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Effective & Helpful Private Counselling for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender.Thinking about private counselling in Portsmouth or Chichester? Dean Richardson offers effective and helpful individuals or couples counselling in your local area - brief/short-term or open-ended - those who were initially quite nervous and worried about the counselling process later commented on how straightforward and relieving they found the first appointment to have been. (read more…) You could be arranging your first counselling appointment today. Taking up private counselling means that you don't need to be referred by the NHS or your GP. Nor will your GP be informed if you wish your counselling to remain totally confidential. You can make your own private counselling appointment independently and in positive confidence. Dean is a professional, qualified and effective psychodynamic & systemic counsellor/psychotherapist working in PO1 (Portsmouth and Southsea border), Hampshire and PO19 (Chichester, West Sussex). His training and qualifications mean that he is professionally experienced and equipped to work with both individual's problems and with couples' relationship problems. Dean follows the BACP Ethical Framework. Being a member of a private practice counselling team, Dean also has resources to optionally refer you to other therapies as both you and he may deem appropriate for your benefit. Psychodynamic psychotherapy:
Psychodynamic counselling, for example, is a way of working that helps to understand how a person's past is having an impact upon present day problems. It is also a way to understand human growth and development, which are major factors upon people's lives. This, plus understanding unconscious matters such as defences (behaviours that are intended to protect us, but can end up getting in the way of ours lives), leads to a form of therapy that is accepting, empathic, understanding, helpful and supportive in finding ways to release the client from his or her problems. The counsellor respects how the client sees his/her real world, including the affect of any trauma, any differences in culture, sexuality, disability and any social context. In such a therapeutic containment, the therapist and client work together in their relationship to help the client make changes to lead toward a better life for him/herself. Systemic (couples) counselling:
Systemic counselling, for example, is a way for a couple to begin understanding how their relationship works (or doesn't work) by learning how responses are triggered in each other and how unsatisfactory and distressing behaviours can be modified by understanding how they originally come about. Systemic work helps couples understand how they have become stuck in relationship patterns and can explore new way of relating.
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Gay Couples Counselling.Dean is a qualified couples counsellor whose specialisites include working with gay couples, lesbian couples and couples of mixed transgender-, hetero- and gay- combinations. (read more…) His counselling methods therapeutically assists couples-in-conflict in becoming unstuck with their relationship problems and assist the couple working towards their own resolutions. Dean practices a primarily "Milan" approach to couples therapy - which is a style, at its core, is how Relate/Marriage Guidance counsellors practice. This is an incredibly helpful form of therapy that is developed specifically for couple relationships, helping couples to understand each other, understand themselves and to make negotiated changes in the relationship in a safe, counselling environment. Being a gay counsellor, LGBT couples can also feel comfortable that they are meeting with an experienced therapist who is part of their recognised LGBT community.Dean's practice is an effective combination of psychodynamic and systemic counselling models. Working in this way, a couple - regardless of their sexuality or gender - can learn to come up with new ideas about what's happening in their relationship ... and once a couple can hypothesise more about what's going on in their relationship 'system', they can then choose (or choose not!) to make conscious and negotiated choices about what they want to change in their relationship (this is part of systemic therapy). Being able to make choices allows a couple to make changes for improvements in their relationship.Sometimes, however, a couple’s choices move toward the couple deciding not to stay together. Dean's counselling support also helps with couples wishing to separate; couple counselling is not necessarily about ensuring a couple stay together. It's about helping the couple to decide what they want to change in their relationship. Whatever changes are possible and negotiated, whatever the couple discover about themselves and the underlying reasons for how they are relating to each other, we will work together in a safe, confidential and supportive environment - discussing what's going on in the relationship, learning what hinders, what helps, and learning what changes could benefit the relationship and both partners. Click here to see more posts on Gay Couples Counselling. (show less…)
