VASHTI SANDILANDS
I have been working in counselling since 2003 when I graduated from Warwick University with a Diploma in Humanistic Counselling. I worked for 4 years for the NHS as part of the primary health care team for Rugby, counselling in Medical practices across the town. At this time I also worked as a counsellor for North Warwickshire Counselling Service based in Nuneaton. Since then I have been working with young people across Warwickshire who struggle with life for many reasons.
I have experience of working with clients of all ages who have a range of issues including:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
- Self-Harm
- Eating disorders
- Grief
- Irrational Fears
- Phobias (including School)
- Panic Attacks
- Relationship issues
- Trauma and work related stress
- Low self-esteem
I first thought about counselling, after reading a book that brought into my awareness how important mental health and well-being is, how all of us have come into the world as a blank slate, and our experiences often then determine who we become.
Sometimes, I believe, we become trapped in those experiences, and despite having the desire to break away we cannot locate the tools within ourselves to do this. Some stay trapped believing they have no choice. Some however, are guided, or find their way to someone who can help them, not by fixing everything, but by helping them to find, and teaching them to use, the tools (skills) they have inside. There is no magic wand, however with trust and openness and the desire to understand, and the encouragement to believe in themselves, I can offer children, young people and adults a safe non-judgemental space to find a way through their difficulties, into a place where they can feel free and safe to be who they are.
For me this is the wonder of counselling.
I am a Registered Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) with a Certificate of Proficency and work to their ethical framework. I have an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service Certificate.
VANESSA STALKER
I became interested in counselling after receiving my own personal therapy in 2000. After completing an Introductory Course to Counselling in 2001, I trained and volunteered as a phone counsellor with ChildLine in Birmingham and latterly Glasgow. I subsequently worked with Cruse Bereavement Care Scotland in Edinburgh for 9 years working face to face with adults and also trained as a specialised support worker working with children and young people through various issues in their lives. More recently I have been a volunteer counsellor at both The Shakespeare Hospice in Stratford and Mary Ann Evans Hospice in Nuneaton.
I also work as a Wellbeing Wizard on The Worry Wizard's Therapeutic Team supporting children and young people (www.worrywizard.com).
I do EAP work, currently working for Vita Health Group. I am also a Bupa recognised therapist.
I have qualified as a person-centred counsellor which works to understand an individual’s experience from their point of view. It is a non-directive approach which is vital to an individual feeling, accepting and better understanding their own feelings. I offer a confidential, safe and supportive environment to adults, children and young people. While an adult’s and a child’s world may be very different, I believe that every person who enters counselling deserves the opportunity to be heard and understood and given the chance to explore strategies for working through the problems they are experiencing.
I have experience of working with many issues including:
- Loss and bereavement
- Abuse
- Anxiety
- Bullying
- Depression
- Grief
- Loneliness
- Low self-esteem
- Panic Attacks
- Relationship issues
- Self-harm and suicidal thoughts
- Separation anxiety
- Trauma and work related stress
I am an Accredited Counsellor and Registered Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) with a Certificate of Proficiency and work to their ethical framework. I am also an Accredited Counsellor with The Foundation for Infant Loss. I have an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service Certificate and am registered on the Government DBS update service. I have completed a specific training for working online as a therapist. In addition, I have completed training for 'Walk & Talk Therapy'. Let me know if this might be of interest to you.
I have recently qualified as a Clinical Supervisor, working both face to face and online.
Qualifications:
- Counselling Tutor: Advanced Certificate in Clinical Supervision including Online and Telephone Working (2024);
- BACP Accreditation (2021);
- Counselling Tutor: Certificate in Online and Telephone Counselling (2020);
- CBCS/CBUK Working with Bereaved Children and Young People (Edinburgh, 2013/14);
- BACP Post Graduate Diploma Person-Centred Counselling, University of Strathclyde (2007-2009);
- COSCA: Certificate in Counselling Skills, Jewel & Esk College, Edinburgh (2004-2005);
- AQA: Introduction to Counselling Skills, Bournville College, Birmingham (2001); and
- In-house training with ChildLine (2002) and Cruse Bereavement Care Scotland (2005).
Print 