Counselling ■ Training ■ Group Facilitation ■ Supervision ■ Consultancy
Counselling
SERVICES OFFERED
Some of the things I have experience in:- Anxiety
- Bereavement
- Cultural issues
- Depression
- Disability
- General Counselling & Psychotherapy
- Identity Difficulties
- Relationships
- Gender & Sexuality
- Spirituality
- Intimacy
- Self-esteem & Self-confidence
- Guilt
- Jealousy
- Workplace Stress
For individuals, couples, families and groups (on both a private basis and on behalf of organisations). I can offer long-term face-to-face work and short-term face-to-face work
TRAINING
Theory, skills and practice in: counselling, cross-cultural counselling, training, supervision, group work, listening and communication, confidence building, assertiveness, working with conflict and anger, anti-oppressive practice in general and anti-racism and disability equality in particular.
GROUP FACILITATION
Newly formed and established groups, groups wanting to set-up, self-development and awareness groups, study, seminar and discussion groups, management committee groups, conference workshop groups. Group Facilitation is also offered for the purpose of staff development and team building.
SUPERVISION
Individuals, co-workers and groups in counselling and other fields (e.g. social work, community work, development and education work).
CONSULTANCY
Individuals, groups and organisations that wish to get the best out of their human resources and potential by adopting an “integrated person-centred” approach to work, management, recruitment, selection, interviewing, supervision and training. Many of the areas listed above under training are also offered on a consultancy basis and include staff development and team building.
NB:
(a) Where possible, every effort is made to adapt the above to your particular context and setting.
(b) A separate counselling leaflet is available.
EXPERIENCE
I have been counselling since 1980 and am a professionally qualified Counsellor with a broad range of personal and work experience that extends beyond counselling itself. Inter-Related Services draws upon this experience and seeks to apply it to my work not only as a Counsellor but also as a Trainer, Supervisor, Group Facilitator, and Consultant.
APPROACH
Inter-Related Services is based on an “integrated person-centred” (or “person-in-context”) approach to life which recognises the inter-relatedness between the "personal" and the "political” (or the "microcosm" and "macrocosm" ) realities of peoples' experiences. Essentially this approach is grounded in a belief that people have
(a) their own “inner wisdom and guide” seeking to balance separateness and connectedness;
(b) the desire and capacity to reach their human potential;
(c) the right to self-expression and self-determination in relationship to others and their environment; and
(d) the ability, given a safe environment, to tend to their physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual well-being.
COMMITMENT
Supporting this holistic approach to my work is a commitment to values that are against any form of oppressive practice and that are based on a belief that everyone has a right to participate in and contribute to society in a way that does not infringe upon the integrity, dignity and well-being of others. To reflect this, Inter-Related Services seeks to be accessible to all: people who are marginalised by the ‘power structures’ within society (e.g. black, non-white, mixed race, women, disabled, ‘working-class’, ‘homosexual’) and people who are favoured by the ‘power structures’ within society (e.g. ‘white’, men, non-disabled, ‘middle- class’, heterosexual).
PRACTICE
- The practicalities of this ‘anti-oppressive practice’ are negotiated on the basis of what is required (e.g. home visits, accessible premises, different ways of communication, financial arrangements, etc.) and my own personal limitations (e.g. travel distance, availability, competence, etc.). In other words, every attempt is made to be flexible and to respect the reality of changing circumstances and different contexts.
- I am also committed to receiving regular and frequent supervision and take responsibility for meeting my own counselling needs.
- Professional Codes of Ethics and Practice for Counsellors and for the Supervision of Counsellors established by the British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP) give guidance to my work. I am also a member of BACP and my Diploma in Counselling is accredited by BACP.
Counselling
WHAT IS COUNSELLING?
The overall aim of counselling is to provide an opportunity for people ro work towards living in a more satisfying and resourceful way. People seek counselling for different reasons: it may be to address specific difficulties, to make decisions, to cope with a crisis, to work through feelings of inner conflict and pain, to improve relationships with others, or simply to develop personal insight, self-awareness and understanding. Throughout all this, the counsellor is committed to creating a genuine, trusting and safe relationship.
WHAT COUNSELLING OFFERS
- A place where you can feel safe to be yourself because you are taken seriously, understood, valued and accepted even though you may not be feeling particularly good about yourself
- Regular time and space to explore what is important to you for as long as you want counselling.
- An opportunity to discover your own inner resources and strengths and, where appropriate, take control and responsibility for your decisions and your life.
- The consistent supportive challenge of someone who is committed primarily to your own well-being.
- Appropriate confidentiality and independence from others.
SOME COMMON WORRIES ABOUT COUNSELLING
- “Counselling is only for people who have something ‘wrong’ with them... those who are ‘cracking up’, or are ‘too weak’ to cope on their own”.
