Ceri Hiles

I offer sessions both in person (in Bromley and Tunbridge Wells) and online. At the moment I generally see clients in person on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Online appointments are available on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, as well as Saturday mornings. 

I am a person-centred and psychodynamic counsellor, with ten years experience working with clients in various contexts, including the NHS Talking Therapies programme and St Christopher's Hospice, as well as in private practice. As a person-centred counsellor I want to place the challenges and concerns that brought you into therapy at the very centre of the work, in the understanding that self-awareness and healing comes from empathy, compassion, and the open dialogue between two people. Working psychodynamically I will be encouraging you to explore how formative experiences in your life have shaped the way you feel about yourself and the world around you. Sometimes the effects of these experiences are hiding out of our awareness, so the challenge of the work is bringing them into the light so that we can see and think clearly about them, as the necessary first step to change and growth.  I also draw on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) when appropriate, as a way of of managing unwelcome and disruptive thoughts, feelings, and patterns of behaviour.

I am fully insured, have a current enhanced DBS certificate, and have regular supervision to support me in my work.

I generally see clients weekly, at the same time and in the same place (I work in both Bromley and Tunbridge Wells). I usually do not specify the number of sessions we will have, as sometimes you can achieve your objective relatively quickly - it can also be the case that deeper concerns emerge that need time and patience to work through. If you decide to continue after our initial session, we review how the work is going after six sessions, to check that you feel the therapy is unfolding in a helpful and productive way. Regular reviews are important for keeping the therapy focused on and responsive to your needs. Sessions can be in person or online - although I find that, if working online, at least one in-person session can be helpful in building an effective therapeutic relationship. Fortnightly or monthly sessions are also available, but usually later into the work. The momentum that comes from weekly sessions is a valuable asset in the earlier stages of the therapy. 

Once you have approached me I will arrange a telephone conversation, usually of around twenty minutes. This is a chance for me to learn more about what you are looking for from counselling and whether I might be able to help. It is also a chance for you to learn a bit more about me. The next step is to arrange an initial session, in person if possible. At this session I will ask you to complete a questionnaire, and I will be asking more questions than I would in a regular session - this is to help me build a picture of what has brought you into therapy. If you feel that I might be the right counsellor for you to work with, we can then book in further sessions.