Focus On Counsellors

Alun retired from Western Counselling after 29yrs loyal and dedicated work to the cause of addiction treatment, at the end of December 2012.  He is still to be found occassionally "guesting" at Aftercare on Friday afternoons

Dave

"Working in this field is rewarding – seeing positive change in people’s lives and helping them rebuild healthy relationships with their families."

Dave is a Senior Counsellor who joined the staff at Western Counselling in 2007 from another treatment centre where he was also a counsellor. His qualifications include a Diploma in Addiction Counselling, a Diploma in Personality Disorders and Certificate in Motivational Interviewing, which bring valuable expertise to the team. These skills and experience make him well suited to working with clients with criminal backgrounds and personality disorders. He works closely with clients who have a dual diagnosis or history of self-harming. His Offending Behaviour Programme is an important aspect of the therapeutic work at the centre.

Carol

"Its a great privilege to work with clients and see them realise they are not bad people."

Carol is a Senior Counsellor with responsibility for Secondary Care. She is an addiction counsellor with personal experience being in recovery herself. “I get so much out of my counselling, seeing people change and move away from fear, anxiety and insecurity.”

Carol uses her own life experiences to help clients in Secondary Care take control and get back to their true self. She is a firm believer in the 12 Steps and credits this approach with her own recovery. Her style is direct and clients respond well to her ability to make them question their own motivation for long-term recovery. “As counsellors we only help clients to help themselves. For me it's amazing to see how clients in Secondary Care show unconditional support and care for each other as well."

Mandy"I thrive on getting the whole family well."

Mandy is a psychotherapist specialising in psychodynamic change, she is also a hypnotherapist and is one of our Primary Care Counsellors. Her gentle, holistic approach to treatment is particularly successful with female clients and younger clients.

Although she does not use hypnosis in one-to-one counselling, Mandy uses her experience to help her clients relax during these sessions. Achieving a state of relaxation brings them the benefit of reduced anxiety, ability to cope with fears, improved sleep and allowing change.

"Because of my personal experience with sibling and family addiction I am very focused on helping the whole family to get well as the client works towards recovery."

Mandy is a key member of our family programme days, which take place regularly and where she facilitates family meetings and counselling sessions. Her holistic approach has led her to take a lead role in organising weekly visits from professional therapists who come to the centre to offer holistic treatments such as Indian Head Massage and Reiki.

Babs is a trainee Counsellor studying Post Graduate Diploma in Counselling at Bridgwater College - qualifies June 2013.  Babs has worked with Western Counselling for a number of years initially as a volunteer and then as a Support Worker.  She is responsible for Family Liaison and arranges family visits and makes the necessary arrangements for the Family Programme.

"I really love and get excited when I see a client gaining self awareness and exploring their personal recovery journey "

Geoff  "I like working on personal identity and self esteem with clients.  I find it rewarding helping them to rediscover who they are and what their true strengths are"

Geoff joined the team in November 2012 as a Counsellor in primary care.  He has experience of working in residential and structured daycare services for a range of addictions.

Natalie "It's great to work as part of a team that helps people manage and overcome their addictions."

Natalie joined the team as a full-time counsellor at Western Counselling after successfully completing her Foundation Degree in Counselling at Weston College. While studying for her degree she completed her work placement with us in Primary Care. She has also worked with us a volunteer so has a real understanding of our ethos and approach to 12Step treatment.  Natalie has attained qualifications in Eating Disorders and has an interest in food addictions and the role of food in Recovery.

Fiona initially came to Western Counselling to undertake her placement as part of her Counselling studies and Diploma qualification.  She loved it so much she stayed.