Focus On Counsellors

Alun is Director of Treatment and has been part of the team at Western Counselling for 25 years. In recovery himself, he joined Western Counselling as a volunteer. Through this experience he learned the skills that enabled him to train as a counsellor specialising in Secondary care. Today, his calming approach is well suite to his role supporting the team of counsellors, providing pastoral care, and carrying out evening spot checks in accommodation. He is a vital link for former clients who attend Aftercare and he keeps in contact with former clients to organise our successful annual reunion.

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 privelege to work with clients and see them realise they are not bad people."

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. It’s a great privilege to work with clients and see them realise they are not bad people.”

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 weekends, 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.

Finbarr is a qualified transpersonal psychotherapist registered with the UKCP (United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy, the professional body for psychotherapists). He is trained to Masters level and works as a Primary Care counsellor with many of our clients.

His particular area of expertise is transpersonal psychotherapy, which addresses spiritual wellbeing; creating a sense of inner peace, compassion for others, and reverence for life, gratitude, and appreciation. Finbarr facilitates a number of our group workshops and has a particular interest in sharing and helping clients learn the 12 Steps. He uses his skills and training to help individuals, couples and groups enhance their life and live it more fully. His style is non-judgemental and we value his safe approach to working with our clients. "I believe that addiction counselling is about helping clients to recognize and focus on the extent of their problem and exploring the best options for recovery".

John "I am relishing this opportunity to work with clients and learn from the very experienced counsellors at Western Counselling"

John is a trainee counsellor working with our Primary Care team. In the past, he worked at Western Counselling as a support worker and as a volunteer with the Youth Offending team and trained to be a mentor. He has completed his Intermediate Counselling Skills and Advanced Counselling qualifications and is now working towards his Post Graduate Diploma. His approach is very much centred on the individual and he works under the guidance of Jeannette the Senior Counsellor in Primary Care. "When I started at Western Counselling as a support worker I was gaining work experience towards a career in social work. Being with other counsellors and clients here I realised that I had a great opportunity to train as a counsellor."

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. While studying for her degree at Weston College she acheived 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.