Carolyn Stafford Bell

Practice overview;

My practice is open to clients Monday to Thursday. Enquiries Monday to Friday. I currently have no availability for new enquiries, this will be reviewed January 2025, or contact for first availability waiting list

Please note: as a private practitioner & for professional selfcare, my work phone and email contact during the weekend will be answered and actioned on a Monday morning

I offer;

• a counselling service in Oakham, Rutland
• face-to-face, or online sessions 
• short-term structured counselling or long-term psychotherapy, available weekly or fortnightly
• to individual clients, couples, family relationships
• supervision & reflective practice (see supervision profile)

Hours of practice;

• Mondays 9.30am – 7.30pm
• Tuesdays 9am – 7.30pm
• Wednesdays 9am - 7.30pm
• Thursdays 9am - 5pm
• Fridays & weekends - Closed

Fees are currently:

• Initial assessment appointment (45 minutes) - A non-refundable deposit is required payable in advance via bank transfer, invoiced 48hrs before the session to secure booking - £50
• Individual daytime sessions - £55 (11am - 5pm)
• Evening sessions - £60 (starting from 5pm)
• Personal Therapy requirements - £50
• Couples Counselling -  Assessment £70, daytime sessions £70, £75 after 5pm
• Family counselling - £75
• For private health insurance (BUPA, Vitality Health, Aviva): you may need to  obtain an authorisation code prior to booking an appointment 

My extended learning offers; working with grief & loss, stress, and trauma - (graduated Master in Trauma-informed practice/ Trauma studies). I am also interested in further research.

My most recent interest is around expecting and new mothers, which includes; maternal emotional health, maternal well-being, the paternal impact of becoming and being a father, pre & post-natal support for mothers & families, parenting difficulties...

I have an Enhanced DBS Certificate.

Introduction;

Reaching out to a supportive professional can be the first and most significant step.  For Stress, Anxiety, Depressive feelings, Grief, Trauma, Relationships - your well-being matters.  It's OK to not be OK.

Sometimes life can get too much for us, we may struggle with our thoughts and emotions or perhaps just coping with everyday life. Do you need to take time out?  Do you need someone to talk with?

I will work with you to work through what is currently inside your head, we will work at your pace.  There is never a rush, or pressure to tell me things your just not ready to share.

My perspective about counselling;

Our own thoughts/feelings are unique to us - this inner world can sometimes be destructive; negative thoughts or self-doubt.  A rollercoaster of confusing and conflicting emotions.  This may lead to many forms of anxiety (and /or) depressive symptoms.  

Anxiety/Stress can reduce our ability to cope with the pressures of life. Trauma, Bereavement, relationship, or family issues are all experiences that can be very difficult and painful to deal with - we can be left feeling sad, alone and isolated.  We all experience problems in our lives at some point, whether it is a period of crisis, or perhaps we need to change some self-defeating patterns of thinking and behaviour.  

Telling someone you know (family/friends) may be difficult because it is personal and private, and they may offer their own opinion and advice, which may not be what you are wanting to hear, you may just want to offload.

Counselling offers a different form of helping; a non-judgmental response - counselling encourages you to work through your feelings, to grow in self-understanding and confidence, or to explore and develop ways forward by looking at your options and coping better.

My approach to counselling is integrative, fundamentally built on the humanistic approach.  I work in a person-centred way which means that you are at the heart of the session.  My aim is to provide an environment where your thoughts and feelings are given the time and space - to be voiced, heard, processed, and overcome.

Fees are currently:

• Initial assessment appointment (45 minutes)- A non-refundable deposit is required payable in advance, invoiced 48hrs before the session to secure booking £50
• Individual daytime sessions - £55 (11am - 5pm)
• Evening sessions - £60 (starting from 5pm)
• Counselling students undertaking Personal Therapy requirements - £50
• Couples Counselling - Assessment £70 - daytime sessions £70, £75 after 5pm
• Family counselling - £75

Sessions can be weekly or less frequent to suit you.

Individual counselling sessions are 50 minutes long. Couples/Family are 1 hour.

I offer short term focused sessions or longer-term sessions.

Payment details;

Cash or credit/debit cards accepted - Payable at the end of each session. For online counselling - Invoice & Bank Transfer 

FOR SUPERVISION (see Supervision profile link)

Hours of practice;

• Mondays 11am – 9pm 
• Tuesdays 10am – 9pm
• Wednesdays 9.30am - 7pm
• Thursdays 10am - 5pm
• Fridays & weekends - Closed

Face-to-face or online formats offered.

Supervision available Wednesdays & Thursdays

Practice overview;

My therapeutic space is a purpose-built room at my home address - a safe and comfortable space to reflect on your client work;

• air conditioned
• toilet & hand washing facilities
• various coffees, fruit/herbal teas, chilled water
• hand sanitiser
• card/cash payments accepted
• Sessions can be online via zoom, or face-to-face

Qualifications & professional standards;

I have a Post Graduate Diploma in Person Centred Counselling Supervision (BACP Endorsed).  I am a registered accredited member of BACP, and I work within a Code of Ethics and Standards.

An introductory meeting for 1 hour is advisable. 

• My perspective and what I offer
• My fees 

I believe in good quality supervision!

Good supervision should be ethical, authentic, and supportive - active, enlightening, and spontaneous: trusting the process and gaining more self-awareness through reflective practice.

The way I work is from a humanistic perspective; to offer supervisee's a safe and confidential space to share their client work and feel supported in their practice, working with the individual need/level of experience of the supervisee in each session.

Current fee structure;

• Initial meeting - £40 (1 hour)
• Clinical supervision - £60 per hour, £90 per 1.5 hours
• Supervision for Counselling students - £75 per 1.5 hours (when cost to student)
• Group supervision – £60 per hour split between a group         of  2-3.   (Please contact for groups over 3)

Fees are subject to annual review every April

Payment;

Face-to-face - cash, credit/debit cards accepted - Payable at the end of each session. 

For online supervision - Invoice & Bank Transfer 

An introductory meeting for 1 hour is advisable to ensure we can establish a healthy professional relationship and both feel comfortable to work with the other. 

Fees are £40 for this initial meeting.