Penny Chapman

I work 9AM until 9PM weekdays either face to face or online.  I offer mostly hourly sessions but am also able to provide 1.5hours monthly sessions if required.

I am trained in a range of therapies but specialise in psychodynamic theory, in which I have a Masters degree, and in trauma work. 

My practice includes complex trauma cases, and  those experiencing severe attachment issues including child, adult and family issues, using Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP) and Non Violent Resistance (NVR). My special interest is working with teenagers but I also support primary aged children and adults working both verbally and creatively as appropriate. I have experience in working with couples and families. The majority of my clients are in the care system. I have more recent experience in working using EMDR, and working somatically using NeuroAffective Touch (NAT). I am currently training in Somatic Experiencing (SE).  I am applying to join the DDP practicum. I am working towards my EMDR accreditation. 

I have held safeguarding roles and have a good understanding of ethics, data management, research, and professional practice requirements having held senior roles in the NHS and third sector.

I provide supervision to a range of practitioners, both students from a number of universities and to experienced therapists. I worked at a senior level in the NHS for many years and most recently for a children's mental health charity which specialises in psychological trauma as a clinician and senior manager, and I am now expanding my private practice. I am particularly interested in growing the next generation of therapists to meet the growing mental health needs of the population and to provide them with the best possible professional support to enable them to practice competently and ethically. My style is supportive, appropriate to the level of experience of the practitioner, consultative or educative as appropriate, and I work using the transference as a psychodynamic supervisor,  encouraging supervisees to be mindful of what they bring to the work with the client and how this may influence the counselling work.

My private practice is in a bespoke counselling room with comfortable seating. There is on site driveway parking.

I provide supervisory support to individuals and small groups if required. I am able to provide larger group supervision for organisations on site with negotiation.

I work both face to face or online or a combination of these.

I currently charge £50 a standard length session. This is normally via bank transfer within 48 hours of the session, or by SumUp card machine or cash if preferred.

My normal session lengths are standard 50 mins (1 hour) but I am able to provide 1.5 hour sessions to support individuals seeking monthly supervision to meet BACP requirements.

Whilst I am understanding of unforeseeable events, my standard requirement is for 24 hour notice of  cancellation.

As with all ethical counselling practice, where possible, I prefer to work with clients and supervisees to manage a positive ending of the professional relationship at the appropriate juncture.

I use a supervisory agreement which is agreed with supervisees at the beginning of the supervisory relationship to clarify boundaries and expectations for all parties, including the supervisory frame, safeguarding, confidentiality and professional standards. 

Where I am working in support of those undertaking associated educational courses or working towards professional accreditation I agree to complete the relevant paperwork to support the needs of the supervisee in this respect.

I aim to work in partnership with the supervisee to form a supportive professional relationship for the benefit of the individual and their client base. I have a friendly style supported by many years of professional experience.

Prior to commencing a supervisory relationship I usually have a 15-30 minute telephone or zoom call to discuss the prospective arrangement, during which I will explain about my practice and aim to understand if I can meet the needs of the prospective supervisee. There is no charge for this. At the end it is up to the enquirer whether they wish to reach an agreement on whether to formalise the supervisory relationship. I reserve the right to decline to take on a prospective supervisee if I do not think that I am able to meet their supervisory needs, in line with my aim to provide an ethical practice, although this has not occurred to date. An example may be if supervision is being sought for a modality in which I am not qualified to provide support.

I offer both daytime and evening client appointments Monday to Friday 9AM-9PM.

I work online, via telephone and face to face, or a combination of these as required.

I undertake both short and long term work.

My sessions are the standard length of 50 minutes.

Clients  attending for individual therapy are normally seen weekly. Twice weekly or fortnightly sessions are sometimes agreed, depending on individual circumstances. 

I have a 24 hour cancellation policy and will advise in advance of any planned absence. I am understanding in the case of cancellation due to unforeseen circumstances, and I am able to offer alternative provision, for example Zoom sessions, where clients are unable to attend in sessions person due to inclement weather or car breakdown.

I am an experienced therapist and supervisor, trained and qualified in a number of different modalities. I work in a way which best meets the needs of my clients.

