Victoria Telfer-Smith BSc (Hons). Counselling in Loughborough, near Leicester

My pronouns

She/her.
This is an important part our personal narrative.

Whats happening!

Hi reader, thanks for coming to my website!

If you have been here before, check out my new menu bars, you will find lots more information about anxiety, depression and coping with it under the Menu Tab of Therapy Issues.

You will also find a set of Client Downloads of self help guides which are FREE to download. Click on the picture of a leaf to take you there!

I work with adults, this means over 18 years and includes clients who are autistic or are adhd. If you need counselling for your child or are under 18 years there are counsellors who specialise in this. The same is for couples, it is worthwhile to get the correct help.
I also work with clients who have been harmed in therapy, whether you are going through a complaints procedure or not. 
If you are new, please feel free to browse, you are most welcome!

Covid 19

Update for vtscounselling. I have a Covid Commitment which is available to all new and existing clients.

There is the option to work online via zoom or telephone calls.

Confidence building

You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.'

Eleanor Roosevelt

CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy)

I use this strategy in therapy, however, you may be aware of it because it is offered by the NHS. Usually as part of their "Lets Talk" package with 6 sessions available and there is usually a waiting list.

It is a useful therapy which involves identifying and changing patterns of behaviors and how you think and act. The cognitive part is the description used when describing the processes in the brain. It can be a quick alternative to other strategies because you can get instant results, which is beneficial for some.

About Me

Hi, I am a counsellor in Loughborough.
I live and work in Loughborough and cover local villages since 2015.

I trained with Loughborough College and Counselling Initiatives Derby.
I have also worked with a charity in Leicester called Quetzal who help women who have been sexually abused in childhood.

I can help with anxiety, depression, trauma, shame, childhood sexual abuse, sexual assault and domestic violence.

My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion and some style.

Maya Angelou

Counselling Loughborough

If you feel life is getting on top of you and your relationships are not satisfactory and making you unhappy, counselling can work for you. It can give you the space to work out what is right for you.

If you feel you lack the self esteem to get what you want, again counselling can help. By setting goals and using CBT techniques to attain them, you can start to focus on what you are great at and self esteem can rise.

If you feel you suffer with anxiety, or social anxiety, counselling can help to isolate situations to work on and find a way to reconnect with yourself.

It can be a place;
... to explore your thoughts and feelings
... to get back on a front foot again
....to be the person you want to be
....to stop depression becoming part of your life
....to make changes to enhance your life
....to ask yourself if your marriage/relationship is in need of an overhaul or MoT(!)

I am in a Private Practice as a counsellor and therapist, in Loughborough, near Leicester. I am committed to providing counselling in Loughborough in a safe, confidential and non-judgemental environment. I take confidentiality very seriously and it is a priority that you feel safe.

As a counsellor in Loughborough and Leicester I work with individuals on an open-ended basis or for an agreed time period, with the aim of enabling you to enhance your life and to live it more fully. We can do just one session and can get results right away, however, your commitment is important.

During our first counselling session we will work on a contract, which basically sets up how many session, what the cost is, how to pay, how to cancel and appointment times. Confidentiality and any other issues will also be discussed. Get in touch via email of telephone for a free consultation.

Sessions are charged at £50.

As a counsellor in Loughborough I can help if you have experienced difficulties with :

• Stress
• Mindfulness
• Body Image
• FGM
• Relationships
• Panic Attacks
• Anxiety
• Bereavement
• Redundancy
• Childhood Sexual Abuse
• Rape ans sexual assault
• Depression
• Trauma (PTSD)
• Miscarriage
• Suicidal Feelings
  
  For any counselling in Loughborough, my practice is within easy reach of surrounding villages, it is also very close to the Train Station and town center. I am close to major road links too, M1, M69 and A50.
  
  As a counsellor in Loughborough I am a member of the BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) and display their badge to verify this. My membership means that you can be assured of my suitability as a counsellor and my qualifications. I have undertaken their Certificate of Proficiency to further prove my therapist skills, it is also an added requirement for all counsellors and therapists who are members of the BACP. I am listed on their Directory "it's good to talk".
  
  If you require directions for my counselling practice in Loughborough please send an email using the above button.

   

Helplines

Samaritans 116 123

Mind 0300 123 3393

Crisis 0300 636 1967

CALM 0800 58 58 58

Diversity and Equality

I am aware of diversity and discrimination issues and follow the Equality Act 2010. I will act with appropriate and reasonable action and make adjustments where required if you feel discrimination or you have been treated unfairly. I will make it a priority to ask if my clients have any requirements.

I urge you to get in touch if you feel that I have not met this standard.

I have a hearing loop if required, no need to ask it is readily available.

My Mission

I am making it my mission that I will bring to your counselling my complete honest attention, I will listen, not only with my ears, but also my head and heart.

I will be honest and congruent and I will be present in the room with you.

