who are our counsellors?

Steve Talmage - Head of Department

As an accredited member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and a member of the United Kingdom Register of Counsellors / Psychotherapists, I hold a Diploma in Integrative Counselling and I have undertaken extensive additional training in group psychotherapy and telephone counselling. At the heart of my counselling style are Person-Centred and relationship-based approaches. However, I will also use Psychodynamic and Gestalt methods to look back and make sense of past events along with Transactional Analysis, Cognitive-Behavioural and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy techniques to support those who wish to be more forward-looking and develop the personal skills necessary for a more rewarding life.

My experience includes working with issues of abuse (sexual and emotional with female and male survivors), addictions (alcohol, drugs and sex), family (marital problems and divorce), identity (self-esteem, chronic illness, grief and singleness), inter-personal (relationships and sexuality), mental health conditions (bi-polar, borderline personality disorder and ‘dual-diagnosis’), personal (anxiety, anger, bereavement and depression) and spiritual (lack of purpose or faith and un-forgiveness).

Additionally, my extensive background in business and commercial management and my experiences as a ‘Leadership in Management’ tutor supports my therapeutic work with those who wish to focus on business coaching or career-related issues.

Sarah Bashford

I am a registered member of the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) offering both brief and long term work for individuals and couples. My core training is in Psychodynamic psychotherapy however my work draws on the strengths of many disciplines including Psychoanalytic, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Solution Focused and Trauma/critical incident therapy.  This enables me to bring an integrative approach to suit individual needs. Most of my training was completed with Westminster Pastoral Foundation (WPF). I aim to bring a warm, empathic but clear thinking approach to the work thereby helping you to gain deeper insights and resolve difficult situations relating to both present and past events. Additionally I have many years of experience working as a manager for Social Services, as a counsellor trainer and as a Case Manager/Telephone counsellor for a busy Employee Assistance Programme. My current work is divided between Burrswood, my private practice established in 1998, working as a Health and Wellbeing Therapist for BUPA and a variety of Employee Assistance Programmes. 

Ingrid Holmes

I am an accredited member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. I hold a Diploma in Psychodynamic Counselling and have a Batchelor of Arts Degree in Psychology. My additional training includes couples and telephone counselling.
 

Maureen Long 

As a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, I am a qualified counsellor holding a Diploma in Integrative Counselling. I have undertaken further training in Humanistic Counselling which has involved some aspects of Creative Arts Therapies.  My basic approach is person centred which, I believe, creates a trusting relationship within which I may integrate aspects of Gestalt, Transactional Analysis, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Creative Arts Therapy, where appropriate.  Such interventions can enable my clients to acknowledge and express emotions, which facilitates better self-understanding, and frees them to make better choices for their lives.  My experience includes working with issues such as anxiety, depression, relationship problems, low self esteem, loss, anger and abuse. 

John Morrison

I am an accredited member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and have previously worked for over 30 years with local authorities and the NHS as a Social Worker in Adult Mental Health settings.  My original training in Psychotherapy was with the Tavistock Clinic London and I subsequently trained at the University of Surrey in an integrative programme preferring the Person-Centred approach.  I received my M.Sc. qualification from the University of Surrey in 2004 and achieved BACP accreditation in 2005.

Catherine Rogers

I am an accredited member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.  I hold a Diploma in Psychodynamic Counselling and have additional training in couples and telephone counselling.  I have counselled professionally for over ten years and work on an open-ended long term basis  or short term with a particular focus.

Julia Woolland

I am an accredited member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and hold a Diploma in Psychodynamic Counselling. I have worked with adult clients for the past six years, and my practice has included long term, open ended sessions as well as more focussed short term work. My additional training and experience includes working with both children and adolescents.