About
Hello, I'm Barbara.
I have 23 years’ experience working with in the NHS, Relate and in Private Practice supporting individuals and couples. I am a member of BACP (British Association of counselling and Psychotherapy) I work within The Ethical Framework for Good Practice.
Whether you seek individual or couple’s counselling the aim of therapy is to help you develop a more resourceful, flexible, and resilient mindset. I offer a non-judgemental and impartial environment, to help you identify the triggers to past or present distress and together develop achievable solutions for change.
“Everything can be taken from a person but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”
Viktor E. Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning
Individual counselling:
There are many reasons we decide to seek individual therapy. You might be overwhelmed with a situation past or present that causes you to feel depressed, stressed, or anxious; often becoming self-critical or self-blaming. Confronting your issues allows you to understand their complexities which will ultimately allow you to take greater responsibility for change and learn how to move on from them.
Assessment
Before an initial assessment I will contact you via phone to gain a brief outline of your current concerns and hopes for therapy.
· An initial assessment might feel daunting so we will use this time to address your concerns and formulate a tailored package of care. Using a flexible approach helps to understand your difficulties from several perspectives. It further helps to find the most beneficial strategies to create both cognitive and behavioural change; ultimately enhancing your quality of life and relationships. It is important that you feel safe in an accepting environment and that your confidentiality is adhered to throughout therapy.
· Assessments can be In Person, FaceTime, Zoom, Teams or WhatsApp.
· Cost per session £45 for a 50-minute appointment. You can bank transfer to my business account or pay cash on the day.
Relationship Counselling:
Can help couples improve their relationships by developing strategies to resolve conflict, learn how to communicate more effectively and better understand the needs of each other. Couples may also face difficulties that keep them stuck in a negative cycle of mistrust, not feeling heard or being unappreciated by their partner. Working together in an impartial environment can help you develop insights into stronger communication and challenge unhelpful attitudes, feelings and behaviours that are keeping you in conflict.
As every relationship is different, couples work is not always about mending the relationship but helping the couple to weigh up their options, resolve conflicts or even plan a structured separation that keeps the relationship practical.
If you or your partner are struggling, seek help while you are both willing to invest in constructive change.
Couple’s say:
“Nothing annoys me more than when my partner expects me to be okay with something they wouldn’t be ok with if it was done to them”.
Assessment:
·Attending Couples counselling can feel daunting and overwhelming, so the initial assessment will help to understand the relationship dynamics and gain a joint perspective on the challenges that you are currently facing. Following the initial assessment couples are asked to attend an individual appointment to look at relational obstacles and set individual goals for the work ahead. Before undertaking therapy, it is important you feel safe and in control of the process; in a structured, impartial, and confidential environment.
·If you feel after the initial assessment couples work is for you, we can book a follow up appointment, or you can take some time to think over your options.
· Assessments can be In Person, FaceTime, Zoom, Teams or WhatsApp.
· Cost per session £50 for a 55-minute appointment. You can bank transfer to my business account or pay cash on the day.
Email: Found at the top of my profile.
Theories
A Cognitive Behavioural approach looks at the links between your thoughts, feelings and behaviours. CBT is an evidence-based treatment for the improvement and management of many mental health issues such as stress, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem etc.
A systemic approach helps you to understand your childhood and family dynamics and dynamics within intimate relationships. This approach is used to help individuals and couples understand the complexities within their relationships stemming from abandonment, betrayal childhood or trauma.
-Experience
My work in the NHS was in GP and Hospital settings. I used an integrative approach to help individuals develop strategies to change or control the challenges they were facing including:
My work has helped to support individuals, who are experiencing a variety of mental health difficulties including anxiety, depression, panic, childhood trauma, stress and work related conflict. My work with Relate as Relationship Counsellor helps couples and individuals develop strategies for positive change and constructive open communication.
A role I enjoyed for over 10 years was lecturing in Colleges of Further Education; helped students to understand the theories, principles and practice of psychological intervention.
I am a registered member of the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP). My work is evidence-based and monitored by supervision.
Qualifications and Training
BA (hons) in Psychological Therapies (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) - Teesside University
Undergraduate in CBT- Teesside University
Advanced Diploma in Higher Education - Sunderland University
Advanced Diploma in Person Centred Counselling -Newcastle College
Advanced Diploma in Relationship Counselling - Relate
Advanced Diploma in Couples Counselling for Depression - Tavistock London.
Diploma in Psychodrama - Northern School on Psychodrama
Certification in Mindfulness - NHS
Certification in Solution Focused Therapy - Northumbria University
Certification in Transactional Analysis (TA) Norther Guild
Some clients feedback
-Thank you so much for your help and support in exam related anxiety. As a Doctor myself, I did not realise the importance of therapy in relieving the suffering of anxiety in an individual until I met you. Your calm composed and structured approach to my problem put me at ease straight away. Your thorough appreciation of the problem and your easy-to-understand methods of conveying it to me was outstanding. The schematic diagrams and sketches helped me immensely in understanding my own hurdles in getting rid of my anxiety. Your time, effort and patience has been greatly appreciated. If I do get through my troubles in due course, it would not have been possible without your contribution.
Client
-Excellent! Barbara, you helped me through an incredibly difficult divorce. Therapy helped me to work through some very painful feelings and beliefs, to find happiness and peace within myself.
Client
I have only been working with you for a couple of weeks, but already I feel more in control. I've learnt insights about myself that have helped with relationship decisions and I'm slowly starting to recognise my value. Cannot thank you enough.
Client
Working with you has helped me to develop my self-worth and self-esteem. I finally understand who I am and can let go of the past and move forward. Thank you
Client
-If you had told me at the beginning of therapy that we as a couple would change so much, I would not have believed you. Thank you for helping us to communicate and appreciate each other better and helping us to have more quality time as a couple.
My work in the NHS was in GP surgeries and Hospital settings. I used an integrative approach to help individuals develop strategies to change or control the challenges they were facing including:
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