Verna Morris

• Dip. Counselling and Psychotherapy
• Post Graduate Diploma
• Dip College of Occupational Therapists
• Cert Couns
• Member of BACP

I am a qualified Counsellor Occupational Therapist and member of the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists. I have additional specialist training in couple counselling bereavement counselling and in enhancing self-motivation.

Prior to training as a Counsellor I worked as an Occupational Therapist for over 15 years. My work here was focused around supporting people and enabling them to find practical solutions to their difficulties. This role included significant experience of working with people with who have experienced the trauma of sudden onset disabilities and their families.

I work from the basis that I can be of most help to clients by enabling them to find their own solutions to problems or opportunities. I see you as the expert in your own life and aim to help you find your own resolutions. Whatever the reason that you may decide to come to counselling I believe that your feeling comfortable with and trusting the counsellor is one of the most important aspect of the counselling process.

In the therapy process I offer brief counselling which means that counselling is carried out over an agreed limited number of sessions. This kind of counselling is future focused and aims to build solutions rather than solve problems.

Initially we focus together on identifying the specific problems and defining the solution or goal the solutions. Your own strengths resources and coping strategies are identified during the counselling process to initiate the change. This kind of counselling can help resolve specific immediate issues such as family crisis relationship difficulties workplace stress or panic attacks.

I have experience in working with the following issues:

• Personal/ relationships and work
• Stress anxiety and depression and panic attacks
• Grief and loss
• Abuse
• Anger Management
• Low self-esteem
• Progressive and acquired disability and injury
• Hidden disabilities - e.g. head injury stroke and back pain
• Carer stress
• Supporting people to self-motivate/make practical change or decisions about their lifestyle or way of living

My background in health and disability means that I have a lot of experience of working with people who have experienced sudden onset and progressive disabilities/injuries and the people who care for /live with them. This includes hidden disabilities like head injury and chronic pain.

I am available Tuesday afternoon and evening and Thursday evenings

I use a sliding fee based on income. Fees range from £30.00 per hour to £60.00 per hour