My name is Steven and I am a qualified practising counsellor in the Croydon/South London area. I am committed to providing counselling in a safe, confidential and non-judgemental environment.

I work 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.

I am a qualified counsellor able to offer general counselling which might include working with clients experiencing difficulties with :

Stress

Relationships

Adapting to change

Low self-esteem

Anxiety

Bereavement

Loss

Depression

Sexuality and sexual identity

and other aspects of your personal or professional life that may be causing you concern or dissatisfaction.

I have a particular interest and sensitivity towards the difficulties men might experience in engaging in a therapeutic relationship such as counselling. I would welcome enquiries from this client group and the opportunity to explore with you how I can best provide what you need to consider undertaking, and entering into, this type of work.

I am also aware that some female clients might be wary of working with a male counsellor. If this is something that might be acting as a barrier to prevent you from working with me, please call me so that I can see what I might be able to do to address any concerns you may have.

Follow the link below or more information about my counselling approach

The Person-Centred Approach

I aim to provide you with a safe space for this work to take place at your own pace, without feeling the need to force the pace of the work or venture into difficult material before you feel ready to do so.

Many clients coming for this kind of help might have already experienced intrusive and inappropriate treatment in other helping contexts, where they may have felt unheard and unimportant. This would be in direct contrast with the PCA with its underlying belief in the value of you, the client, as a worthwhile individual who deserves to be heard and supported.

My main body of training has been in the Person-Centred Approach (PCA) and this still provides the main theoretical underpinning for my work. The PCA is considered to be 'non-directive' - this means that as a client you will benefit from being able to use the time and space I provide to explore whatever you want in ways that are meaningful to you, without me setting a pre-determined agenda about what should happen and when. For more information on The Person-Centred Approach

My aim as the counsellor is to use my skills, rather than techniques, to support a growing therapeutic relationship between us so that you might feel more able to recognise more clearly the choices available to you and for you to determine how you want to proceed.

Below are details of my training and counselling experience

Qualifications

I hold the following counselling qualifications

Certificate in Counselling Skills - awarded by the Counselling and Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body (CPCAB)

Certificate in Counselling Studies - awarded by the Counselling and Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body (CPCAB)

Diploma in the Theory and Practice of Counselling (Practitioner Counselling) - Awarded by ABC Awards

All my qualifications are recognised by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority

Counselling Experience

In addition to my private clients, I have also worked at various organisations providing counselling. These have included:

Bromley Community Bereavement Service

Kingston Bereavement Service

The BRIT School

My work with these organisations has provided me with a valuable opportunity to work with a wide range of clients with differing backgrounds and experiences on a broad range of material.

Current Training

I have recently completed a 10 week course in Person-Centred Art Therapy Skills at the City Lit.

I am currently studying at the Metanoia Institute for my Master's Degree (MSc) in Contemporary Person-Centred Psychotherapy and Applications

In addition, I regularly engage in other short training courses and other developmental activities as part of my Continuing Professional and Personal Development (CPPD)

Professional Membership

I hold the follwing professional memberships:

MBACP Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy

MIfL Member of the Institute for Learning

I am also a member of the British Association for the Person-Centred Approach (BAPCA)

Other Skills and Qualifications

In adition to being a qualified counsellor, I am also a fully qualified teacher in the Post-compulsory sector.

I have many years experience of teaching counselling and counselling skills as well as teaching more creative subjects such as painting and drawing.

I also have a BA(Hons) First Class Degree in 'Professional Studies in Education'

I am developing a companion website to this one where I am posting articles relating to counselling and training. Use the link below to visit this site.

'Steven Wells: Thoughts and Reflections on Counselling and Training Website'