About Me
I am an experienced BACP Accredited Counsellor and use an integrative approach to help you in the best way I can. I offer a containing and accepting therapeutic relationship where we can explore together your experiences and difficulties. Sessions may focus on the development of skills to help manage present life, or the working through of past events or trauma and their emotional impact, and often a mixture of both with a view to opening up more choice, ease and well-being.
I work with adults and young people aged 16 plus, in the Brighton and Hove area and online, and have helped people with a wide range of difficulties and experiences. I tailor my approach to fit the individual.
I am also an experienced supervisor and provide a supportive relationship for you to explore your client work and personal processes and develop yourself professionally.
Please contact me if you would like a free introductory phone or video call to discuss your needs.
Experience
I have worked for 15 years as a Counsellor at the Rock Clinic and in private practice with individuals presenting with a wide range of difficulties. I have also worked with students at Sussex University and at Mankind UK with male survivors of sexual abuse.
I am committed to ongoing professional and personal development so that I can help clients and supervisees as effectively as possible. I remain updated with on-going training relating to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcome clients from all backgrounds.
I am passionate about this work and feel privileged to be accompanying people on their journey of self-discovery and development.
Qualifications
- 1996 BSc (Hons) Psychology
- 2009 PGdip Psychodynamic Psychotherapeutic Counselling
- 2013 BACP accreditation
- 2014 Diploma Counselling Supervision
- Training in CBT, Mindfulness, Trauma and bodywork, Abuse, Psychosexual and Relationship counselling, Suicide intervention, Trans Awareness, Working with Racism, Adult and Child Protection, Addiction, Transpersonal counselling.
How I Work
I have a down-to-earth style of relating and hold a position of deep empathy and compassion for human struggles while also sensitively challenging ways of being and thinking in order to bring about insight and change. I work from a place of heart and intuition as well as thinking and intellect, all within the boundaries of a professional relationship.
By listening to you carefully I aim to attune to where you are emotionally and to meet you where you need to be met. This might involve the development of skills to manage your present life, the working through of past events or trauma and their impact, or exploring how to create greater meaning in your life as you move forward.
I can meet with you weekly for a few sessions of counselling to think specifically about an issue or can offer longer-term psychotherapy, giving the space to explore all aspects of your life and develop greater self-awareness.
Different approaches to suit your needs
I trained originally in psychodynamic counselling, which focusses on recognising the impact of the past and the unconscious with a view to freeing up choices about how to be in the present. This forms the roots of how I work and I integrate this with other approaches where they might be helpful.
These include Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy and Mindfulness techniques to work with distressing symptoms and habits and develop a more peaceful way of being, and Trauma-Informed Counselling to help move safely through traumatic experiences that have remained stuck. I introduce Transpersonal ideas to deepen the work and I underpin the sessions with a person-centred ethos of trusting each individual's pace and inner wisdom.
How counselling can help
The expression of emotion within the context of a safe and accepting therapeutic relationship can quite quickly help to relieve distress, and the growth of self-understanding and shifts in how you relate to yourself and others can bring lasting change to how you feel and the choices you make. For this reason I consider investment in therapy to be a valuable gift to yourself.
What issues can counselling help with?
People come to me for help a wide range of issues. Here are a few of the more common difficulties that can be supported through counselling:
Depression
Feelings of stress or anxiety
Low self-esteem or confidence
Anger management
Issues relating to sexuality
Difficulties at work or in retirement
Panic attacks
Phobias
Relationship difficulties
Grief, loss or bereavement
Problems with addiction
Trauma and post-traumatic stress
Abuse
Supervision
I am an experienced and qualified supervisor and provide a supportive relationship for you to explore your client work and personal processes.
Our sessions can include reflecting on your practice together, exploring client material and opening up to new ideas and insights. I will also give you the space to process the emotional impact of the work and how that might connect with personal material. We can think about your self-care and how you might develop yourself professionally.
I supervise trainee counsellors on psychodynamic or integrative courses, and qualified counsellors who feel that my approach suits them (see How I Work). I can also supervise people in other roles within the helping professions.
I trained in supervision in 2015 and did some further training in 2019. I continue to develop my practice so that I can offer you and your clients the best possible support. I work within the ethical guidelines of the BACP.
If you are a interested in being supervised by me please contact me for a free phone call or video call to discuss your needs and explore whether we think we are a suitable match. I can offer supervision weekly, fortnightly or monthly. I charge £65 for 50 minutes or can deliver a different length of session if needed.
My Locations
I offer face to face counselling sessions in two locations in the Brighton and Hove area:
1) The Rock Clinic West, 8 Western Street, Brighton, BN1 2PG
2) The Rock Clinic East, 270 Eastern Road, Hove, BN2 5TA
These clinics are easily accessible to Southwick, Portslade, Kemptown, Saltdean and the surrounding areas.
In addition to providing face-to-face counselling, I also offer online sessions for clients in the wider Brighton/Hove area and beyond. Contact me to find out more about how online counselling works.
Fees & Availability
If you are interested in trying therapy with me, please contact me to arrange a free half-hour introductory phone or video call. This is to discuss your needs and help decide if I am the right therapist for you.
If you decide to continue with me, we will agree a weekly 50-minute slot that is yours for as long as you wish. I have daytime slots on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. My availability varies so please contact me to enquire. This can be in person or online.
I charge £65 per session. I offer a limited number of low-cost session for people on low-income.
Get in Touch
Please contact me, using the form opposite, with any questions about counselling or supervision, or to arrange a free introductory phone or video call.
I aim to answer enquiries within 24 hours.
All contact is strictly confidential and uses secure phone and email services.
©2022 Hannah Cummings
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