Professional Qualifications And Background
I have a Diploma In Therapeutic Counselling (Hackney Community College, 2007) and, at present, am studying for an MA in Counselling and Psychotherapy at Regent's College, London. I am a member of the British Association For Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP), working within their Ethical Framework and adhering to their guidelines for good practice. I started seeing clients privately as a counsellor in 2008 and am currently working towards BACP accreditation.
Although I would not describe myself as religious, my first degree was in Theology & Religious Studies, and I feel this has helped me in my work with people from different religious backgrounds, also influencing the philosophical outlook that underpins my approach to counselling.
Aside from counselling I have 10 years experience working in the voluntary/not-for-profit sector. This includes time spent with the British Red Cross (where I worked primarily with refugees and asylum seekers as part of the International Welfare Service) and with a large London-based housing association where I worked directly with tenants experiencing housing difficulties who were at risk of losing their homes.
My work experience has brought me into contact with a wide range of people within London, helping me to recognize and appreciate the city’s diversity, but also some of the difficulties that its’ inhabitants face. Throughout the course of my career I have been lucky enough to receive excellent training on issues such as immigration, domestic violence, child protection, addiction, mental health and debt/financial difficulties. Although my counselling work doesn't involve me imparting specific advice, the knowledge I have gained through such training helps me to receive certain clients with a greater level of understanding.
I was born and brought up in Portsmouth, UK, but have lived and worked in London since 2000. Travel is a passion of mine and I have visited and travelled through many different parts of the world in my life. Again, I feel this has opened my eyes to cultural difference and fuelled my enthusiasm for working with people from a variety of backgrounds.
Areas of Specialisation
A large part of my counselling experience has been gained at the City & East London Bereavement Service where I have practised as a volunteer counsellor since 2006. I received in-depth training there on how to work with clients struggling to come to terms with bereavement and wider issues of loss in their lives. Loss and bereavement are therefore key areas of interest and specialisation for me.
Last year I undertook further training around counselling young people (including training on working creatively in the therapeutic process). This was prior to starting work as an honorary counsellor at Youthreach, a youth counselling service in Greenwich.
Personal Approach
My diploma course focused primarily on the Person-Centred approach to counselling, which identifies itself as being non-directive and non-judgemental (with the empathic, accepting and honest relationship built up between counsellor and client held as being key to psychological change). I still consider myself to be most closely aligned to this approach and strive to make its main proponent Carl Rogers’ core-conditions of ‘empathy’, ‘unconditional positive regard’ and ‘congruence’ central to my work.
However, I would now describe my counselling style and outlook as more integrative. I have a sound working knowledge of other approaches to counselling (primarily Psychodynamic and Cognitive-Behavioural approaches) and I draw on these when I feel it might be beneficial. Encouraging clients to consider early relationships and attachments, or to break down and re-examine problematic patterns of thought can, for example, be very helpful. Although I like to think my approach to counselling is ultimately client-led, I am not a passive practitioner and, in the spirit of congruence (or honesty), I will share my feelings, observances and suggestions with you should we choose to work together.
