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Counselling, Psychotherapy and CBT in Brighton and Hove, and Worthing

Welcome to my counselling and existential psychotherapy services. I offer professional counselling, psychotherapy and CBT in Brighton and Hove, Worthing, and the East Sussex area.

I am a fully qualified and accredited member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy, and I abide by their code of ethics.

Your first session is £25 and is an opportunity for you to discover what you want from existential psychotherapy, CBT or counselling. If you decide to work with me, then we will have an opportunity to explore your problems and concerns in a safe and supportive way.

As you are probably aware, there are many different approaches to counselling and psychotherapy. You can find out more about my approach by reading the How I Work page.

If you want to find out more about counselling and psychotherapy in general, you will find a link to the BACP website on the Links page.

How I Work

My aim is to work in a non–judgemental way. I am trained in cognitive existential psychotherapy, the fundamental principals of which underlie the way I work. For example, respect for individuals and differences. I take a creative approach to working with my clients and focus on the relationship before anything else. Research supports the importance of the connection between the client and therapist and the relationship that forms. This does make a difference.

I believe therapy should be about providing a supportive and compassionate environment, where truths can be discovered and where courage may be required to confront the challenges, such as difficult feelings and thoughts. These could involve how you relate to yourself, to others and situations outside the therapy room.

My intention is to be as fully present as possible in the session in order to focus on these challenges and to provide supportive listening and insightful reflections. We may discover that you want to change or develop and we may encourage and ignite newfound ways of being.

You are the author of your own life.

What you can Expect

I work with a wide range of needs using CBT [Cognitive Behavioural Therapy], Existential Psychotherapy and Counselling. I often get enquiries from those interested in personal development and life style changes (life coaching). More specifically, here are some of the issues I am prepared to work with:–

Addiction therapy
Bereavement and loss
Depression therapy
Emotional difficulties
Crisis
Loss of sense of self
Problems caused by violence and abuse
Relationship therapy
Sexuality
Stress therapy
Anxiety counselling
Work difficulties
Family problems
Improving self–esteem
Confidence building
Alcohol counselling
Drugs therapy
Substance misuse

What are the differences between counselling and psychotherapy?

Counselling usually focuses on a specific issue. It tends to be short term (1–30 sessions) depending on the individual, whereas psychotherapy involves more in–depth work than counselling and may take longer. Psychotherapy may be more general, concerned with the person's feelings and thought processes rather than specific problems. Psychotherapy may also look at childhood abuse and provides exploration of a range of choices; how we choose to be in this world, personal and spiritual growth, and may ask the question who am I?

Counselling Contract

If you wish, you can download, read and sign my Counselling Contract before starting any sessions. Please read the following before doing so.

Confidentiality Statement

Therapy sessions are strictly confidential except under the following circumstances...

1. From time to time I will discuss my work with a clinical supervisor. This is standard practice and helps me to work as well as I can with you. In this process your identity is not revealed. My supervisor is bound by the BACP's Ethical Framework for good practice.

2. Where I believe that you are at risk of seriously harming yourself or others, I reserve the right to break confidentially in order to prevent harm. However, I would only do this in extreme circumstances and would always discuss it with you first before taking any action.

3. Where I would be liable to civil or criminal court procedure if information was not disclosed (e.g. terrorist activities).

Record Keeping and Data Protection

I may keep short notes on you and our therapy sessions such as background information and issues worked on. Notes are kept securely and anonymously, and will be destroyed one year after our counselling contract has ended.

I may ask your permission to tape record the therapy session. This will allow me to reflect on the details of what we have discussed. If you agree, you may change your mind at any time and I will erase the recording.

For the purpose of further accreditation and continuing professional development, I may submit written or taped material of some therapy sessions for evaluation. Any such written material will be disguised to protect your identity and will only be reviewed by clinicians bound by a suitable Code of Ethics.

I abide by BACP's (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) Ethical Framework for good practice in counselling and psychotherapy.

Counselling, Psychotherapy and CBT Sessions

Each therapy session lasts 50 minutes. We will discuss the length of the counselling contract and the fee at the initial meeting. The fee is open to review once a year, usually in January.

Cancellations

I require at least one full week's notice for a cancellation, otherwise the full fee will be charged. If you cannot make a therapy session, I will make every effort to fit you in another time.

