Carole Darbyshire

It takes courage to start therapy, even searching for a therapist can be a daunting task but if you are ready to make changes that will take your life in a new direction, I can help.

Working together you will start to see things from a new perspective and discover your underlying strengths. We will develop new strategies to help you to build robust resources and a pathway to better mental and emotional wellbeing. You will discover practical ways of reducing stress, depression, isolation, anger or anxiety, whatever the cause, leaving you more able to enjoy a happier and fulfilled life.

Increasing emotional resilience is key for a successful and fulfilled life, as are building skills, strategies, and understanding how our brains and bodies react the way they do. If we don't connect with why we are doing something, it can be really challenging to change it!

This is not a 'talking shop' we will work in a safe space providing an opportunity to empower you to make changes and take control. Enabling you to get back on track, develop clarity in the direction of your life and begin to achieve your goals.

I work with individuals, couples, and groups, including work-based teams, young people and school groups (enhanced DBS held), and am a qualified supervising counsellor. I use a range of approaches including Person Centred Counselling, CBT, Solution-Focused Therapy, Critical Incident Debriefing, Life Coaching, Stress/Anxiety Reduction, Anger Management, and Mindfulness - depending on the needs of the client.

Although 97% of my clients have around six sessions, we will work at a pace which suits you and enables you to develop the self-knowledge and resources you need.

Therapy gives us the opportunity to step back and see that new perspective. I will support you to increase your emotional resilience and creating a reliable, robust approach to the challenges you face.

I work from home and usually see clients weekly.  I offer face to face, and online sessions and work with clients across the country and globally.

I work holistically, looking at your situation and at the wider context,  research shows that this approach enables clients to take control of their lives and build their self esteem.

Working together we would assess the current situation and agree how best to move things forward. Counselling can be both a thoughtful, and a practical process so practising new skills is an integral part of the journey. 

We will build a confidential relationship, creating a safe space for you to express your concerns and be supported to find solutions which suit you best.

Towards the end of our first session, we would decide if we are comfortable working together and, in line with B.A.C.P. guidance we would establish an agreement which sets out the boundaries of our working relationship, in particular the rules around confidentiality.

This is to ensure that you get an excellent service and that your information is protected, in line with current legal requirements.

There is no requirement to book a series of sessions, indeed most clients book from week to week.

I am a qualified level 6 supervisor providing support for therapists and counsellors working with clients in workplace, school and private settings. I support them in;

Restorative interventions; looking after themselves, seeing the counsellor as key and supporting them to enable good practise  

Professional Development: Discussions around managing their practise or working environment. Working ethically and sharing knowledge and experience. 

Casework; dealing with clients, case notes,  interventions and relationships within the counselling setting,  both inside sessions and in the wider context. 

I take a holistic approach to my work as supervisor and counsellor. I trained in person centred therapy qualifying in 1996 and have built a practise since by training in CBT,  Critical Incident Support, Transactional Analysis and Solution Focused therapy. I have worked with Children and young people for 14 years as well as adults; individuals, groups and Employee Assistance Schemes. 

I teach Mindfulness and have a particular interest in resolving stress, anxiety and depression.

I work with special needs groups, children and adults, OCD, ADHD, ADD and with substance misuse and family/ relationship issues.

At the first session,we would spend time building a relationship, discovering if we can work well together and then agreeing a contract. This would include what we can expect of each other, how we can fulfil those expectations and when to review the supervision process, to ensure that it meets the changing needs of the counsellor being supervised.