to get in touch with my difficult experiences, and begin the process of self-discovery and healing, so that I could learn to safely hold you as we work together through whatever experiences feel most pressing to you.
I am currently extending my training by undertaking a qualification in Trauma Therapy at the NAOS Institute and Somatic Trauma Therapy with Babette Rothschild.
I have worked in a variety of settings and have gained experience of working safely with anxiety/generalised anxiety disorder, depression and their various manifestations, sexual abuse, relationship issues, domestic abuse, rape, sexual assault, trauma, post-traumatic stress, pregnancy loss, sudden infant death (SIDS) and self-injury. I also have 20 years personal experience of working with autism.
Alongside my private practice, I counsel medical students in higher education.
Qualifications
- PG Dip. in Trauma Therapy (in training)
- Certificate in Somatic Trauma Therapy
- Certificate in Person-Centred Supervision
- Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
- BSc (Hons) Psychology
Ready to Get in Touch?
Why not call me today to discuss your needs? I am ready to welcome you!
Member organisations
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
Fees
£100.00 - £130.00
Free initial telephone session
Concessions offered for
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
I currently practice online only. Please see my fee schedule below:
Weekday Private Practice: £100 for a 50 minute session
Organisational and Media Fee: Please get in touch to discuss my rates
Couples and Families: £130 for a 60 minute session
Supervision: £70.00 per hour
When I work
Please get in touch to discuss your availability
