Growing Unlimited

ONE TO ONE SUPPORT

I am an experienced and qualified counsellor and supervisor working in an integrative style, based in Winchester, Hampshire. (For more information on qualifications and experience please scroll down). The type of counselling offered will depend on the needs of the client. My philosophy of counselling is client led and I aim to offer caring, non-judgemental and positive support. Counselling will be arranged on a short term or longer, open-ended basis. Most work is short to medium term. I have been working in the counselling field for 17 years and am experienced in working with a wide range and depth of issues and distress. (If you would like to see some comments from clients who have benefitted from counselling work at Growing Unlimited, please scroll down towards bottom of page). To make an enquiry about counselling Email here

I work mostly with individuals but can also offer work with couples and groups/families. I do not offer 'couples' or 'family' therapy, but aim to help clients to manage the changes they would like to make and assist them with communication skills to help make practical changes and pursue emotional healing and development.

STARTING OUT
At the beginning of your counselling there is an initial assessment face-to-face. This helps you to work out what type of counselling you are looking for and whether this is the right setting to help you to achieve your aim.

YOUR ROLE IN COUNSELLING
Counselling is not an easy option for solving problems. Part of the assessment session will be to help you check out whether this is the right time for you to be in counselling and whether you are in a good enough place emotionally to make the most of it.

CONFIDENTIALITY
All services offered are confidential within Growing Unlimited. There are exceptions to the confidentiality, common to the counselling field and these are explained as part of the assessment process, and a written explanation can be provided on request.

BARBARA'S EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS
I began my training in 1991 with a 3 year course at a Southampton based psychodynamic organisation affiliated to Westminster Pastoral Foundation. During that time I also underwent training in the counselling of addictions and related issues, worked as a family worker/counsellor within social services and also worked for 10 years in an addictions counselling agency as a counsellor, group worker, counselling supervisor, and client services manager, counselling a large variety of clients in both short and longer-term work including underlying issues, and working with couples and family members where appropriate. During that time I counselled in a variety of settings including hospitals and GP surgeries. In 1999 I qualified as a counselling supervisor and have a lot of experience in supporting and mentoring counsellors and workers from a variety of therapeutic and educational backgrounds with particular experience in facilitating and supporting those working in the addictions and domestic violence fields, supporting change and development. I am a UKRC Registered Independent Counsellor and accredited with the Federation of Drug and Alcohol Professionals and a member of BACP, UKRC,FDAP. Other trainings I have participated in include: Group Analysis (introductory year); Diagnosis and psychotherapy of dissociative disorders; brief, solution-focussed therapy; motivational interviewing; anger management; anxiety management; Gorski relapase prevention; systemic work in addictions; childhood sexual abuse; counselling for gamblers; dual diagnosis; cultural diversity; men in therapy; freedom programme facilitation, and much more.

SUPPORTING STAFF
Support at Growing Unlimited, although in the main provided by Barbara, may also be provided by other trusted practitioners if this is appropriate. All ethical practitioners are supervised and supported on a regular basis so that their work with you will be of a good quality, dedicated and safe. Growing Unlimited works to the BACP and FDAP ethical guidelines. Services are provided subject to demand, financial resources and staffing.

PAYING FOR YOUR COUNSELLING
The initial consultation in Winchester, of up to one and a half hours, is free of charge with no obligation on either side. Fees vary according to what type of counselling you require and where it will take place. Generally, individual counselling in Winchester is charged at £40 per session and couple work at £45 per session. Longer term or more complex work may entail an increased fee. (If you are low-waged, see below for information on subsidised fees). If you would like to pay electronically you can use this 'Nochex' icon for your convenience.

(Include who you are and what appointment date/time you want to pay for in the details box).


FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
We have a policy of occasionally offering subsidised counselling or groupwork to private individuals in need who are genuinely unable to pay the full rate and where there is no similar statutory or other appropriate service available. This is subject to our financial resources and staffing levels and at our discretion. DO PLEASE ASK - we will help where we can.