Couples Counselling.Dean is a qualified couples counsellor who therapeutically assists couples-in-conflict in becoming unstuck and works with them at determining their own resolutions. (read more…) He practices an integrated systemic and psychodynamic approach to couples therapy. Working in this way, a couple can learn to be curious towards what's happening in their relationship and once a couple gains understanding about their relationship's 'system', they can then choose (or choose not!) to make choices about what they want to change. Choices allow a couple to make changes for improvements in their relationship. Sometimes, of course, a couple’s choices are meant to result in the couple deciding not to stay together and Dean's counselling support will help with that too. Couple counselling is not just simply about ensuring a couple stay together (although that's what we will work with if this is the couple's focus) - sometimes it can be about helping the couple part from each other if this is what the couple decides to do. Whatever changes are possible and decided, whatever the couple learn about themselves, we will work together at in a safe, confidential and helpful environment discussing what's going on in the relationship, learning what hinders, what helps, and learning what changes could benefit the relationship and both partners. Click here to see more posts on Couples Counselling. (show less…)
Depression: help through counselling.Depression is not always - and just - about feeling sad because depression can come in many different forms. (read more…) For example, depression can leave you noticing that your behaviour has changed from how you usually lead your life. Perhaps just as surprising might be when when friends and family tell you that you are depressed, and yet you feel that you didn't notice this yourself. This is where counselling can be helpful.Effecting one in three people at some time in their lives, depression is nothing to be ashamed or annoyed about. Many sufferers feel that they are in a dark pit, become estranged from their family and friends, and some see no way forward or out of their state. An experienced counsellor, such as Dean, will listen to your story, will listen to what's going on in your depression and can assist you in in making helpful connections as to what's going on. Psychodynamic therapy helps to develop insight into your depression, and can reveal unconscious factors and conflicts that contribute to depressive symptoms. The therapist can help gently reveal a client's denial and oblivion toward their causes of depression. Sometimes, it's just the relationship between the depression suffer and counsellor that makes a world of difference in just a few sessions. When depression lifts - it can feel like the sun just came out after a raining day. (show less…)
Suicidal Thoughts: help through counselling.Some say that suicide is not a chosen path - they say that suicide happens when pain exceeds resources for coping with pain. (read more…) If you are feeling suicidal at this moment please contact The Samaritans (click here for their website) who can help you right now.Not everyone recognises that they are having suicidal thoughts. Some find their behaviour leads them towards a suicide attempt (eg finding themselves forgetfully taking too many tables over a period of several hours, or finding themselves in dangerous situations and not really understanding how they got there). This is where counselling can help, because we can spend the time together looking at your thoughts, looking at what might be making you have these thoughts, and helping you change things so that your life can be much more under *your* control and less of your suicidal thoughts or behaviour. (show less…)
Bereavement: help through counselling.Loss - whether it's the loss of a loved one, a friend, the loss of a relationship or any other kind of loss - can have a huge and important impact on your life. (read more…) Sometimes you don't know which way to turn. Sometimes it feels like there's nothing wrong - and then something like depression comes along. This is where counselling can help - sometimes just to talk things through, and sometimes just to work through someone's death until you can feel that you can put your grief away. Family and friends are helpful - but a counsellor, such as Dean, can listen empathically without telling you, for example, how you should have gotten over things by now, like family and friends may after a while. Making sense of grief and loss can be done in the safety and comfort of the counselling room. Click to read more about grief... (show less…)
LGBT Counselling Specialist.Dean's specialities include working LGBT people - both as individuals and as couples - who seek counselling in matters where they prefer to work with a LGBT-understanding counsellor. (read more…) If you identify yourself as lesbian, gay, transgender or bisexual and are seeking to work with a LGBT therapist, then as a qualified counsellor within the LGBT community, Dean can offer you understanding and experience as a pro-LGBT therapist - beyond that of his counselling and psychotherapy experience and qualifications ... click to read more. Of course, being a BACP accredited counsellor, Dean is experienced in working with anyone regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation pending an assessment for counselling.See also:- (show less…) New to Counselling?Counselling can be a rewarding experience and you are not committing to therapy until both you and Dean discuss your needs (the 'assessment'). (read more…) When you first meet with Dean, you will both meet for an assessment session which lasts for 50 minutes and costs the same as a standard counselling session. This assesment allows the counsellor to get to know some information about you, and to learn of your problem(s). Just as important, you get to experience the counsellor and to begin to form a sense of if this is someone you might want to work with. Both counsellor and client also discuss what in particularly you (and your partner, if in couple counselling) would like to get out of the counselling; what should be the focus of the counselling. For brief psychotherapy work, there will be a discussion about what sort of focus could be addressed successfully within a limited number of sessions ... because as we will be limited by a fixed number of sessions the target/goal needs to be realistic. Agreeing a focus is important to make sure we're both working together with a purpose.
