About me
Hello, I’m Wendy, a bereavement counsellor specialising in pregnancy and baby loss. I work with individuals and couples who have experienced the death of a baby through miscarriage, stillbirth, perinatal loss, neonatal death and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). I also work with pregnancy after loss and involuntary childlessness.
The death of a baby can be devastating, and it often triggers difficult feelings and emotions with the effects being long lasting for you and those around you, sometimes with relationships becoming strained. Maybe you feel you don’t want to burden family, friends or other people with what’s happened, but want to talk about your baby and your experience?
Perhaps you feel unsure of how to grieve, especially if your way of grieving feels different to everyone else? It can feel isolating when those around you don't seem to understand the depth of your pain or seem unwilling to talk about it.
I worked for 13 years with SANDS, the Stillbirth and Neonatal Death charity, supporting bereaved parents and healthcare professionals. This has given me a deep insight into the myriad emotions felt and, as a result, means I can really ‘hear’ you.
Many clients say they want to get back to 'being themselves’ again but worry that their baby will be forgotten, or that life just doesn’t have the same meaning or purpose any more. I can help you voice your emotions so that you can move forward, enabling you get back to ‘being [a new] you’, regaining a new sense of purpose while keeping your baby in the hearts and minds of those who will walk alongside you in the years to come.
Away from my private practice, I support people through all types of bereavement working with Cruse Bereavement Support, a leading bereavement charity.
We never ‘get over’ our loss, but with time and the right support we can accommodate it and find a way forward. Bereavement affects us all at some stage so, if you have lost a baby or loved one and would like to talk, please get in touch.
Practice description
I use a person-centred approach drawing on the fact that you know you best. We will focus on your needs, in a non-judgemental, safe and supportive environment to help you find your way forward. I strive to build a deep, caring and trusting relationship between us as key to our work together.
Our first session
I offer a free 20-minute introductory session to chat through what brings you to counselling, to answer any questions you may have and to see whether we are a good ‘fit’ for each other.
It can be daunting to approach someone new with your inner thoughts and feelings, but I want to reassure you of a warm welcome. Many clients comment on ‘feeling lighter’ once sessions are underway and are glad they picked up the phone or got in touch.
What I can help with
As a result of bereavement, I can help with anxiety, depression, anger, fear, health related issues, identity issues, isolation, loss of future hopes and dreams, pregnancy related issues, relationships, self-esteem, stress, trauma, work related issues.
Types of therapy
Person-centred, existential, humanistic
Clients I work with
Adults, teenagers over the age of 16, couples, older adults
How I deliver therapy
Face-to-face, online and by telephone. Short-term, long-term, time limited.
Training, qualifications & experience
- CPCAB Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
- Sands Training for Counsellors & Psychotherapists (endorsed by the CPCAB)
- Open University/BACP: Online Counselling Course
- NCFE Level 3 Award in Counselling Skills and Theory
- 13 years working with Sands (Stillbirth & Neonatal Death Society)
- Volunteer with Cruse Bereavement Support
- Formerly Volunteer Counsellor at Woking Sixth Form College (16–18-year-olds)
- I attend regular supervision and undertake ongoing continuous professional development (CPD) to ensure my practice is current, ethical and effective.
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
£60.00 - £75.00
Additional information
My fees for a 50-minute session are £60 for individuals or £75 for couples.
Payment is required at least 24 hours prior to the session by bank transfer or cash on arrival.