I hold a Masters Degree in Psychodynamic counselling and I am qualified to work with children, young people, adults and families.

My speciality is working with trauma and attachment issues in young people, but my work includes supporting those with anxiety and depression, and those who are self harming or with suicidal ideation. I work  with children and adults who have  experienced Domestic Abuse and associated trauma. 

I am qualified to provide EMDR to children and adults.  I use Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP) to work with families, especially where there have been disrupted attachments and trauma. I am trained in DDP to level 2 and I receive specialist supervision and am working towards entering the Practicum to become a specialist. I support parents individually and in groups with Non Violent Resistance techniques (NVR) where they are experiencing difficulties at home within the family.

I am able to practice somatically with trauma using NeuroAffective Touch, and am a current student of Somatic Experiencing, due to complete my training in 2024. 

I worked for many years as a clinician in the NHS and I have a good understanding of medical trauma. I have worked as an expert witness previously, and have undertaken care assessments.  I have experience in providing psychological support for medical trauma.

My style is supportive and empathetic and I aim to provide a containing and psychologically calm environment for clients in which to explore their issues, respecting client confidentiality.

I work within the BACP professional code of practice and ethical  guidelines. If any safeguarding issues arise within sessions, then I will discuss with the client and support them in order to keep themselves and others safe. I have current data protection (GDPR) registration and professional  liability insurance.

I provide a private and comfortable bespoke counselling space which is decorated to a high standard. There is attached driveway parking for clients. There are cloakroom facilities available.

I offer an initial 15 minute telephone or zoom appointment free of charge at a mutually agreeable time to discuss client needs and to ascertain if I am the right professional to be providing support to you at this time, and for you to decide whether you wish to proceed with counselling therapy. I practice ethically and If I feel unable to support you if my professional skill set does not meet your needs at this time I will endeavour to signpost you to the most appropriate service to meet your needs.

I am an experienced and well qualified therapist and clinician and I have worked in the NHS and voluntary sector for many years in addition to private practice. I aim to provide a sensitive and supportive approach to my clients and I practice with empathy. 

I provide a confidential service. 

I am a level 3 trained safeguarding designated officer with a good understanding of related issues. If I have any concerns about client safety or the safety of others I will discuss this with clients to agree next steps, if required. 

Any records I may hold are held in accordance with GDPR requirements.

A written consent is required prior to any therapy commencing.

24 hour cancellation is required for appointments, although I am understanding of unforeseen circumstances preventing attendance.

Payment is via bank transfer, SumUp, or cash at the time of sessions.

I work hard to build a trusting therapeutic relationship with clients to enable them to share and work on issues of concern to them during their sessions.

I encourage clients to work towards a positive planned ending of therapy which is mutually agreed and which does not reinforce patterns  of loss or sudden endings which the client may have experienced previously. I therefore encourage clients to have a formal endings session wherever possible.

I offer an initial 15 minute telephone or zoom call free of charge prior to proceeding with any treatment sessions.

During our first session I will complete a more detailed narrative assessment of client need and discuss and agree a treatment plan with the client. This will include information on what the client views as their difficulties, and their family and relationship history, for example. As a psychodynamic therapist I believe that we are the sum of our past experiences and relationships which help make us who we are, so these are all important factors to consider in the context of therapy, when the client feels ready to share. The first session is of normal length and is charged at the agreed session rate.  Clients are asked to complete a consent form prior to any treatment commencing, and I ask for an emergency contact and basic demographic details at this time, in case of emergency. I am first aid trained.

Subsequent sessions are client led, meaning that the client brings topics for discussion of their choosing in that particular week that may be causing them concern, noting that those attending for certain treatments such as EMDR, these are more structured approaches to therapy working on the material the client brings. I will discuss and explain any proposed specialist therapies with clients prior to commencement. For some specialist treatments such as EMDR we undertake before and after scoring to check how the client is feeling about a particular traumatic experience and to decide whether further work on this issue is indicated.

If I have any concerns about a client's wellbeing at any time I will discuss this with them at the time of the session and agree a way forward.

I aim to provide a  supportive approach for my clients and a confidential space for therapy within professional and ethical boundaries.