SOME CLIENT COMMENTS ILLUSTRATING BENEFITS OF COUNSELLING AND GROUP WORK AT GROWING UNLIMITED
(names and identifying statements omitted for reasons of confidentiality - all comments included are with express permission of the client)

"Barbara created a safe space which gave me the confidence to be totally authentic. As a result I am making a transtion that I was frightened of but knew deep down would have to be made. This feels exciting and I am looking forward to working with Barbara in the future. I would recommend her wholeheartedly to anyone looking to heal from traumas or to make inner transitions and personal growth. Many thanks Barbara"

"I joined the Self-Help group to feel supported through a difficult time in my life .......... The atmosphere feels professional yet caring - and definitely non-judgemental. I really appreciate the availability of the additional 1-1 support. Thank you Barbara and Delyse."

"The work you did with us helped us to secure our relationship and we now have a much better understanding of ourselves and each other."

"[The Group] has most definitely helped me to begin to understand the underlying issues that I have been struggling with. It's helped me to understand how events in my childhood have shaped my present and has given me the courage to delve deeper...... I cannot put into words how helpful it has been, I have discovered things that I didn't think possible. Barbara is the first person to see beyond the surface and give me a positive response to what she sees, it's beyond words."

"[Growing Unlimited] is a place that offers a mental detox, a place away from the pain, somewhere that brings some light back into what can seem a dark world. If you show some courage, it can change your life."

"Sessions are held in an appropriately sensitive and professional manner; I generally came away having learned something. I have been helped with regard to my (parental) family relationships."

"[I've been attending Growing Unlimited] with Barbara for almost a year. I wanted to stop feeling unhappy, destructive, depressed and understand why I was unhappy....I didn't feel normal. I learned [about my] lack of connecting with Self and learned more acceptance of myself, gained confidence. Last year I never thought I could feel different. Now I'm more often happy than sad."

"[Counselling] is very supportive - nothing like I'd ever felt before. I could say ANYTHING without being told off or disliked. That's so unusual...."

"Amazingly perceptive counsellor - saw more than I thought existed let alone what I was hiding! Incredibly supportive and insightful, [counselling] fits into your life without any stigma or disruption."

"Participation in the Group helped greatly. [I worked on] inner child work, dealing with ageing parents and how to support my children in a positive way."

"I participated in [joint] counselling for relationship issues. I wanted to resolve issues and set up strategies for dealing with stress points. I identified .... blockages and problems, and clear ways of addressing stress points in the future. I got a generally better understanding of Self and partner issues and the impact of our behaviour, [which I was not expecting]. Barbara was engaging, proactive and extremely positive - although did challenge us both."

"If you have problems and are both committed to addressing these constructively, Barbara enables this process to happen. Thank you for your patience, time and clarity in understanding the needs we had."

"[The atmostphere] was good. Caring and warm. But it was difficult to trust someone when you don't know them. The experience was far more helpful than other counselling sessions undertaken in the past."

"I had 10 sessions. Certainly did help. Explained how to better handle feelings. [It helped me] understand my own feelings as important. Barbara was professional and friendly. Well worth time spent there. The fact the therapist was well versed about recovering alcoholics made it a lot easier."


SERVICES FOR COUNSELLORS

COUNSELLING SUPERVISION
Growing Unlimited offers both individual or group supervison. Supervisors work to the BACP Code of Ethics. The type of supervision will be discussed at outset, and supervisors and supervisees will work towards a safe and supportive relationship. This supervision may be in the form of therapeutic supervision for counsellors, or may be supportive supervision aimed at helping someone at work to fulfill their role and interact in a more satisfying or effective manner. Individual or Group Supervision is normally offered in sessions of one or one and a half hours.

We also offer counsellor support. This can mean mentoring, or other support as appropriate.

From time to time Growing Unlimited offers workshops on a variety of issues related to personal and counsellor development, please ask about these if you are interested.