Victoria Gale
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Sometimes it’s difficult to admit we are struggling, show our vulnerability and ask for help. But when we get ‘stuck’ and can’t see a way out, it can be helpful to have someone impartial and non-judgemental to talk things through with, to help us make sense of the challenges we are facing in life.
Life is an inevitably difficult process to manage as it is always dynamic and changing. As human beings and social creatures, we navigate multiple relationships, search for meaning and purpose in our lives, balance responsibility with choice and freedom, and endure physical and emotional pain, loss and loneliness.
I am professionally trained to listen empathically and without judgement. I can provide a private and confidential space in which you can tell your story and be yourself. I aim to establish a kind, engaged and attuned therapeutic relationship where your needs and preferences are at the heart of our work together. With my support, you can explore your concerns and feelings in order to understand them better. We can work towards removing the barriers in your way, allowing you to be the best version of yourself; to be empowered to find a path towards healing, change, insight or self-fulfilment.
Training, qualifications & experience
I completed my professional counselling training at City Lit in London, where I gained a Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling (Integrative Pathway).
I have recently worked in voluntary placements at EASE Wellbeing in Clapham and at ACT in Bromley (formerly Bromley Community Counselling Service). In private practice, I work both in person from my counselling room in SE22 and at home, on Zoom.
My professional training and experience has been an integration of humanistic approaches (Person-Centred and Existential Counselling) with Psychodynamic approaches. I also have experience of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and can work with you in this way, if you so wish.
I work integratively as I believe no single approach holds all the truth and suits every unique individual. I see the commonalities among the models and I draw upon and integrate their concepts and theories depending on the unique needs, circumstances and preferences of each client. In any case, it is now widely accepted that the relationship between counsellor and client (and not the model or approach) is the most important factor in the success of therapy. My priority is therefore to establish a therapeutic relationship with you that is safe, trusting, collaborative and compassionate, yet challenging. There will be regular opportunities for us to discuss how the counselling is going and whether you are finding it helpful.
I am a registered member of The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) which demonstrates that I meet high standards of proficiency, professionalism and ethical practice. You can find me on the BACP register online by searching for ‘Victoria Gale’ or my registration number 408604
Member organisations
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
Photos & videos
Fees
£65.00 per session
Additional information
All sessions, including the initial online assessment, last 50 minutes and are priced at £65. Our appointments will occur weekly on the same day, at the same time and in the same location (or on Zoom).
When I work
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Online sessions - Monday to Wednesday.
Face-to-face sessions (near Dulwich Library, SE22) - Wednesday.
I have availability online on Mondays and Tuesdays (Zoom).
Further information
I have worked with many clients who have faced prejudice, discrimination and hatred, just because of who they are. I am committed to a proactive stance against social injustice by challenging the status quo and advocating for those without power or voice. I welcome difference from me in all its forms.
I believe in addressing your concerns in as short a time as necessary. I therefore offer counselling short-term (usually 6 or 12 weeks), medium-term (6 months) or long-term (1 year). We will discuss these options at the beginning and agree on the timeframe together, taking into account your needs, circumstances and preferences.
You can change your mind about the length of the counselling, or terminate the counselling, at any time.
Our first session is a confidential online assessment, where we discuss your concerns, what you want from counselling and whether I might be able to help you. If I feel there are other services that could help you more, I will discuss these options with you.
