My name is Joanne Lindsay I set up in private practice in 2011 after gaining experience mainly within the Substance Misuse sector.
I am an accredited member of the National Counselling Society and a registered member working towards accreditation of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) I work within their Ethical frameworks.
Below are my formal qualifications, which I'm sure you you want to know I have, but if you're interested I'd like to tell you a little bit about how I came to become a counsellor - feel free to skip if you don't want to know!
When I was at school and having to chose my GCSE options and career aims, I had an interest in Alternative medicines (reflexology, aromatherapy, hypnotherapy etc), I did my work experience in a health food shop which had a therapy centre in the back - I loved it!
The next few years didn't plan out exactly as I thought though, I chose the wrong A-levels for me, ended up working in shops, pubs, pre-schools, factories etc gaining lots of life experience in my jobs and by getting married, moving abroad, having my children and forming some fabulous friendships, but equally also some very negative ones too...
In 2007 I moved back to Taunton - unfortunately with one failed marriage but two lovely children in my focus - this is where my counselling career accidentally starts, I decided to work towards something rather than going back into a job for the sake of it whilst my children were very young.
After completing a Counselling Skills course (which I loved!!) one of my references got lost in the terrible 2009 January snow to continue onto a nursing course, that to be honest, I was aiming towards for the career sake of being able to help people, but not in the true passion I had felt when I was aiming for the Alternative Therapies route and because of that, I was very happy when I didn't get accepted onto it and made the choice to continue onto the level 4 counselling Diploma in Street, then as they say the rest is history - or you can see the progression below into coming back to therapy in a round about way - igniting that passion again;
CPCAB Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies at Somerset College of Arts and Technology, Taunton, Somerset
CPCAB Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling at Strode College, Street, Somerset
CPCAB level 5 Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Skills and Theory at Redlands Counselling College, Bournemouth, Dorset.
Level 7 Accredited Post Graduate Certificate in Counselling Supervision at KRCS
Level 7 NCS Accredited Advanced Diploma in Counselling Supervision at KRCS
BACP Endorsed Training in Hypnotherapy for Counsellors - NLP Vision
Accredited Teachers Diploma Certificate in Mediation Tuition - Gateway Workshops
BACP Endorsed Training in Coaching for Counsellors - NLP Vision
Reiki and Seichem Diploma Level 1 and 2 - Gateway Workshops
Diploma in Bach Flower Remedies - Gateway Workshops
Accredited Diploma in Indian Head Massage - Gateway Workshops
Accredited Diploma in Seated Acupressure Massage - Gateway Workshops
Accredited Diploma in Essential Oils for business
Currently Studying - I like to continue adding fresh information to my service and extend my knowledge base to benefit each of my clients - so my ongoing studies are;
Aromatherapy
Other experience Before and whilst I set up my private practice; I gained experience working with clients at a Drug and Alcohol residential rehabilitation centre and gained much insight into addiction and it's effects.
There I received lots of support and in house training as well as professional training on substance misuse, mental health and the complexities of Addictive Personality Disorder.
I have also worked at Turning Point (A community based Substance misuse program) initially as a volunteer Counsellor delivering Motivational Enhancement Therapy to Clients who's substance misuse has become problematic as well as offering Integrative counselling to other clients with more complex issues.
Now I continue to work there part time, but as a Recovery Worker helping clients to access Psychological treatments, medical interventions and I help support them on their pathway to recovery.
Other training Motivational Enhancement Therapy training. Motivational Interviewing Technique. Mental Health First Aid Certificate. (MHFA) Recovery Skills Mindfulness Skills Emotional Coping Skills ASIST trained (Applied Suicide Intervention) Children and Vulnerable Adult Safeguarding training Positive Behavioural Management Introduction to Change skills Suicide and self harm training Emergency First Aid in the Work place Adolescent Development in Substance Misuse Brief Alcohol interventions with Young People Soul and Sand-trays with counselling Supervision Domestic Violence Training Adults and Young People Volatile Substances Misuse Safeguarding The Rewind Technique for Trauma and Phobias
I hold a full First Aid certificate through St John Ambulance.
Although I can not offer British Sign Language, I do have experience of working with people who have a hearing impairment. (Please give me notice if you would benefit from a hearing loop).