Sally Foulk - Psychotherapist
07852 943898
WELCOME TO COUNSELLING JOURNEYS
(Counselling & Psychotherapy
Services in Belper and Wirksworth)
COUNSELLING JOURNEYS
'Therapy is a collaborative process; the therapist and the client are equal partners in the journey'. (Irvin Yalom)
Hi and a warm welcome, I'm Sally
I offer a humanistic, holistic approach in a non judgemental safe space to explore whatever arises during a therapeutic session. My practice based in Belper and Wirksworth provides weekly sessions face to face or online. As a fully accredited registered member of UKCP I am qualified to work with individual adults.
Whilst the core modality that I trained in is Gestalt therapy I have a broader knowledge and training from which to tailor the therapy.
Gestalt therapy has Zen Buddhism and existential philosophy at its foundations. It suggests that we all have the knowledge to live authentically and to heal ourselves given the right conditions.
'To know thyself is the beginning of wisdom' (Inscribed on the Greek Oracle of Delphi)
The importance of self awareness is at the heart of Gestalt therapy. Self knowledge can guide you towards taking responsibility and making more informed choices. In awareness of choice you can achieve the things you want and deserve rather than doing what others are directing you towards.
If you have noticed that certain patterns keep repeating themselves or your life is not progressing as you would like, I can offer relational support along your counselling journey to explore your process and options available.
My keen and deep interest in psychotherapy guides me towards updating my training and professional practice on an ongoing basis to best support you and to inform effective therapeutic interventions.
Services
'One of our greatest freedoms is how we react to things' (Charlie Mackesy)
I have experience of working with: -
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Depression
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Anxiety/Panic Attacks (Social/Health anxiety, anxious thoughts)
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Bereavement and Loss
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Managing overwhelming emotions (Anger, sadness, resentment, guilt, shame)
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Trauma symptoms
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Complex Trauma symptoms
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Dissociation
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Unresolved difficulties from the past (abuse, bullying)
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Relational difficulities from the past (abuse, betrayal, affairs)
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Burnout
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Stress
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Procrastination or feeling stuck
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Moving forward in life
This list is not exhaustive of my overall experience. I am experienced in working with various difficulities or presentations. The therapeutic alliance and work is tailored and reviewed throughout the process.
I am experienced in working with clients to depth. Traumatic symptoms can be caused by a one off traumatic event or over time often starting in childhood and resulting in more complex trauma. I have worked with various trauma symptoms. Trauma has various conscious and unconscious presentations as individuals seek varying ways to survive or cope with difficult situations in life.
The therapeutic relationship enables clients to identify what has happened to them. Therapy can identify coping strategies which can manifiest as dissociation, addiction, emotional dysregulation, confusion, exhaustion, numbness, sadness and hypervigilance. Exploration can result in clients being able to identify when their adaptions serve them and when new ways of responding may be more supportive.
Counselling and Psychotherapy
'Change occurs when one becomes what he is, not when he tries to become what he is not'. (Irvin Yalom)
Why Seek Counselling?
'Therapy is a gift. It is a chance to finally be heard, understood, and supported' (Bessel Van der Kolk)
Seeking counselling represents a proactive step towards improving your mental and emotional wellbeing. You have the opportunity to reach your true potential within the context of a warm, compassionate, safe, confidential relationship.
People seek counselling or psychotherapy for different reasons and the focus of therapy can remain the same or change throughout the process.
I have outlined many reasons for seeking therapy under 'areas of my expertise'.
The Difference Between Counselling and Psychotherapy
'It's when we start working together that the real healing takes place' (David Hume)
Psychotherapy is a longer term and more in-depth process. It enables clients to explore current patterns of behaviour and beliefs that no longer benefit them. Behavioural patterns can usually be linked to a past traumatic event of neglect/trauma in childhood.
The training to be a Psychotherapist is also longer and more in depth. It generally takes five years or more to complete a masters level degree to fulfil the academic training requirements. Psychotherapy has the potential for enduring personal growth.
Whilst there may be occasional overlap between the two disciplines with Counselling offering some in-depth work, it tends to be shorter term focusing on more specific issues.
Duration of Counselling/Therapy
I offer short term (generally 6-20 sessions on a weekly basis) or longer-term therapy (20 plus sessions on a weekly basis). Whilst the core modality that I offer is Gestalt psychotherapy, I can tailor the therapy towards other orientations depending on your needs.
Gestalt Psychotherapy
Gestalt Therapy is a humanistic therapy. This therapy supports the belief that everyone has the innate capacity to grow and heal. In the immediacy of the therapeutic relationship you can explore how your past is impacting your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours now. Gestalt Therapy was co-founded by German Psychiatrists Fritz and Laura Perls. The main goal of Gestalt Therapy is to raise awareness and enable more choiceful ways of responding/reacting. Given Gestalt Therapy’s holistic nature it recognises that a person’s total situation needs to be considered for a deeper understanding. Your ‘counselling journey’ can offer an exploration of self and identify where old thoughts, feelings and behavioural patterns are no longer serving you. Within the therapeutic relationship you can also identify new and more effective ways of relating that better serve you in your life.
Psychodynamic Therapy
Psychodynamic therapy focuses on the analysis of how the past influences present behaviours which are often unconscious processes.
Integrative Therapy
Integrative therapy utilises techniques from multiple therapeutic orientations to suit a clients individual needs. This approach considers physiological, cognitive, affective , contextual and behavioural systems to create a multi-dimensional relational structure.
A Little About Me
'A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step' (Lao Tzu)
Psychotherapy Qualifications
I am a registered member of the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP). I gained my Masters degree and Diploma in Gestalt Psychotherapy from the Metanoia Institute, which is affiliated with Middlesex University. Hence I have over five years training in Gestalt Psychotherapy.
I previously spent three years training in person-centred therapy to diploma level and have had exposure to psychodynamic therapy.
Prior to developing my own practice, I gained serveral years experience as a volunteer counsellor at two Derbyshire charities that are involved in healing trauma symptoms.
My Practice
I live on the outskirts of Belper, and as a qualified psychotheraptist, I have my practice rooms in central Belper and Wirksworth.
I provide counselling and psychotherapy to adults on a short-term or long-term basis, either face-to-face or online.
I am interested in the connection between the mind and body. This is reflected in several years training in various forms of tai chi and reiki to master's level, which are supportive of my clinical work.
Therapies Offered
Gestalt
Person Centred
Psychodynamic
Integrative
Requirements to practice as a qualified Psychotherapist
As part of the UKCP requirements and to uphold professional ethical practice I have the following:-
Advanced DBS
Accreditation and registration with UKCP
ICO registration
Indemnity insurance
Masters and Diploma in Gestalt Psychotherapy
Up-to-date training in safeguarding and risk
Regular Supervision
Frequent CPD training
Peer group supervision
Fees/Payment Methods
I accept payment by cash and bank transfer and invite payment for the first few sessions upfront.
Each therapeutic session is £55 per hour.
I believe that therapy should be available to everyone. I have a few spaces available where I can offer concessions to low-income people or student counsellors. I invite a discussion if this is of interest to you.
Getting In Touch
You are welcome to contact me by phone, email or using the contact form below.
sally@counsellingjourneys.co.uk
Phone
07852 943898
Whilst I offer a free initial telephone assessment, our first session will allow you to ask more questions. It will allow you time to decide if you feel comfortable working with me and offer me time to ascertain if I can support you with what you are bringing. There will be ample opportunity for us to review how you feel your counselling journey is going and adjust accordingly.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Sally Foulk MSc. BA. PGDip.
