"There are few gifts that one person can give to another in this world
as rich as understanding" - Rollo May
as rich as understanding" - Rollo May
A Group of Independent Counsellors
Dengie Counselling started with one counsellor and over time will grow to become a small group of independent counsellors with a range of skills and experience that are fully able to meet the needs of local people. The counsellors operate independently and contract individually with their clients. Once therapy has begun any issues that arise need to be raised directly with the counsellor or their regulatory body.
Qualifications & Training
All of the counsellors listed on this website have received appropriate training at least to Diploma Level and will be registered with a regulatory body such as the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) or the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP). These and other similar organisations require that counsellors adhere to a range of professional standards and comply with strict codes of ethics. These regulatory bodies also operate complaints systems for any client who is dissatisfied with the service that they have received. All counsellors carry professional indemnity insurance to an appropriate level.
Counsellor Registration
Despite many years of discussion, there is currently no national registration scheme for therapeutic counsellors. This means that unlike many healthcare professionals, counsellors are not required to be state registered. For this reason it is important when choosing a counsellor to ensure that they are registered with a nationally recognised organisation. Their registration will require that they are qualified to an appropriate level and continue to update their training; that they have regular supervision with a senior therapist; and that they continue to comply fully with a recognised Code of Ethics.
Managing Boundaries and Conflicts of Interest
It is the responsibility of each counsellor to manage and maintain the professional and ethical boundaries that are such an important part of developing a relationship of trust. This includes identifying and managing any conflicts of interest that may arise. When working within a local community there will be occasions when there may be an overlap between clients, or potential clients. This could be because they are linked through a family relationship or perhaps they have something else in common such as sharing a workplace. The conflict arises because the counsellor needs to create a space for their client that is totally confidential. This cannot be maintained if there is the possibility that a particular client could be part of the therapeutic conversation with another client. It is the counsellor's responsibility to always be sensitive to this at all times and as soon as they become aware of any possibility of an overlap, to take the appropriate action. The best option for all concerned would be a referral to another counsellor within the same organisation or, where this is not possible, to another counselling organisation. Naturally this must be done while maintaining the confidentiality of both clients.
Michael Golding
"In the 20 years since I completed my Counselling Diploma I have pursued a varied career in healthcare management while continuing my counselling practice. I would describe my overall style as being humanistic while being firmly grounded in the Person-Centred approach of Carl Rogers. I work with individual adults and couples.
I believe that we each have within us all of the resources that we need to flourish. However for many of us our experiences through childhood and beyond have created barriers which have stifled these natural abilities. For some of us learned or adapted behaviours that were needed for survival no longer serve us well. For others, flawed interactions with those around us prevented us from fully developing our own abilities to think, feel or act in the present.
This can lead us to feel anxious or uncertain in ways that can be crippling, while others are left with feelings of anger or sadness that can be overwhelming. Such emotions can have a continuously negative impact on our personal and professional relationships, severely limiting the possibility of gaining any satisfaction in either arena. We all find ways to cope but in time these too can become one more layer on the barrier that prevents us from fully engaging with life in the way that we would wish.
I will support you in unraveling your past experiences to reduce their power to overwhelm. I will walk alongside as you explore your present experiences and discover more satisfactory ways of engaging with your world and the people in it.
I am an Accredited Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and comply fully with their Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions."
I believe that we each have within us all of the resources that we need to flourish. However for many of us our experiences through childhood and beyond have created barriers which have stifled these natural abilities. For some of us learned or adapted behaviours that were needed for survival no longer serve us well. For others, flawed interactions with those around us prevented us from fully developing our own abilities to think, feel or act in the present.
This can lead us to feel anxious or uncertain in ways that can be crippling, while others are left with feelings of anger or sadness that can be overwhelming. Such emotions can have a continuously negative impact on our personal and professional relationships, severely limiting the possibility of gaining any satisfaction in either arena. We all find ways to cope but in time these too can become one more layer on the barrier that prevents us from fully engaging with life in the way that we would wish.
I will support you in unraveling your past experiences to reduce their power to overwhelm. I will walk alongside as you explore your present experiences and discover more satisfactory ways of engaging with your world and the people in it.
I am an Accredited Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and comply fully with their Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions."
Lee Mason
"My aim as a Counsellor is to offer a safe, non-judgemental environment which will enable you to explore any issues you may have at present. I am an Integrative Counsellor, which means I work with different therapeutic approaches and can adapt these to suit your individual needs. I offer both short and long term counselling.
By working together we will be able to identify solutions and strategies to help you make the changes you may need in your life.
I have worked in a variety of settings including Primary and Secondary Schools, the Macmillan Dove Bereavement Service, Thurrock Mind and in Private Practice.
I have a Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling and work with children and adolescents as well as individual adults. I work in a way that incorporates many theories and styles of therapy. and I continue my professional development to keep up to date with new methods of working. This has included Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Mindfulness. These can offer relief from physical symptoms, such as sleep problems and the physical signs of anxiety, allowing the body some breathing space to help with emotional healing.
I am an Accredited Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and work within their Ethical Framework for Counselling Professions."
By working together we will be able to identify solutions and strategies to help you make the changes you may need in your life.
I have worked in a variety of settings including Primary and Secondary Schools, the Macmillan Dove Bereavement Service, Thurrock Mind and in Private Practice.
I have a Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling and work with children and adolescents as well as individual adults. I work in a way that incorporates many theories and styles of therapy. and I continue my professional development to keep up to date with new methods of working. This has included Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Mindfulness. These can offer relief from physical symptoms, such as sleep problems and the physical signs of anxiety, allowing the body some breathing space to help with emotional healing.
I am an Accredited Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and work within their Ethical Framework for Counselling Professions."