Qualifications
I was awarded an Advanced Diploma in Integrated Humanistic Counselling which is Accredited by the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy. My training took three years to complete and during this time I was required to have 60 hours of therapy myself so I know what it's like sitting in the other chair! As a member of the BACP, I am bound by it's Ethical Framework for Good Practice. You can find out more on their website, www.bacp.co.uk.I have also had basic training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) which can be helpful for anxiety and depression. CBT works on the principle that the way you think can affect your emotions and in turn, your behaviour. We will explore your negative automatic thoughts and your beliefs about yourself and the world and pinpoint the ones that are unhelpful to you. Unravelling these and looking at other, more realistic perspectives can offer relief from your negative feelings.
As part of my ongoing professional development, I am in regular supervision and attend other relevant courses and workshops. I am fully insured. I am an accredited member of the BACP which means I have been assessed as a "competent, ethical and independent practitioner".
My Personal Approach
Contrary to the beliefs of some, counselling isn't just about you talking with the counsellor sympathetically nodding and murmuring "mmm" occasionally! Of course, the main thing is listening, really listening. By that I mean not constantly interrupting, bombarding you with questions or steering the conversation away from you. You are in the drivers seat, I have no expectations or agenda. It will be your pure space in which to talk or to just sit quietly if you need to. Of course, I wouldn't be doing my job properly if I didn't notice things about you or give you any feedback. Your attitudes and opinions, your values and beliefs, your intentions and assumptions, the way you think, your patterns, your body language, things that you have internalised from your elders during your upbringing, all these are important and how you act because of them may be contributing towards your situation. I will help you unravel your thoughts and feelings so that with raised awareness about yourself you will hopefully be able to make some positive changes to your life. I may sometimes facilitate the process with simple exercises, relaxation techniques and visualisations, role-play, writing or drawing. I will not spring these on you and you have the choice whether to do them or not, but sometimes these interventions can be deeply insightful and sometimes fun!
