Felicity Runchman

I'm a qualified and BACP accredited counsellor/psychotherapist who has been practicing for 17 years, providing face-to-face and online therapy in a range of different contexts.  

My approach to therapy is integrative and I draw carefully on experience gained from my work and training over the years to inform my approach with each client.  A lot may depend on a client's presenting issue and what they want to gain from our work together - whether it's addressing a specific current concern in a set of time-limited counselling sessions, or engaging in more exploratory long-term psychotherapy. 

Warmth, acceptance and integrity are central to how I work and, whilst I may draw upon psychodynamic, existential and cognitive-behavioural ideas and practices in my sessions, I'm most closely aligned to a person-centred way of working.  This means I hold the belief that you, as client, will ultimately lead us where you need to go in our work - although I'll check in with you regularly to see how you feel we're faring.  

In terms of the issues I work with, I  have a particular professional interest in bereavement and loss.  I also specialise in working with staff from the humanitarian sector, focusing on the particular experiences of stress, burnout and trauma that individuals in high-risk contexts and remote settings can experience. 

I can currently offer online sessions (either audio/video or text based) on Wednesdays and Thursdays.  

Please contact me via phone or e-mail to discuss your needs and preferences.  I'm happy to have a brief preliminary chat to gauge if we may be suited to working together before arranging an initial session.  If it seems I may not be the best therapist to meet your needs I am usually able to signpost and offer some alternative suggestions.

Once we've established that you may wish to start therapy with me, I'll set up an initial 50 minute session.  I tend to work in a slightly more directive way than usual in this first session.  This is because it will be important for me to find out a little more about your presenting issues, your personal history and what you're seeking to get out of your therapy.  I may ask quite a lot of questions and make some brief notes for my own future reference.  However, I'll be seeking to hear your voice and to get a sense of what's important to you.  

Hopefully at the end of this first session we'll have a sense of whether we want to continue to work together - although there's never any obligation and you're welcome to take some time to think about this.  If relevant, we can then set up a schedule for future sessions.  

I charge my regular fee for initial sessions.