Individual Counselling
Counselling is not about giving advice or attempting to fix situations; it’s more a process of walking alongside a client, providing a safe and confidential therapeutic relationship in which it feels comfortable to explore your concerns. I offer time and space to think through your options, come to terms with your past and consider different ways of coping. Therapy can be an opportunity to pause and take stock of the psychological bags and boxes we carry. It is a pit stop where we can unpack the bags together and consider whether they could be repacked in a way that makes them easier to carry; or maybe some items aren’t needed any more and can be left behind.
I have been working as a counsellor since qualifying in 2012, mainly in NHS commissioned services, but also in private practice and the charitable sector. I work integratively, which means I use a core approach of client centred therapy, along with tools and techniques from other approaches if my client and I think they might be helpful. I offer a congruent therapeutic relationship based on respect and accurate understanding, considering it a privilege to be invited to work confidentially with a client’s unique situation and experience.
I have experience in working with a wide range of concerns, including anxiety, depression and adjustment reactions to the various difficult and traumatic events and situations life can present us with. I have worked extensively with interpersonal issues which are causing stress and distress, including difficulties in couple relationships, family relationships, and blended / stepfamily relationships.
I am an accredited member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and abide by the BACP Ethical Code of Practice. I am fully insured and hold up to date Enhanced DBS clearance.
My fee for working with individual clients is £50 per hour.
Please contact me to arrange an initial appointment.
Couples Counselling
Of all the myths surrounding adult relationships, the fantasy of the ‘happy ever after’ must be one of the most unhelpful. It goes something like this: we meet ‘the one’, fall in love, get married and then live happily ever after (with no reference to tough times, disappointment or the day-to-day maintenance required to sustain the relationship). When we think about the effort, energy and resources we put into maintaining other aspects of our lives, it seems strange that we typically do not attend proactively to our most important relationships.
Couples counselling can be an opportunity for you and your partner to commit to making your relationship as good as it can possibly be.
I usually start couples therapy with a joint assessment where we discuss the main presenting issues and identify what you would each like to gain from therapy. I will then see each partner individually for one session to work towards understanding their perspective and story. Often, difficulties are caused by individual ways of coping which make perfect sense given each partner’s unique background, but which might mesh together in a partnership in a way which is unhelpful. These three sessions provide an opportunity to explore some ideas about your underlying relationship dynamic, unconscious processes, mutual traps and patterns of polarisation that you may be experiencing.
We will then go on to work together, typically around learning new ways to communicate, resolve conflict and (sometimes) accept difference. The presenting issues and difficulties I tend to work with include division of labour, parenting, extended and in-law family issues, step / blended family issues, sex and intimacy, external stresses and recovering from infidelity. As with individual therapy, I work integratively, which means I use a core approach of client centred therapy, along with tools and techniques from other approaches if my clients and I think they might be helpful. I offer a congruent therapeutic relationship based on respect and accurate understanding, considering it a privilege to be invited to work confidentially with a couple’s unique situation and experience.
My fee for working with couples clients is £60 per hour.
Please contact me to arrange an initial appointment.
Counselling Supervision
As your counselling supervisor I will support you in your client work, offer guidance and professional development and provide you with the checks and balances necessary for you to be able to offer your clients the best possible practice. My counselling supervision mirrors my clinical practice in that I work integratively from a core approach of person centred therapy. We might typically discuss:
- Client presentation
- Approaches or interventions
- Ethical issues
- Transference and projection
- Counter transference, parallel processing or merging
I usually meet supervisees for 90 minutes per month. Additional support is available on an ad hoc basis by agreement.
My fee for working with supervisees is £75 per 90 minutes.
Please contact me to arrange an initial appointment.
About me
Lois Rumsey
Day and evening appointments available in person
at Southwell Wellbeing Centre (Notts) or online using Zoom
I have been working as a counsellor since qualifying in 2012, mainly in NHS commissioned services, but also in private practice and the charitable sector. I work integratively, which means I use a core approach of client centred therapy, along with tools and techniques from other approaches if my client and I think they might be helpful. I offer a congruent therapeutic relationship based on respect and accurate understanding, considering it a privilege to be invited to work confidentially with a client’s unique situation and experience.
I have experience in working with a wide range of concerns, including anxiety, depression and adjustment reactions to the various difficult and traumatic events and situations life can present us with. I have worked extensively with interpersonal issues which are causing stress and distress, including difficulties in couple relationships, family relationships, and blended / stepfamily relationships.
I am an accredited member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and abide by the BACP Ethical Code of Practice. I am fully insured and hold up to date Enhanced DBS clearance.
I am also a qualified counselling supervisor and offer monthly supervision to practising counsellors to comply with BACP requirements.
My qualifications include:
- Higher Professional Diploma in Counselling
- Certificate of Practice in Couples and Relationship Counselling
- Certificate in Clinical Supervision
- Certificate in Interpersonal Therapy
- Certificate in Couples Therapy for Depression
- Certificate in Counselling for Depression
- BSc Hons Degree in Applied Psychology
Testimonials
“Lois was compassionate, caring, empathetic and professional at all times. I felt at ease and able to tell her everything and anything.”
“Lois has made a huge positive impact on our marriage. From the very first session I felt instantly safe to be able to open up and be heard. I will never be able to thank her enough for what she has done for us. I was so close to walking away from my marriage and thanks to her we have worked through it and have a future.”
“Lois made me feel validated. I have met many therapists and Lois was by far the most professional.”
“This was my second set of sessions with Lois and I found every hour to be very helpful and always felt that I was being listened to and was allowed the time to express my difficulties and received responses and suggestions that were easy to understand. I would recommend anyone having similar difficulties to myself to seek help from Lois.”
“Lois was always respectful and helpful. She helped me to explore how I feel about things and what I can do to update my responses to the problems I was feeling. I now feel equipped to move forward with my life.”
“From the first session I was made to feel at ease and supported. I was made to feel that my problems do matter and to find ways to tackle what I am experiencing.”
“We were able to talk through and develop strategies to help me cope better in the present day.”
“Very professional, sympathetic but questioning therefore making me think. A fabulous service. Thank you.”
Fees
- Individual Counselling: £50 per 60 minute session
- Couples Counselling: £60 per 60 minute session
- Counselling Supervision: £75 per 90 minute session
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