Vanessa Hackney

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Therapeutic Counsellor, Registered Member BACP
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

location_on Orpington, Kent, BR5
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

About me

Hello and welcome

I believe that there are times in our lives when we struggle to cope and make sense of life’s challenges, leading us to feel isolated, overwhelmed and/or ashamed. Talking to a trained, impartial third party, who has your best interests at heart, is sometimes easier than talking to family and friends and can be healing and nurturing. Counselling can help you arrive at a sense of clarity, making it easier to either change, accept or find ways of coping with your situation, promoting a sense of wellbeing. From a personal development perspective, counselling can facilitate increased self-awareness.

                                             

I believe that the root of effective therapy is based on the relationship between the client and counsellor and it is therefore, important that you choose a counsellor that you feel comfortable with, so I recommend that you talk to a few and trust your instinct. I have a strong interest in human resilience and wellbeing and it is a joy for me to work in partnership collaboratively with clients and help them to live more resourcefully and with better coping skills.

                                           

In today’s culture the importance of attending to our mental health, verses our physical health, whilst becoming more openly discussed, is still a relatively taboo subject.  I believe that it is a strength, not a weakness, to seek help when we need it and understand that it takes courage to enter counselling for the first time. We all have a need for positive regard, love, acceptance, respect and warmth from others, but unfortunately this is usually given conditionally making it difficult for us to feel valued for ourselves.  I would like to offer you the opportunity to talk to me openly in confidence, with the reassurance that I will work empathically with your best interests at heart so that you feel valued, heard and understood. My approach is warm, open and compassionate and my role is to create a safe, non-judgemental, reflective and accepting space to support and empower you.

You are in control of your sessions and I work with a blend of person-centred approach (focusing on you and the changes you want to make) and psychodynamic approach (valuing the relationship between past and present) according to the needs and perspectives of my clients.

My own personal development and wellbeing are important to me, indeed one of the ethical principles which I adhere to, enabling me to remain fit for practice, is self respect, which encompasses self care. It is not selfish or self indulgent to look after our wellbeing - it is an essential element of self respect.

Thank you for taking the time to read my profile.

With best wishes

Vanessa

TESTIMONIALS FROM FORMER CLIENTS

I just wanted to say a big thank you for your kind and caring help and support with my bereavement process, amongst other matters!!  I’m not sure where I’d be without our counselling sessions, but I’m certain I’m in a better place.’ - Sophie*

Thank you so much for helping me over these recent weeks.  Your support, kindness and encouragement have been invaluable.  I really appreciate it.  I think you’ve made a good choice in your chosen path.'  - Tom*

I’ve never opened up and talked to someone about how I was feeling before but I have found it so helpful, thank you.’ - Zenab*

Thank you for all your help over the last 12 weeks.  You are very good at what you do.’ - Claire*

*Names have been changed to protect client confidentiality

Training, qualifications & experience

I am a fully qualified integrative counsellor and registered member of the British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP) and am guided by the BACP ethical framework and accordingly receive professional supervision to ensure best practice and engage in regular continuing professional development.

  • CPCAB L4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
  • CPCAB L3 Counselling Studies
  • CPCAB L2 Counselling Skills

In addition to my private practice, I volunteered at St Christopher’s Hospice as a bereavement service volunteer working with adults and as a Candle Project volunteer working with parents’ and children’s grief for over 7 years. 

Member organisations

BACP
British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP)

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

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy
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.

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy

Areas of counselling I deal with

Fees

£50.00 per session

Concessions offered for

  • check_circle Low income
  • check_circle Students
  • check_circle Trainee counsellors

Additional information

Appointments cost £50 (50 minute session).

Free initial introductory telephone call.

I offer a small number of concessionary rate spaces at £40 - if you believe that you are eligible, please let me know when you first contact me.

My practice is based in Petts Wood with easy on street parking availability. Please telephone or email me to arrange an initial consultation. Thereafter, if you wish to proceed, we can agree a regular weekly time and your counselling session will be available to you for as long as it is helpful.

When I work

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Night

I work on weekdays, with limited evening and Saturday morning appointments.

Type of session

In person
Online
Phone

Types of client

Young adults (18-24)
Adults (25-64)
Older Adults (65+)
Employee Assistance Programme

Online platforms

Skype
Zoom
Whatsapp
Vanessa Hackney
Vanessa Hackney