About Me
My name is Rachel and I qualified as a Counsellor in 2015. I worked on a voluntary basis as a Counsellor at a local counselling agency called “Simply Counselling” until 2020. I set up New Hope Counselling in 2018.
I also worked as a nurse in the NHS for 32 years, 23 of them as an ICU nurse. In December 2021 I gave up nursing to focus solely on my work as a Counsellor and Counselling Supervisor.
I believe my experiences working in health care enable me to have greater understanding for people who are struggling with health issues. I also have recently had my own lived experience of being given a diagnosis of a life-altering chronic health condition which I bring to my work with those clients dealing with health conditions.
I completed EMDR training two years ago and I can use this type of advanced psychotherapy to help people process a traumatic event, alleviating the distress resulting from it. I also use it to help people become unstuck from negative beliefs about themselves which are impacting their daily lives.
I have had a lot of experience in working with people who have experienced domestic abuse or been in a relationship with a narcissist. I also frequently work with people who have had difficult experiences growing up within their family relationships.
I have a passion for hearing people’s stories and giving them validation and empathy for what they have experienced. I believe that coming to counselling can be life-changing, helping you to find strength, understanding and renewed purpose.
As part of being a Counsellor, it has been necessary for me to attend my own therapy sessions from time to time. So, I share with you, the experience of trying to find the right Counsellor and then being a client and attending counselling sessions.
I am a person who loves being outdoors in nature, walking my dogs and taking photos, including those on this website. I am very interested in providing therapy outdoors to those who may be interested in this.
I hope that you have found the information on my website helpful and if you have anything you would like to ask me, please feel free to get in contact with me.
Qualifications, Training and Experience
- EMDR Training fully completed -parts one, two and three (recognised by EMDR Association UK) 2023.
- CPCAB Level 6 Certificate in Therapeutic Counselling Supervisor. 2021.
- CPCAB Level 5 Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling. 2018.
- CPCAB Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling. 2015.
- Registered Nurse. 1993.
- I have completed training courses on bereavement, trauma, addiction, domestic abuse and working with suicidal clients.
- I worked as a Voluntary Counsellor at a local Counselling Agency called ‘Simply Counselling’. I worked with a wide variety of clients from many different walks of life bringing issues such as anxiety, depression, abuse, loss and trauma, amongst many other things.
- I worked as a general nurse for 32 years which has given me experience with health-related difficulties, as well as caring for those with cancer, COVID-19, critical illness and at the end of life.
- I am a Registered Member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), have completed their Certificate of Proficiency and adhere to their Ethical Framework. I have worked towards and gained BACP accreditation.