Some people who see counsellors do so because they feel distressed and want some help working through a particular crisis or specific difficulties or anxieties. Others seek counselling simply because they want to understand themselves better and explore where they’re at both in their lives and relationships. Whatever the reason, counselling is about living in a more satis’ing way. Far from being ‘weak’ or having something ‘wrong’ with them, people who seek counselling are often (though they may not feel it) ‘strong’, ‘healthy’ and responsible enough to recognise that it is only human to have needs, desires and limitations. People are often surprised to learn that many counsellors themselves make a commitment to seeking counselling.
- “My problems are trivial.., they aren’t serious enough to see a counsellor... I’d be wasting your time”.
No problem is trivial or too small: there doesn’t even have to he a problem as such, and if there is, then it makes better sense to seek counselling before a problem gets too big. You don’t have to wait until you’re ‘cracking up’ before you see a counsellor.
- “I’d like to see a counsellor because I don’t feel satisfied with my lift but I don’t know why... something feels wrong but I don’t know what, so there’s no point in going for counselling because I wouldn’t know where or how to begin”.
Such a feeling is common and is a valid reason for seeing a counsellor. Counselling can help you make sense of these feelings and help you explore ways in which life can become more satisfying.
- “I’d like counselling but I’m better off than most people... I’d fret like a fake... like I was being self-indulgent. I’d be taking time away from someone who needed it more."
People sometimes compare their lives with that of others and feel that, because they have it ‘easy’ and others have it ‘hard’, they don’t deserve or have a right to be heard, even though deep down they may not feel as contented with their lives as they would like to be. Counselling is for anyone who wants to experience a more satisfying life regardless of whether life’s ‘easy’ or ‘hard’: no person is more or less deserving than another and everyone has a right to counselling.
- “Counselling is based on male theories that reflect white, middle-class, non-disabled, heterosexual assumptions: those of us who are different from these groups would be judged accordingly and expected to conform”
As someone from various ‘marginalised groups’ myself I can identify with this worry and am committed to an approach which affirms people’s differences and which recognises that the ‘power structures’ within society value some groups and devalue others. I’m keen, therefore, to make counselling available to all, particularly people whose differences are undermined rather than celebrated.
- “Only people who don’t get help and support from their family, friends and colleagues need counselling”
Such help and support from others is vital if you have it and counselling does not in any way seek either to undervalue or compete with it. The help and support that counselling offers, however, is different because it provides additional security, reliability, competence, impartiality and a confidentiality that is often difficult to find elsewhere.
- “You can only get counselling if your GP refers you, but I wouldn’t want anyone to know I was having counselling’
You do not have to be referred for counselling through your GP or any other professional: you simply make an appointment yourself directly with me, so no one has to know unless you want to tell them.
- “I would like to recommend counselling to someone I know but it might offend them: they might fret I’m suggesting there’s something ‘wrong’ with them, or that I’m trying to get them off my back because I can’t be bothered with their problems. So, Iplay the part mys4f all I have to do is listen and be understanding”.
People who feel responsible for others sometimes feel under pressure to act as “counsellors” themselves when in fact they could be serving them better if they suggested a trained, qualified and experienced counsellor. Such recommendations reflect an understanding that counselling is more than just a ‘sympathetic ear’ (important though that is) and can be an expression of responsible caring rather than a lack of it.
My fees (per session)
£25 to £50 per hour
My venue offers easy parking and all ground-floor access
I can also work in some basic conversational Arabic
Testimonials
“I was so nervous when I first arrived but within minutes I felt at ease and very safe.”
“You don’t miss a trick! Which was a bit nerve-racking at times but it actually helped me feel really seen and heard.”
“I never thought that amidst such intense pain and struggle I could also laugh so much!”
“Thank you so much for showing me the difference between brief shallow relief and long-term deeper healing: you made it safe for me to chose healing over relief.”
“Thank you for guiding me to my ‘inner wisdom’ and showing me that I can trust it.”
“I am so grateful for all your hours of genuine non-judgmental listening: you really do know how to make a person feel safe.”
“I have constantly been amazed at how so much gentle acceptance from you can be so challenging: the safety you offer has enabled me to go to places of fear and pain that I would never have thought I could’ve gone to.”
“I know you keep telling me that you can’t take credit for my healing because I did that myself but it wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t created a safe place for me.”
“I have really appreciated your respect for my many defences and for the fact that you never pushed me beyond my sense of safety but patiently stayed with me until I was ready to go deeper.”
QUALIFICATION DETAILS
1990 – 1992 BACP Accredited Diploma in Counselling (Manchester)
1980 – 1981 Postgraduate Diploma in Pastoral Studies (Birmingham)
1977 – 1980 BA (Hons) in Theology (Manchester)
Service Categories
Counselling, Psychotherapy
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