Virginia Berkholz, Counsellor to Individuals and Couples
About me
Counsellor to Individuals and Couples
Online sessions by Zoom (preferably) or Skype during the COVID-19 crisis.
I provide a safe and confidential space where feelings such as depression, anger, stress and anxiety can be expressed and explored and, in time, resolved. Emotional states arising from experiences such as abuse, neglect, loss, lack of bonding, conflict or difficulties of any kind can be understood while working toward healing, and the ability to live each day without old burdens or inner stress. It is imperative that you control the pace of this work so that it is right for you.
This process of allowing space for inner experience can enable you to strengthen trust in your own inner guidance. I believe that change can occur through self-understanding and recognition of our feelings, without judgement. Although this may at times be difficult, through awareness of our inner world we can develop a more compassionate relationship with ourselves, and therefore also with others.
During 'normal' times I work face-to-face in both London Bridge (SE1) and Waterloo/Lambeth North (also SE1) offering either short or long term therapy. Following the initial introductory session, if you decide to continue I usually advise a commitment of a minimum of 6 sessions. This gives the counselling process the opportunity to develop and enables you to more easily assess whether our way of working is right for you. The length of the counselling (which is up to you) then becomes open-ended.
In working with couples my approach is to focus on assisting you to find what is happening within each of you that is preventing mutual understanding. As I'm sure you would appreciate, this will involve how well you are able to hear each other, how safe it is to really say what you feel in response to each other, and whether it feels okay to express what you need and want. Underlying all this are the messages we grew up with and those early experiences which form the basis of how open we are to emotional intimacy.
Training, qualifications & experience
In the early 1990s I trained in Melbourne, Australia, in Somatic Psychotherapy. I also studied in London, where I have lived for over 20 years, and hold a Post Graduate Diploma in Psychosynthesis Counselling and a Diploma in Transpersonal Couples Counselling and Psychotherapy.
I am a Member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and abide by its ethical standards (http://www.bacp.co.uk/ethical_framework/).
Member organisations
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.
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
Therapies offered
Fees
Online sessions: £70 for 50 minute sessions for individuals and £90 for 60 minute sessions for couples.
Face-to-Face Sessions: Individuals: (50 minute session)
The fee for sessions for individuals is £80 in Waterloo and £75 in London Bridge.
Concessions may be available.
Couples (60 minute session)
The fee for the introductory session is £100. Further sessions are £110.
Frequency of sessions can be weekly or fortnightly, depending upon the situation.
The first appointment gives you the opportunity to decide if I am the right counsellor for you, and for me to sense if our working together would be helpful for you.
Further information
Concessions may be available if your income has been affected during this difficult time of COVID-19.
