Lesley Atkinson-Baldwyn
Hello, I appreciate you’re probably reading this because you’re experiencing difficulty in life. This may be in one aspect or life in general. I aim to listen to you, hear you and believe in you until you feel able to believe in yourself. Our first meeting provides an opportunity to experience how it might be to work together and for you to express what you hope to gain from therapy. I offer a free initial 15-20 minute meeting or phone chat, if it will help you decide whether I am the right counsellor for you.
My style of counselling is Relational Integrative meaning we work with an appreciation that we are both human beings first – I am passionate about working with the person in front of me in a way that suits them. I work with individuals and couples short, medium and long term.
Some of the areas I work with
- Relationship Issues
- Anxiety
- Couples Counselling
- Loss/Bereavement
- Addiction (substance misuse) and addictive behaviours
- Depression (generalised and acute male or female)
- Gender/Sexuality/Identity
- Self Esteem/Lack of Confidence
- Self Harm
- Trauma
- Grief
- Suicidal Thoughts
- Family Issues
- Stress
- Phobias
- Panic Attacks
- Working with Older people
Training and experience:
I am a fully qualified counsellor and Registered Member of the BACP. I completed my foundation degree at The University of Suffolk,with Distinction, and was the Subject Ambassador for Counselling at the University for several years. I have a Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), hold a Diploma in Mindfulness Based CBT (Distinction) and have a certificate in Transactional Analysis. I have completed a BACP accredited course in Couple Counselling.
I am a member of the The Society for Existential Analysis (SEA) and am a registered member of the BACP.
I have experience with a diverse range of clients including (but not limited to) those with addiction, anxiety, relationship issues, family issues, work related stress, abuse, self harm, depression (including male), low self-esteem, betrayal and gender identity, alongside many others. I am experienced in working with people of different ages (18 to 90+), cultures, sexual orientation and ethnicity.
Alongside Ipswich Counselling I have worked in a voluntary counselling position for a number of organisations which has enhanced my depth of experience and knowledge whilst also reinforcing my belief that all people are valuable. In private practice this philosophy underpins my approach and the relationship we build recognises we are both human beings, and honours our individuality, sameness and difference.I worked as a volunteer counsellor for a large mental health charity. The service aims to provide the opportunity to talk about day to day difficulties such as relationship and family problems or personal crisis and, at the same time, help to resolve situations using the client’s own insight and resources. In addition I worked for over three years at Iceni Ipswich which included working with substance misusers and their family members. I have also helped set up the LGBT counselling service in Suffolk and co-ordinated the counselling provision for over two years. Within this role I have been involved with a number of clients who are questioning or coming to terms with a different identity. I have undertaken bereavement training with CRUSE and was a volunteer with them.
I work part time for the NHS at Ipswich Hospital as Lead for Counselling and Complementary Therapy – running and developing the service for Cancer patients. I have also worked extensively with male sufferers of depression and relationship issues, such as infidelity or betrayal and lack of trust or difficulties with communication
I am a qualified yoga teacher having trained for two years in India.
I am governed by the BACP code of ethics which includes a requirement for regular supervision from a suitably qualified and regulated senior colleague.
I hold an enhanced DBS certificate and a Level 2 certificate in mental health awareness
Supervision
I hold an Advanced Certificate in Clinical Supervision (Distinction). I work as a Supervisor with Counsellors, Psychotherapists work as a clinical supervisor with Specialist nurses at Ipswich Hospital. I work in accordance with the BACP ethical framework and aim to support, encourage and help with supervisee development.
Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Certification:
Leadership in Action – Vitae 2014
Foundation Course in Substance Misuse – NHS, 2014
Transgender Awareness Training – Ipswich LGBT Network, 2015
The Place of Sexuality in the approaches of Klein and Bion – University of Essex CPS, 2015
Signs and Symptoms of Drug Use – NHS, 2015
Nature vs Nurture – NHS, 2015
The Healing Power of Therapeutic Repair – Dr Janina Fisher, 2016
Meditative Techniques – TSYP, 2016
Emergency First Aid at Work – Red Cross, 2016
Understanding Anxiety and Depression – University of Reading, 2016
Building Trust, Love and Loyalty in Relationships – J. Gottman and J. Gottman, 2016
Overcoming Trauma Related Shame and Self Loathing – Dr Janina Fisher, 2016
Child Safeguarding – University of Suffolk, 2016
Safeguarding Adults at Risk – Suffolk MIND, 2016
Introduction to Existential Therapy – Existential Academy, 2016
How PTSD Affects Mind, Brain and Biology – Trauma Training, 2016
Transactional Analysis – TA 101 – UKATA (UK Association for Transactional Analysis), 2016
Drug Awareness and Reducing Harm, NHS, 2017
Conflict Resolution and Breakaway Training, Suffolk MIND, 2017
Couple Counselling, BACP Accredited, 2017
ASIST (applied suicide intervention skills training), LivingWorks, 2017
Families and Beyond: An Introduction to Systemic Thinking, The Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust, 2018
CBT for older People University of East Anglia, 2018
Bereavement support foundation course (Advanced Specialist training status with the National Counselling Society) – CRUSE Bereavement Care, 2018
Bereavement support face to face – CRUSE Bereavement Care, 2018
Bereavement support by telephone – CRUSE Bereavement Care, 2018
Domestic Abuse – Breaking the Chain – NHS, 2018
MBCT-Ca (Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy for Cancer) – Trish Bartley, 2018
Bereavement Support Foundation course Level 2 – Ascentis, 2018
The Challenge of Uncertainty – Ernesto Spinelli, 2018
Supporting people with dementia and those close to them following bereavement – CRUSE, 2019
Domestic Abuse Training – NHS, 2019
Human Factors Training – NHS, 2019
Various Cancer related training – Macmillan, 2018, 2019
The Human Toolbox – Lindy Wheeler, 2019
Prevention and Management of Violence and Aggression – Level 2 – NHS, 2019
Advanced Certificate in Clinical Supervision (Distinction) – The Life-force centre, 2019-2020
Degree in Psychology Open University 2020
The idea of counselling can be daunting, and taking the first step is often challenging, but it can be life changing and liberating and, amongst other things, help you to rediscover, or develop, a sense of self. We work at your pace without judgement
Contact us: info@ipswichcounselling.uk
Sharron Wardman-Browne
My approach to therapy is both relational and integrative. It is also informed by the principles of positive psychology with its holistic focus on well-being. In essence this means that I draw from my experience and training to provide a high quality, individually tailored counselling service to achieve the best outcome for you.
I believe that relationships are fundamental to our emotional well-being and my aim is to create a compassionate and collaborative space that gives you the freedom and safety to discuss whatever is important to you. I think of myself as a companion and facilitator and I will encourage you to explore in depth your thoughts, feelings and behaviours, significant relationships and the concerns and distress that you may be experiencing. The therapeutic process can help you to become more self-aware and self-accepting, enabling you to move forward with positivity, resilience and new ways of viewing the world, the person you are and the possibilities for the future.
Some of the areas I work with are:
- Addiction and addictive behaviours
- Anger Management
- Anxiety (Social Anxiety, Generalised Anxiety Disorder, Health Anxiety)
- Bereavement, grief and loss
- Children and Young People: Bullying, depression, anxiety, attachment disorders, separation anxiety, loss and grief, body image, sexuality and identity, trauma, anger management, Autism Spectrum Disorders, coping with family changes.
- Couples Counselling – (inc romantic, friendship, family) communication difficulties, trust, affairs, arguments, step children, changes in family circumstances, relationship breakdown
- Depression and depressive disorders
- Eating disorders, Anorexia and Bulimia
- Gender, Sexuality, Identity
- Low self-esteem / low confidence / low mood / feeling lost
- Personality disorders, dissociation, derealisation, bi-polar, borderline, hearing voices, OCD
- Phobias / Panic attacks
- Self-harm and suicidal thoughts
- Stress and work stress, stress management, bullying at work
- Spirituality and making meaning in our lives / facing our own mortality
Training and experience:
I have many years’ experience of working with mental health issues in a variety of settings. This experience embraces working with people from different age groups and cultural backgrounds. I am an accredited BACP counsellor and I am qualified to Masters level.
I currently work as a counsellor at Ipswich Hospital and have a small private practice.
Contact me
If you would like to discuss further, please do contact me. I offer a 20 minute free telephone call to discuss your situation and answer any questions you may have.
Supervision
I hold a Post-Graduate Diploma in supervision. I work as a Supervisor with Counsellors, Psychotherapists and Trainees in private practice, as well as having experience of working with teaching staff, nurses and support workers. My supervisory work is underpinned by encouragement, support and reflection and adherence to the BACP’s ethical framework.
Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Certification:
Child and Vulnerable Adults Protection Training (Suffolk County Council) (2018)
Suicide Prevention (2017)
Signs and symptoms of drug use (2017)
Addiction and substance misuse (2017)
First Aid Certificate (2017)
Complications of Bereavement, Causes, Management and Wider Implications (2016)
Working with Survivors of Trauma (March 2016)
Counselling for Depression and Anxiety (2016)
Dissociative Identity Disorder (PODS 2015)
Working with Relational Trauma (May 2015)
CBT for Anxiety (2015)
Level 3: Rape Crisis Training (2015)
Working with Affairs and Betrayal (2015)
Hidden Losses (2015)
CRUSE: Working with Bereaved Children and Young People (2015)
Attachment Focused Therapy Therapist (2014/5)
Pluralistic Counselling (2014)
Anger, Rage and Relationship (2014)
An Introduction to Personality Adaptations (2014)
Working Therapeutically with Eating Disorders (2014)
LGBT training; Gender Issues; Transgender Awareness Training; Gender reassignment (2013)
Relational Depth in Counselling (run by Mick Cooper)
Emotional Freedom Technique Therapist
Spiritual Companion Training (2012)
