Welcome to a safe and secure space to explore your thoughts, emotions and behaviour and to reflect on the relationship with yourself and others.
Hello & Welcome
Hello, my name is Kelly. I am a Counsellor registered and accredited with the British Association of Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP) working with adults and young people (13yrs+) from comfortable, secure premises in Heathfield, East Sussex.
Are you looking to build your capacity to be more present, authentic and connected in your relationships?
I am experienced in providing both long-term therapy, for those that wish to explore more deeply, and shorter-term work for those that may want to focus on more specific goals. Either way, I can offer you a grounded, warm and supportive space to reflect and recharge.
What are the benefits of counselling?
For adults, relationships often bring about unexpected and painful emotions. Not just in romantic relationships but also those with our kids, our parents, our siblings, our friends and our colleagues. This is particularly the case when you may have experienced difficult family dynamics in childhood. Relationships touch the very essence of what we have learned about who we are, who we fear we might be (or not be), and the way we feel about ourselves.
For adolescents, beginning the journey of discovery about themselves and the adult world around them, bringing early awareness to healthy relationships can be hugely beneficial.
Some of the outcomes achieved by my clients include;
- Boundaried, authentic relationships
- Increased openness to experience
- Greater feelings of self-trust and a sense of self-worth
- The ability to navigate stress, anxiety and depression
- Overcoming fears or bereavement
- Making sense of loss or phobias
- Reducing feelings of pressure at work
- Freedom around sexuality and sexual orientation
- Developing a healthy relationship to anger
- Improving self-esteem and achieving goals
My Approach
I bring my whole self to my work. I am present and open and will often share parts of me if I feel it will highlight a place where you feel stuck or feel alone. I am definitely not a 'blank slate' therapist, so we probably won't be a good fit if this is what you are looking for. I fully engage with you in the therapeutic process.
I deeply consider my clients and the challenges they are facing and you will always know you are with a real human.
I am not easily daunted or shaken by what my clients bring. One of my core values is curiosity and this is how I approach what develops in the counselling room. I remain curious and open about things which seem impossible and even those things which may initially seem obvious.
The therapeutic process is a commitment from me, as your Therapist, to you and the process and also a commitment from you, as the Client, to yourself and our time together.
Qualifications
The nuts and bolts of my training and professional qualifications:
I have completed 5 years of training to attain the following:
Advanced Specialist Training in Counselling Children & Young People (L5 CPCAB - Counselling & Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body)
Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling - Person-Centred (L4 CPCAB)
Certificate in Counselling Studies (L3 CPCAB)
Certificate in Counselling Skills (Westminster Pastoral Foundation - Psychodynamic)
ACT for Adolescents (Psychwire – Dr Russ Harris)
ACT for Brief Interventions (currently studying)
Alongside my training, I attended weekly counselling myself (3 years in total). I felt this commitment was as important as the training - not only to better understand myself before working with my clients but also to better understand the process as a client. I value the therapeutic space enormously and often return as and when I feel I might benefit from the support it provides. I feel privileged to be able to now offer this space to others.
My Experience
I run my own independent practice in Heathfield, East Sussex where I see adults and adolescents experiencing a wide range of mental health issues. In addition to my practice, I am also employed as School Counsellor at a secondary College in Battle, East Sussex, where I have been for the past 3 years. Issues often addressed in therapy include anxiety, depression, low mood, stress, low self-esteem, relationship and identity crises.
Prior to growing my independent practice, I worked in long-term therapy with adults and teens for the Horsham and Crawley Counselling Group where I later became Clinical Co-Lead of the Parent, Adolescent and Child Team (PACT), overseeing adolescent assessments and client allocations to Counsellors on the team.
I love the challenges and variety of working with adults and teens and believe having continued experience of both facilitates a richness within the work I do with my clients.
I am a registered and accredited member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). I abide by their ethical framework and receive regular supervision to ensure I practice safely.
I am also on the enhanced DBS check update service for child and adult work and renew my safeguarding training on a yearly basis.
I am dedicated to my own ongoing learning, not only to meet the professional requirements of my registration but for my own personal development. I believe that, in doing this, I am better placed to co-create a solid, therapeutic relationship with you as my client.
Aside from my client work, I am a Mum to three children, someone who loves taking time out to slow down and appreciate all the little things (and big when they happen). And if I can do this while drinking coffee, all the better!
Fees & FAQs
Adults
Initial phone contact is free to give us an opportunity to establish if I am the right person for your needs and to enable you to ask any questions you may have.
Per 50 min session - £55
Young people (13+)
I offer a free pre-meeting for parents/guardians in order for me to gather more details and context of the difficulties your child is facing. This allows you the opportunity to freely express your concerns without causing potential distress to your child. It also gives you a chance to ask any further questions you may have about the counselling process (a pre-meeting is not always necessary, depending on the maturity of your child).
Per 50 min session - £55 (for parents/carers of young people attending, please note there is no waiting room)
Sessions take place weekly at a mutually agreed time. Payments are payable by BACS and cancellation of sessions made within 24hrs notice are charged at the full session rate.
Providing you with a confidential space is a big part of creating a feeling of safety and trust within sessions. As your Counsellor, I hold this confidentiality for you. There are some exceptions to this which I discuss with you when making our shared agreement in the first session.
For parents/guardians of young people attending: due to the nature of session confidentiality, I do not discuss the content of your child’s sessions with you. There are safeguarding exceptions to this which I will discuss with you prior to working with your child. Your child, on the other hand, can choose whether they want to talk about their sessions. It is advisable to let your child take the lead on how much they wish to share with you.
The number of sessions is unique to each client’s needs. Typically, we will discuss what might be appropriate for you in our first session together and regularly review the sessions to ensure your needs are being met.
Endings are an important part of the process; it is usual to plan for an ending session in order to have an opportunity to acknowledge the changes that take place in ourselves during counselling.
Counselling is an ongoing supportive process and is not a crisis intervention. If you feel you need immediate help, the below organisations can be reached using the following links:
- Getting help in a mental health crisis :: Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
- Samaritans | Every life lost to suicide is a tragedy | Here to listen
- Home - Kooth
- Shout: the UK's free, confidential and 24/7 mental health text service for crisis support | Shout 85258 (giveusashout.org)
- How to access mental health services - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Get in touch
Being a good fit is important. You are dedicating time and emotional resources and want to pick the right person. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about how therapy works, or to arrange an initial appointment. This enables us to discuss the reasons you are thinking of coming to therapy and whether I am the right therapist for you.
When making a decision, you should consider logistical factors (location, availability) as well as personal factors (my training and whether you feel you could connect with me and my approach). I am always happy to discuss any questions you may have on 07828 955 979.
I work from a private office located in 1-2 Bank Buildings, Cherwell Road, Heathfield TN21 8JT, and see clients from the surrounding areas such as Heathfield, Cross in Hand, Mayfield, Horam, Crowborough, Hailsham and Lewes.
"One day or day one; you decide."
Paulo Coelho
What my clients say...
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