COUNSELLING AND PSYCHOTHERAPY MARIE-FRANCE LYELL

My clinical experience in counselling has been with a varied client group during the period of around thirty years. Covered in four agencies and in private practice.

Some thirty years ago I joined the Samaritans and received training in how to work with despairing, suicidal individuals and people in distress. I became more aware of the nature of

human suffering and decided to begin professional training to become a Counsellor.

Shortly after this I applied to train with CRUSE. Having completed a six months training period, I began working with clients and completed sixty hours of supervised clinical practice.

I wanted to increase my skills base and I applied to join the Women's Resource Centre and East Kent Rapeline. I worked with a range of issues which impacted on this client group. I learnt how to work sensitively with severe psychological distress and impairment. I used this agency as part of my clinical placement whist engaged in professional training to support evidence for my portfolio of study.

I have seven years of generic practice with a charity which provides low cost therapy for clients presenting with issues which require more than six sessions of therapeutic work. I continue to practice due to the volume of referrals received.

My clients have been adolescents, males,and females, for short and longer term counselling. In this context a wide spectrum of difficulties have been explored with clients in counselling.

Alongside this I have been running a private counselling practice since 2005 for which clients self refer by arrangement.