Victoria Pollard
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Whatever is troubling you, I am here to listen. My aim is to support you in talking through your concerns and emotions so that you can make better sense of your own thoughts and feelings. By doing so I hope to help you find a positive way forward.
You’ll hear counsellors mention ‘a safe space’ - that’s really about the relationship that we build together, and how it differs from talking to a friend or family member who may have their own feelings and judgements around the issues that are concerning you. I offer such a place, without anyones’ thoughts but your own to consider, where you are better able to explore the personal impacts of your emotions on your daily life.
Having experienced both seats in the counselling room, I understand first hand the importance of feeling trust and safety within the relationship. Having the opportunity to talk through my own issues not only helped me to better understand myself but also led me here, offering the same service to others.
I have experience of working with long and short term clients, dealing with issues ranging from stress at work and bullying to relationship/family concerns and loss. With a background in HR I understand the wide variety of stresses that may arise within the working world. A further particular area of interest and experience for me is infertility and pregnancy loss.
Training, qualifications & experience
With a background in HR, I made a decision a number of years ago to step away from the corporate world. Instead working creatively with textiles and ceramics before gaining a Post Graduate Diploma in Person-Centred Counselling and Psychotherapy, through the University of Aberdeen/Persona Training and Development. Prior to that I attended the University of Strathclyde to undertake the COSCA Certificate in Counselling.
I have also successfully completed a Certificate in Couples Counselling through the International Society of Professional Counsellors
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
£50.00 - £70.00
Free initial online session
Additional information
My standard fee for individuals is £50 for each 50 minute session. For couples my fee per 50 minute session is £70.
When I work
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Fortnightly sessions are available, however I prefer to see couples weekly for 4-6 sessions prior to agreeing to meeting fortnightly.
Further information
Choosing a counsellor to work with can be daunting, so I offer an initial 30 minute online consultation free of charge, so that we can both get to know a little more about each other before committing to working together. To arrange a session simply get in touch and we can arrange that time.