I have created a place of safety so you can let your voice be heard, to cry, to shout, to whimper, to moan or to whoop for joy about all the things you want, and need to.

All that is asked of you, is that you are you, and you want to use therapy to work through the tough times.

Therapy is at hand....

If you suffer with panic attacks there is useful information on the Anxiety tab. Therapy can help to deal with panic attacks, which can feel like they stop your life.

I work with people who have suffered sexual abuse as a child (csa), I am fully trained to deal with the trauma this can cause, sometimes physical and mental problems.

Adults can be sexually abused, assaulted or raped, both men and women. I work with survivors and victims.

Practice Information

How much are the sessions?
£50 per counselling session.

Concessions are available; please ask.

You can pay via BACS the details on are the contract. Payments are paid in advance of the session. I have a SumUp card reader available and cash is accepted, only in special circumstances. Please inquire before any session.

Do you offer discounts?
I offer discounts, although there are limited places, always check first.

What qualifications do you have?
I have a degree (BSc Hons) in Human Communication with Honors, a Certificate in Counselling and a Diploma in Counselling.
I am a fully qualified counselor and a member of the BACP (British Association for Counsellors and Psychotherapy) and also on the Register for Counsellors and Psychotherapists maintained by the BACP. I am continuously learning and developing myself and expanding my knowledge, which is a criteria of the BACP and it also benefits clients.
I have completed the Mindful Mental Health Certificate with the Center of Excellence. I have completed all of the workshops and on line training with Carolyn Spring. This includes Childhood sexual abuse, Relational Trauma, Working with Shame, Trauma and the Body, Mental Health and the Body and Dissociation and DID.

DBS Certificate
I have been cleared by the Disclosure and Barring Service

Can I bring someone?
Yes, but they cannot be part of your therapy and in the same room. We can discuss this situation in the initial email contact.

How do I get in touch
Send an email or call me on the number provided. I will be in touch via email within 4 hours. If I do not answer my phone, leave a message and I will call you back within 4 hours.

When can I come?
Make a contact email and I can book you an appointment at your convenience, subject to availability.

What if I don't know what to say?
That's ok.
New experiences can feel quite frightening to us all, no matter what they are. I have created a safe and relaxing environment for your comfort.

How many sessions can I have or do I need?

We can talk about what your therapeutic goals are and what you need.

Therapy goals are mainly the changes you want to have in your life, for example; "I would like to get a new job", or "I want to feel less anxious" or "I want to understand my depression" or "I want help to deal with my mental health".

We can also measure goals and get an indication of when they have been met.

What is counselling?

Counselling is a way of exploring yourself with a therapist/counsellor to navigate the paths of your mind and all the traffic that moves within it, sometimes crashing, causing chaos and turmoil within.
Counselling can help you to live the life that is right for you. I can facilitate this with support and gentle challenges to beliefs that may not suit you or your life, but may be imposed by cultural or societal rules or morals. We can also explore life choices, are they right for you or do they cause you pain?
I can help you find your voice, if it is lost or just a little quieter than you want it to be so it may not be heard by those who you want to hear it.

About Counselling
As a therapist I practice a mainly Person Centered approach to counselling and therapy. This means that I follow the theories of Carl Rogers; the client leads the therapy, I am there for you and whatever you want to talk about in the session. The core beliefs in Person Centered theory are Congruence, Empathy and Unconditional Positive Regard. I will bring these to the therapy space and also offer insight and genuine reaction to whatever you are talking about. I find starting therapy with your initial problem and then, unfolding to your life experience, can help the flow.
I am also able to use other disciplines in my practice, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Gestalt Therapy, Transactional Analysis and Freudian Therapy, know as Psychoanalysis. I will make suggestions based on these disciplines that I feel will be of benefit.

What Conditions Can it Help?
Counselling and therapy can help with all manner of situations, we can discuss any issues or problems you are facing. Sometimes just talking can give a clarity to help face the immediate situation.
Recently, the NICE Guidelines approved the use of Counselling to help with Depression within the NHS, this is very positive for counselling.
I do have specialties, and can refer on if I feel I have reached my limitations, rest assured your comfort is of utmost importance.

What Benefits can be Expected?
The counselling journey will not be an easy one, it is hard work, but the outcome can make a confused, unhappy and distressed person feel happy, carefree and jubilant!

This is my Counselling Room, a space created for my clients to be and feel who they are, without judgement. We can use this space to create the perfect environment to make changes.

Payments

I ask that your first session is paid for 24 hours before the session. I will provide details of how to do this safely and securely.

This is to confirm your booking.

DID Dissociative Identity Disorder

I am a Dissociative Friendly practitioner and can help with this disorder. I follow the guidelines outlined by PODS (Positive Outcomes for Dissociative Survivors).

In these cases I will work with you as an individual and our first contact we can discuss how you would like the therapy to work and we will structure a plan to suit your needs.