My Background and Training in Counselling, Psychotherapy and CBT

I have been working as a counsellor, psychotherapist and CBT practitioner for the past 5 years. I have been involved in training and development in media and advertising within the publishing sector since 1985. I have a total of 14 years experience as a counsellor and psychotherapist. I worked in the voluntary sector for over ten years, for MIND and Sussex Alcohol and Substance Misuse, and was honorary counsellor at Longhill School, Rottingdean, for a year, where I worked as a member of the Youth Advisory Council (YMCA), counselling children between the ages 7 and 16.

I am a qualified psychotherapist with a diploma in existential psychotherapy and counselling from Regent's College, London 1998. I am trained in cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT has a proven track record of success and is the most popular model of counselling in the NHS) and short–term solution focused therapy, and have received specialist training in addiction counselling and working with young people (OCS Diploma 2007). I am committed to on–going continued professional development.

I am a licensed practitioner of Neuro–Lingusitic Programming [Member number 99318 Renewal date 31/03/2013]. I studied with Richard Bandler (co-founder of The Society of Neuro–Linguistic Programming) and Paul McKenna.

As a requirement of all BACP accredited therapists, I am undertaking on–going professional supervision on a twice monthly basis. I practice in accordance with the Equal Opportunities Policy.

Appointments

My Brighton and Hove clinic is at 24 Buxton Road, Seven Dials and my Worthing clinic is at the Quaker Meeting House, 34 Mill Road. All clinics area are well serviced by public transport and there is parking nearby. See the maps for directions. See below for bus routes.

I also run clinics at Anahata Health Clinic (119-120 Edward Street, Brighton and Hove) and at The Acupuncture Clinic (143 Portland Road, Brighton and Hove)

You can email me through the contact page, or telephone me on one of the following numbers:–

Tel:  01273 507130
Mob:  07719926912

Getting There

To Seven Dials clinic in Brighton and Hove: The Closest bus stop is at BHASVIC College

   No 7 from George St in Hove to Seven Dials
   No 7 from North St in Brighton to Seven Dials
   No 27 from North St in Brighton (BHASVIC stop after Seven Dials)
   No 14 from North St in Brighton (BHASVIC stop after Seven Dials)
   No 37 from Queens Park in Brighton to Seven Dials
   No 56 from Patcham to Seven Dials

To Worthing Clinic: Catch the No 700 Bus to Worthing

   No 700 from Churchill Square in Brighton to Marine Parade in Worthing.
   No 700 from Portsmouth and Goring to Marine Parade in Worthing.
   Pulse Bus from Durrington (Tesco or Carisbrooke Drive) to Worthing.

Fees

The first meeting is £25 and is an opportunity for you to explore whether you would like to continue with existential psychotherapy, CBT and counselling. During this session we will talk about what you want from therapy and how many sessions we think would be appropriate. We will also discuss cost – charges are on a sliding scale between £40 and £50 a session. £25 for retired OAP's and low earners and special rates between £28 and £35 can be negotiated for students. This is for a 50 minute session for individual clients.

Testimonials

[S.B. Aug 2010]   "I first visited Fran 6 months ago to discuss a couple of issues that had been affecting me and my life for a number of years. Because of these issues my confidence and self esteem was very low and I often felt stuck in my own world, with little way out and that no one could help.

Six months on, I am a different person. Initially the therapy allowed me to understand the problems I was facing and why they had been affecting me to such a degree – and it was amazing how immediate the negative opinions I had about myself changed. Through the sessions and use of techniques I have since been able to face my problems head on and I have made huge steps in overcoming barriers that have been built for me and that I have built for myself.

In addition, I have learnt an enormous amount about myself as a person, and this has helped me in other all aspects of life, being able to understand my emotions and be a far happier person. My confidence is restored and I feel really optimistic about the future.

Finally, I have always felt comfortable with the therapy and Fran has been both incredibly professional and caring throughout."

– – – – – – – –

[J.R. October 2010]   "Since working with Fran I am able to take things more in my stride, I have learned the importance of looking after myself and gained the courage to put myself first in certain situations. Fran helped me to pick up on certain areas of my life which restricted me from being as happy as I deserved to be and which had the potential to cause me anxiety. I was able to choose week by week what area I wanted to focus on, and this helped me to fully understand myself and change my life for the better."

Brighton and Hove Clinic Worthing Clinic
Brighton and Hove Clinic Worthing Clinic
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Francesca Bennett : Accredited Member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)
T: 01273 507130    M: 07719926912    Website: Steve Webster    Map: www.map-generator.net