Barbara Lorusso

I offer daytime and evening sessions weekdays either face to face or virtual support is available through Zoom/WhatsApp video sessions.

I am happy to explore your needs and can offer some flexibility.

I'm a counsellor with over 17 years experience of supporting clients both short focussed therapy and long term therapy.

In addition to private practice as a counsellor I worked with a mental health charitable organisation for many years supporting people with varying issues, and have a wealth of experience.

In addition to my normal practice, I continue to update my skills and apply further training, to support a safe working counselling experience for all.

In 2023 I applied and achieved accreditation with BACP, completed the Level 5 qualification in sex and pornography addiction, and have become a member of ATSAC (Association for the treatment of Sexual Addiction and Compulsivity) and CORST (The professional body for Psychosexual and Relationship  Therapists).

In 2024 I completed the Level 6 qualification in Supervising other counsellors and psychotherapists.

If your life is being impacted by thoughts, feelings or actions that you are worried about, then you will be surprised how powerful counselling can be to support you.

My practice will enable you to explore your thoughts, feelings and behaviours in a safe and non judgemental session.

I'm person centred which means that I believe you to be the expert on yourself and I will support you to explore what brings you to therapy, safely.

In addition to a person centred approach I can offer some CBT when needed to support the therapy.  I am not pure CBT but draw from this for support when it is required for growth.   

My counselling qualification was in integrative therapy which allows me to incorporate other theoretical counselling approaches that I have training in, for support where needed.

I am able to work with both individuals and couples and offer a wealth of experience.

BACP Accreditation paperwork has been submitted and is currently pending a decision.

I am available for an initial 15 minute free talk to decide if you would like to book an assessment appointment.

If you decide that you would like to make an appointment then the initial assessment will cover some basic practical information and give us the opportunity to discuss what you would like to gain from counselling.

We will then contract for the way forward which allows you the autonomy to ask for what you need and this will support the focus of the sessions following.

The sessions are 50 minutes (1 hour for couples) and can be for as long as you feel that you need the therapy, we will regularly review your needs.

There is a concessionary discount for students.

My working days are Monday to Friday and I consider individuals and group supervision.

As per the ethical framework, I take time off every 7-8 weeks to support my wellbeing and safe practice as a therapist.  This is sometimes a week or a long weekend.

Currently I have the first week of October 2024 as annual leave.

I qualified in 2008 with 100 hours in practice, since then I have continued to work as a therapist and am now accredited by the BACP.

Many of my years have been spent working in an agency with substance addictions, carers and mental health. My practice included a caseload and a role as a counsellor manager.

Since moving to private practice in November 2021 I have completed the CPCAB L5 in Sex and Pornography addiction and the CPBAB L6 in counselling supervision.

My supervision training was with Cara Counselling Training and focused on different supervision formats.  I have adopted the seven eyed model and the IDM to inform my practice, we can discuss these, or you can use YouTube as a great information tool, especially Luke Hicken's very informative short video. 

I am happy to work with individuals and groups of up to 4 counsellors.  

I am an integratively qualified therapist and transfer this into my supervision practice..

I work individually with Person Centered at the heart of it, using CBT, TA, Psychodynamic, Gestalt and Creative Therapy to inform my practice.

With couples work I continue to ground myself with Person Centered although I am more directive in working with the relationship.

For many years I worked in an agency and managed the counselling provision, supporting placement and qualified counsellors with agency supervision support and training.  

My feedback has always been that I am patient, understanding, relational and a safe supportive practitioner.  

Initially we can have a free chat to see if we are a good fit for your supervision needs. 

If you decide that you would like to go ahead and start supervision then we will take the information from our chat to start a contracting process, in the first paid session.  Together we decide on the contract, although some discussion will be needed to assure that you have the necessary ethical and legal bases covered. I.E. If you are in private practice, ICO registration.   The contracting will be a practical agreement and a way of working that suits you, taking into account any additional needs or cultural expectations.