NaturalTherapyForAll - Affirm Counselling

About Affirm Counselling

How I Work

My aim is to work in a non–judgemental way. I am trained in cognitive and 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 encourage and ignite new ways of being.

In order to suit each individual I refer to the following contemporary therapeutic practices:-

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is designed to help you deal with specific problems. It identifies unhelpful negative thoughts and associated feelings and behaviours. You will learn to use more helpful alternative balanced thoughts, which in turn lead to a lessening of the intensity of negative feelings and a more positive outlook. The emphasis is on learning to use these strategies through homework so that you can become your own best therapist.

Schema-Focused Therapy was developed by the American psychologist Dr. Jeffrey Young for the treatment of personality difficulties. This has gained a popular following in recent years. Schema therapy focuses on the treatment of one or more of the 18 Early Maladaptive Schemas (or Life Patterns) which can be self-defeating, these are core themes or ‘lifetraps’ you can fall into, repeating them throughout your life. The schemas, in addition to the respective coping styles (surrender, avoidance or over-compensation) are usually created in early childhood and persist throughout adult life. The goal of Schema Therapy is to minimize the impact of these maladaptive schemas by becoming more aware of them and using more adaptive relating and coping styles.

Mindfulness is based on an ancient Buddhist practice and is closely linked to meditation. It involves focusing on the present moment (rather than past problems or anxieties about the future) and developing your skill of becoming more grounded by observing, rather than getting involved in your continuous internal chatter with commentary or judgement. Through the process of observation you can discover that contentment does not necessarily come through outside changes, more by an internal state in which you can let go of attachments to your thoughts and feelings. Mindfulness in this case is done on a moment-to-moment basis, by simly bringing your attention to whatever happens or is around in the present moment. Mindfulness does not have to follow a religious doctrine, nor have to be done through long hours of meditation!

Solution-Focused Therapy is goal-oriented therapy, aimed at drawing on resources you already possess in order to resolve the problem, rather than talking about the problem itself. The therapy involves working with imaginary scenarios set in the future that are problem-free. This enables you to think freely (without judgement) and to generate original solutions.

You are the author of your own life.

My training, work experience and any achievement

DIPLOMA IN EXISTENTIAL PSYCHOTHERAPY AND COUNSELLING
CERTIFCATE IN COUNSELLING AND PSYCHOTHERAPY
REGENTS COLLEGE LONDON NW1

CBT certificate course at the BROMLEY COLLEGE OF STRESS MANAGEMENT PASS
CBT advanced certificate course. Ditto. Pending result.
CBT working with PTS. Ditto. Pending result on completion of work.

OFFINGDON COLLEGE DIPLOMA IN WORKING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE.

SEE WEBSITE FOR FURTHER DETAILS

MIND IN PURLEY. 7 YEARS VOLUNTARY TRAINEE
SASS/OPTIONS IN WORTHING CIRCA ONE YEAR TRAINEE PSYCHOTHERAPIST WORKING WITH ADDICTIONS.

Further Information

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 over 15 years experience and have been a counsellor and psychothereapist in Brighton and Hove for the last 8 years. 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.

Age I Work With

Adults

Languages

English

Other concerns & issues I deal with

Concerns & issues I deal with

Abuse
Addictions
Agoraphobia
Alcohol Dependence
Anger Management
Anxiety
Assertiveness
Avoidant Personality
Bereavement
Binge Eating Disorder (BED)
Bipolar Disorder
Bisexual Issues
Boredom
Bulimia Nervosa
Bullying
Career Counselling
Childhood Issues
Codependency
Dementia
Dependent Personality Disorder (DPD)
Depression
Disability
Dissociation
Divorce
Drug Abuse
Eating Disorders
Erectile Dysfunction
Ethics
Exhaustion
Family Problems
Fatigue
Fear
Gambling
Gay Issues
Grief
Inhibitions
Internet Addiction
Isolation
Leadership
Learning Difficulties
Lesbian Issues
Low Self Confidence
Low Self Esteem
Manipulative Behaviour
Meaningless
Melancholia
Mens Issues
Menopause
Mental Health Problems
Midlife Crisis
Miscarriage
Morality
Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Negative Thoughts
Neurosis
Obsessions
Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD)
Pain Management
Panic Attacks
Panic Disorder
Paranoia
Paranoid Personality Disorder
Pathological Gambling
Perfectionism
Performance Management
Personal Growth
Personal Relationships
Personality Disorders (PD)
Physical Illness
Post Natal Depression (PND)
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Redundancy
Relationship Problems
Repetitive Negative Patterns
Sadness
Same Sex Relationships
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Self Determination
Self Development
Self Harm
Separation
Sex
Sexual Abuse
Sexual Addiction
Shame
Shyness
Sleep Disorders
Smoking Addiction
Social Phobia
Somatogenic Psychosis
Stress
Stress Management
Suicidal Thoughts
Tiredness
Trauma
Unresolved Issues
Weight Loss
Work Stress
Emotional Abuse

Therapy Provides

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Counselling
Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
NLP
Psychotherapy
Stress Management
Life Coaching

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Ms. Francesca Bennett

Affirm Counselling

Counselling, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) in Brighton

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