Practitioners / Teachers » Simon Town

Simon Town

Simon Town MBACP Accredited Counsellor.

I have beena qualified counsellor for over 10 years with experience gained in private practice, in GP surgeries and through telephone counselling.

I am accredited by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) which means that I have achieved a substantial level of training and experience that has been approved by BACP.

My counselling qualifications are: Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling; BACP accreditation; Certificate in counselling skills in the development of learning.

I have wide organisational experience in a variety of roles, having started working life in the recreation industry, then working with a national funding agency to support community organisations and subsequently working in both the public and private sectors.

I am also an experienced trainer, facilitator, coach and mentor, regularly running management, organisation and personal development sessions across all sectors. If you are interested in any of these services please visit my website at: www.simontown.co.uk (online from 27th February 2012).

I offer both short and long term counselling for a range of issues, based around a non-judgemental, humanistic philosophy. ‘Short term’ counselling is generally 6-8 sessions.

I am a 'humanistic' counsellor, which means that I will always agree clear contracts with you about your goals, number of sessions and fees.

Types of issues

I work with individuals on a wide range of issues, including:

• Relationship problems, including breakdown, separation, divorce
• Abuse
• Family issues
• Attachment
• Anger
• Personal and professional problems
• Personal development
• Bereavement
• Loss (associated with such things as retirement, redundancy, surgery or accidents)
• Depression
• Stress and anxiety
• Work problems including bullying and harassment
• Health related problems
• Trauma
• Sexual issues

I also provide counselling for people on courses that require students to attend counselling, such as art therapy or counselling training.

Method - what happens?

In the first session, (also called the assessment or initial session), I will ask quite a lot of questions in order to get some background about you and to learn about the issue that is troubling you. You will also be able to ask any questions that you may have about counselling. During the session we will discuss what you might want to achieve from your counselling, also known as your ‘goal’. Towards the end of the session, with the information now shared, we will decide if you want to come for a set of sessions. I say ‘we will decide’ because you have to want to come and I have to be clear about whether I can assist you with the goal that you want to achieve.

The first session is undertaken without any obligation for you to continue and is intended to help you to decide whether counselling is for you. In subsequent sessions, progress towards the goal is regularly reviewed and discussed.

I take an integrative approach to counselling, which means that I use a number of theories to assist clients in achieving their goals: in particular I use Transactional Analysis (TA) and Gestalt. During the sessions I will share some elements of the theories to help the process. I particularly like TA because it was designed to be simple and easily understandable, with concepts that are easy to relate to anyone’s thoughts, feelings or behaviours.

Confidentiality and ethics

Counselling sessions are confidential with just 3 exceptions:

· If we talk about you harming yourself or others

· If we talk about things that are illegal

· If ordered to release information by a Court of Law

As a BACP accredited counsellor, I have ongoing supervision in accordance with the BACP Ethical Framework for Good Practice and abide by the BACP Code of Ethics.

Location

I work at Millers Yard just off Gillygate in central York. It is close to various public transport routes and there are 2 large car parks nearby (Bootham Row and Marygate).

The venue is quiet, comfortable and confidential. I occasionally also work at premises in Harrogate.

Fees

Individual counselling: £45 per session

Coaching or mentoring: £60 per hour

I am happy to discuss concessions with individuals or organisations making referrals.

Contact

Please feel free to contact me either by phone or by e-mail if you would like to know anything more about counselling, to ask any questions or to arrange an initial counselling session.

I also take referrals from GP’s, employee assistance programmes (EAP’s) and from organisations.

E-mail: simon@simontown.co.uk

Telephone: 07708 169747