The assessment for an individual usually takes one session ... but it's perfectly OK if both client and counsellor feel that meeting for further sessions to complete an assessment is appropriate. I will want to hear your story and will offer some questions and thoughts to help you tell it. I will also take some more specific details to help us assess if counselling with me may be right for you. We will discuss counselling and agree a focus for our work before arranging and continuing with counselling sessions.
The assessment for couples works by first the couple and counsellor meet together, then seperately - (one partner meets with the counsellor one week, the other partner meets with the counsellor the following week). This method is so that each partner gets to tell their part of the story both with the other partner in witness and separately from their partner so that we can get difference perspectives of the relationship. The individual sessions are confidential and we will have a talk about what subjects the counsellor cannot bring back in the couple session. A final fourth session brings everyone back together to discuss what we have learned during the assessment and to see if we can negotiate and agree what should be the focus of the future couples counselling sessions. This means the assessment will take a minimum of four sessions, which gives everyone a rounded understanding of the relationship problems and where the counselling should focus.
After the assessment, assuming both counsellor and client(s) agree to proceed with the counselling, we will discuss a contract which describes the method of therapy, expectations on both sides (eg what type of therapy is being agreed upon, the day & time of each session, holiday entitlements, payments etc). This usually does not take very long to discuss but is important to go through as matters in the contract (such as cancellation fees) will come up during the therapy from time to time.
Assuming the assessment concludes with an agreement that therapy will proceed, the counselling process then proceeds on a weekly basis - usually on the same day of the week at the same time of day, always with me and at same location. Counselling ends when either the agreed number of sessions are completed (in the case of brief work), or when both client & counsellor mutually agree that the focus of the work has been sufficiently addressed (in the case of open-ended work). Referrals can be made to other counsellors if the assessment process reveals something that suggests therapy with me aught not to proceed.
Fees are payable weekly (cash, cheque, credit card) on the day of the session. Call or click to send an email to discuss. Click here to see more information on Assessments.
(show less…) Make your first appointment straightforward:
How to contact me:
Where I work: My private practice is available in both Portsmouth, Hampshire and Chichester, West Sussex.
Fees: Therapy can be an incredibly liberating and helpful experience to those in distress - and private counselling is not free of charge. (read more…) People who are ready to try working matters through with a counselling professional may prefer to come to private counselling, rather than, say, trying to work with NHS/GP waiting lists, being sent to CBT-only therapy and finding CBT was only not too helpful or not wishing to use a charitable or perhaps a religious-based counselling service. Click here to read about the costs of counselling. Dean is a highly skilled, qualified, ethical and experienced therapist with over ten years of practical experience and continual professional development and his investment in you is matched by his professional fees. Concessions are available and Dean also operates a sliding scale on a limited number of places (these cost reductions can be discussed at your first appointment). My standard regular fees are:- Individual counselling: £45.00 / session*
- Couples counselling: £50.00 / session*
*Sliding scale: For those whose income might make private counselling fees a struggle to pay, I have a small number of slots available where I can discuss a reduction in fees (eg concessions and a 'sliding scale'). To discuss this with me, please first consider what you could responsibly afford to pay weekly, and we can discuss this when we first meet. Please note:-- The initial assessment session(s) are charged at the regular sessions rate. I do not add the additional costs created by post-assessment administration,
- No VAT is added to my fees ... saving you 15% (equivalent to a £40.50 reduction on a course of six individual's sessions & £45.00 reduction on a course of six couples' sessions).
- A minimum of of 2 working-days' notice is required to cancel or rearrange a session, otherwise the full session fee is payable for the missed session. Once the session is allocated to you, it cannot be allocated to anyone else without sufficient notice.
Fees are payable weekly and are paying by cash, cheque, debit card or credit card (a £1 credit-card processing fee is added to credit card payments. Debit card payments are free of this fee). All sessions (including assessment sessions) are fifty minutes in length.
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