About me
The official line: I'm a qualified, experienced counsellor, based in Eastbourne in East Sussex, with:
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A Diploma in Humanistic Integrative Counselling
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A Degree in Psychology
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Qualified teacher of Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) trained with Sussex Mindfulness Centre (Sussex Partnership NHS Trust)
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Level 2 practitioner status in Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)
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Qualified in Behavioural Activation
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In-depth training on working with Trauma, Sand Tray Therapy, Compassion Focused Therapy and working with grief and bereavement
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Extensive experience working with people experiencing anxiety, self-critical thoughts, bereavement, relationship difficulties, suicidal thoughts, loss and trauma
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Experience working in the NHS with people with severe mental health problems
I'm an accredited member of the BACP and abide by the BACP Ethical Framework. I am covered by professional liability insurance.
Alongside my private practice, I have extensive experience working within a hospice setting, providing counselling to patients with life limiting illnesses, carers and people who have been bereaved. Post-Covid, I managed a busy adult community bereavement service, which included training and mentoring trainee counsellors.
I continue to provide training to qualified and trainee counsellors, particularly on working with grief, trauma and suicidal feelings.
I have a particular interest in working with people who experience self-critical thoughts, adults who experienced emotional neglect in childhood and the adult children of parents with narcissistic traits.
The bottom line: The therapeutic relationship is profoundly personal, so I imagine you'll want to know something about who you'll be working with.
I'm passionate about counselling because I know how transformative it can be. I put up with anxiety and noisy negative thoughts for years, feeling I should be able to cope better. Counselling helped me understand why I was struggling and to find effective and practical tools to manage my anxiety and to thrive. Now I'm privileged enough to spend my days empowering others to do the same and to become their own 'mind gardener'.
Alongside being a counsellor I enjoy walking my squirrel-obsessed dog, Bailey.
Pippa Menzies
BACP Accredited Counsellor