Emma West
Experienced, friendly, practical online counsellor
Hello - my name is Emma. I qualified as a counsellor in 2014. My background of working in the media [BBC and as a writer] means I am very experienced at putting people at ease which is handy in counselling :) I'm a very practical counsellor who uses easy to understand psycho education - hello 'Monkey' brain! - together with strategies/techniques to help you understand and resolve the problems you are experiencing.
Availability confirmed 2 days ago
About me and my practice
I can help you with a range of issues including stress, low mood, anxiety, work/life balance, low confidence, lack of control, relationship/family/parenting issues, transitions, loss, anger and/or trauma.
My specialist areas of knowledge include disability, carer issues, health conditions, psychiatric drugs [deciding whether to take, deciding to come off them, withdrawal], student, LGBTQIA2S+ and gender dysphoria issues; I have lived experience of rare disability and carer issues too.
Through the EAP [Employee Assistance Programme] work I do I have a lot of experience of working with GPs, trainee doctors and Fire Service employees.
Counselling sessions give you time to tell your story, to establish the things you want to change, find ways of making those changes and, consequently, feel better.
Everyone who comes to counselling is different and for me the challenge is to work with you to find an approach that works for you.
You may just want to be listened to and tell your story, perhaps for the very first time.
Where appropriate I will use psycho education [hello 'Monkey' brain!], don't worry you don't need to be a neuroscientist to understand this...
I can introduce you to strategies/tools eg Mindfulness, CBT [Cognitive Behavioural Therapy which looks at thoughts, feelings, behaviours] that can help you to effect change.
I can also tell you about other exercises that you might find helpful eg puzzle person ['Who are you?'], time line ['What's happened to you?], values, re-scripting your inner voice.
NB If the thought of 'homework' fills you with dread - it's all optional!
Experience
I qualified as a counsellor in 2014 and later became accredited by the BACP [British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy].
In 2016 I undertook specialist training in online therapy because I believed that it was the way things would go in the future!
Nowadays the advantages of online counselling - ie that it is effective, practical and accessible - are widely accepted and I've worked solely online in private practice since 2019.
I have worked in a range of settings:
- in private practice providing short and long term online counselling, which includes EAP [Employee Assistance Programme] work counselling GPs, trainee doctors, and Fire Service employees
- counselling students at the University of Exeter Wellbeing Service
- as a Specialist Counsellor at The Laurels Gender Identity Clinic in Exeter working with people thinking about or in the process of transitioning
- short term counselling with adults referred from the NHS Depression and Anxiety Service [DAS] in Newton Abbot, Devon
- short and long term counselling at the Margaret Jackson Centre in Exeter [a low cost counselling service]
Qualifications
BSc Psychology, University of Bristol
Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling, Level 4, Exeter College
Creative CBT Diploma, Dartmoor Centre for Counselling and Psychotherapy
Online Counselling Certificate Course, OCST [Online Counselling Services and Training]
Professional Membership
Accred Member BACP [British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy]
Professional Register
British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)
Verified by Counsellingo on Wednesday, 21 February 2024
Fees
£60 for a 50 minute sessions includes being sent resources after the session where appropriate.
When I Work
I work Monday - Friday [morning only on Friday], the earliest session start time is usually 8.15 or 8.30am and the latest start time is generally 4.15pm.
Unlike a lot of counsellors I won't ask to you to commit to the same time/day every week, unless that is your preference, because I know people have competing commitments/shifting timetables.
Therapeutic Approach
Integrative, psycho education, CBT, mindfulness/breathing techniques, practical exercises
Video Platforms
Zoom
Area
Devon
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