QUALIFICATIONS
I have a Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling, awarded by ABC.
I have completed an introduction to Compassion Focussed Therapy.
I also have a degree in Philosophy, from many years ago!
I have trained in Mindfulness and am a great believer in it's healing power.
I regularly attend workshops focussing on specific psychological issues as a way of expanding my knowledge and experience.
CANCELLATIONS
Counselling really only works if clients attend regularly, therefore before embarking on our work together your ability to commit to regular sessions will be explored. Cancellation with less than 48 hours notice will usually mean the full session fee is payable to cover my time and expenses, as I will not be able to fill your slot with anyone else. Once we have agreed a time slot, that is yours for the duration of our work together.
I will let you know as soon as possible if I need to cancel a session. This is very rare and I will do everything in my power to not cancel.
CONFIDENTIALITY
I have regular supervision, to ensure that I am working ethically & competently, but I will not use your full name or give any identifiable details so as to protect your anonymity.
I keep brief notes on paper, which are kept in a locked cabinet, and kept separately from any details which could be used to identify you. All my notes are shredded once 5 years has passed after you have finished counselling, unless you request otherwise.
Whatever you tell me is treated as highly confidential. The only time I would consider breaking confidentiality was if I was concerned you were a danger either to yourself or another. I would do this to seek help with the situation. I would always endeavour to discuss this with you beforehand.
HOLIDAYS
I tend to work to school holidays. Please let me know as soon as you can if you have a holiday booked. I will endeavour to give you at least 6 weeks notice of any holidays I have booked. I always take the whole month of August off.
CONCERNS
I am a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, and work in accordance with their Ethical Framework. They have a website which will give you further information about counselling and what you can expect from an ethical practitioner. If you have any concerns about my practice I would appreciate it if you would raise these with me in the first instance. However, I understand this can be difficult. The BACP are therefore the people to contact if you feel you cannot do this, or if you would like to take things further. They can be reached at:
www.bacp.co.uk
Contact Information
Berkhamsted
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Location
Naturality Wellness Centre
42 Lower Kings Road
Berkhamsted
Hertfordshire
HP4 2AA
Book Recommendation
I have recently discovered Gabor Maté, and am working my way through all his books. This is his most recent one. It's very readable. Here he explores the connections between physical illness and psychological distress or trauma.
Blog
I think many of us have an instinctive understanding of the impact our psychological state has on our physical condition. Here Maté explores these issues in depth. This book has helped me come to a greater and deeper understanding of how our physical bodies send us warning signals, which all too often we in the western world ignore. Because of the pressures of our busy lives we often choose to numb ourselves with substances or activities rather than face what is really wrong in our lives. Our fast paced way of living doesn't allow us time to be ill. One of the profoundly healing aspects of therapy I find is in how it can help us reconnect with our bodies. Therapy can help us slow down and listen to the body's warning signals, leading to greater physical as well as mental health in the long run.
The Nature of Love:
I've been thinking about the nature of love today, especially romantic love. When we fall in love we seem to look in awe at our beloved often thinking "you are amazing". Little realising that this love is rather fragile and conditional. If we tell our beloved "I love you because you are amazing", this leaves open the possibility that one day they may not be so "amazing" and then we won't love them anymore. Which is of course what so often happens when we 'fall out of love'. Unconditional love is when we can truly tell our beloved "I love and accept you as you are". Perhaps this is more easily felt towards our children. It seems to me that this is the love we all want and need. This love is much more secure and stable, we do not have to be "amazing" and perform high wire acts to impress in order to receive it. I believe we are all both amazing and ordinary. To be ordinary is also to be amazing. The most average person is also a most amazing being if we can but spend the time to get to know them. I believe if we could really bring this understanding in to our relationships as parents, lovers, friends, colleagues, there would be a lot less suffering in our society.