Dr Susan Dale
Welcome to my website, I am an experienced BACP accredited counsellor, supervisor and narrative practitioner offering:
- counselling
- spiritual accompaniment
- therapeutic writing
- my publications
- narrative research
- training
- supervision
- support for organisations
My approach to all the work I undertake, is underpinned by the belief that everyone is unique and has a story to tell of their lives.
This means that I always try to listen carefully, and to respond in ways that are tailored specifically to what you need.
Currentlys all my work is carried out on the phone or online. The options are:
- Telephone (I will ring you at a specific time on a UK landline or mobile)
- Video or audio call via encrypted link (I will call you at a specific time via encrypted Zoom)
- E-therapy via messaging (I will be available in a private meeting room for conversation via messaging)
- E-therapy via secure email conversation (I will respond to emails within 2-3 days)
Further information is available about these on request
I am not currently able to take on new counselling referrals, but will try to assist you to find someone who can help you.
Privacy
This website enables you to contact me via email. It also provides a phone number if you wish to speak with me or leave an answer-phone message.
Under existing Data Protection regulations and those of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), I am legally required to provide you with the following information regarding the privacy and security of any personal information you provide me when using this website e.g. your name, contact details, why you wish to contact me, IP address etc., I am also required to tell you how I will use this information and what will happen to it.
If you contact me via this email facility or phone me, you do so on the understanding that you have given me permission to contact you in return (unless explicitly asked not to). Any initial contact with you will be to discuss your enquiry or answer any questions you have asked.
Your email message (including IP address, email address, your name etc.) will be stored for up to 12 months on
I am committed to ensuring that this information is secure and to prevent any unauthorised access or disclosure, I have in place suitable physical, electronic and managerial procedures. Whilst my laptop computer is both password and firewall protected please be aware that there is always some risk involved when transmitting any information over the Internet. Therefore, I cannot guarantee the security and privacy of any information transmitted electronically. Any message left on my confidential answer-phone will be deleted after use.
I take the confidentiality of personal information very seriously and do share information about you, or what you have told me, without very careful consideration. However, in rare circumstances, I may have to disclose information. This might be because I am acting under a legal obligation to do so (for example in the case of suspected terrorism), or I consider that there could be a significant risk of serious harm to you, or another person. Whilst in most cases, I would attempt to discuss the matter with you, this may not always be possible or legally permissible.
I keep very brief records of our meetings - these include what we have agreed about our work together, the dates you have attended, fees paid, and any significant issues or actions that we have agreed can be noted. You are welcome to have copies of these records should you wish them. Usually these are retained for a maximum of 3 years on an encrypted cloud based data base, then securely destroyed
By using this website you are agreeing to the terms of this Privacy Policy.
This Privacy Policy may be amended periodically e.g. if new regulations are introduced I will post any changes to it here. For more information on GDPR and your rights visit www.ico.org.uk
From time to time, my website may contain links to other websites of interest. However you should note that I do not have any control over other websites. Therefore, I cannot be responsible for the protection and privacy of any information which you provide whilst visiting such sites. You should exercise caution and look at the Privacy Policy applicable to the website in question.
About
I have worked as a counsellor, supervisor and spiritual accompanier since the late 1990's in many different settings across Wales S.W England and Scotland
I now live and work in the Highlands of Scotland.
All of my work is underpinned by the BACP Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions which you can access at:
Qualifications
- 1999 Post graduate diploma in pastoral counselling St John's Theological College/Nottingham University
- 1999 Post graduate certificate spiritual accompaniment
- 2005 MSc Counselling (distinction) Bristol University
- 2009 EdD (Narrative Practice) Bristol University
- 2004 Accredited with BACP
- 2012 Certificate in Telephone and E-therapy
I regularly undertake continuing professional development completing in excess of 50 hours each year.
Counselling
What is Counselling?
Counselling is one of the 'talking' therapies. The aim is to enable you to work towards living in ways that you experience as satisfying and resourceful. We will normally meet for a series of sessions (these could be regular weekly intervals or just occasionally at times when you feel the need for some extra support).
My role is not to tell you what to do, or to make judgments about you, but to listen carefully and work alongside as you:
- resolve specific problems
- manage stressful situations
- make decisions
- cope with crisis
- work through feelings of despair, anger or inner?conflict
- improve your relationships with others
0r, you just need space to talk to someone who will really listen. I take an integrative approach to all my therapeutic work, which means that I incorporate within my practice methods taken from various psychotherapeutic theories and work with you in the way that you find most helpful.
What will it cost?
I normally charge £60 for a 60 minute session, but this is negotiable depending on your circumstances.
What are my qualifications?
I have been working professionally as a counsellor for 20 years and I am an accredited member of the British Association of Counsellors (BACP) and am bound by its Ethical Framework and practice you can find further details about counselling and the Ethical Framework on http://www.bacp.co.uk/ethics/EFfCP.php. I completed a post graduate diploma in pastoral counselling in 1999 and a Masters degree in Counselling in 2005, and a Doctorate in Education (specialising in narrative practices) and regularly undertake continuing professional development to keep me up to date!
Who do I work with?
I work with individuals of any age (to date the youngest person consulting me has been 7 and the oldest 102) I accept referrals from many different sources including private referral, employer referral, medical referral, and social services.
Where do I work?
Currently I an not taking new counselling referrals.
What is Spiritual Accompaniment?
I see spiritual accompaniment as giving you:
- a confidential space and a relationship where you can explore, and grow in your relationship with God
- dedicated time, in the midst of the business of life, to consider life's meaning and purpose
- encouragement as you travel along a journey of faith
- a place in which to explore questions and difficulties it is hard to voice elsewhere
- space to explore what prayer may mean to you
- opportunity for self-reflection and accounting
- companionship during a period of discernment or change
As a spiritual accompanier, I see my role as walking alongside you. I do not seek to tell you what to do, or how, or what you should believe. I do not know the answers, but I do believe that in travelling in relationship towards the divine, ordinary people are capable of extra-ordinary things!
My background is as an ecumenical Christian. I am a member of the Iona Community and am committed to accounting to other community members for my use of resources, daily prayer and pursuing justice and peace both in my own communities and the wider world.
My initial training was as a pastoral counsellor at St John's Theological College in the early 1990's and since then, alongside my work as a counsellor, supervisor, researcher and writer, have supported clergy and individuals of all Christian denominations, and none, and sometimes people from other faith or belief backgrounds.
I am a member of BACP spirituality division, and was for three years editor of the journal Thresholds the BACP journal linking therapeutic work with the spiritual.
Normally I meet with people for spiritual accompaniment on a regular basis (for example monthly), but this pattern can be adjusted to suit your specific need. I do not charge for spiritual accompaniment sessions, but suggest a donation to one of the charities I support which include Christian Aid, Childline and Practical Action.
Therapeutic writing
As a researcher and as a practitioner, I have often noticed that the research and writing process has been therapeutic. As Alex one of my ex-counselling clients tells me
'the research process, and the writing about what has happened in my life has in some ways actually been more therapeutic than the counselling. Although the counselling was helpful, the writing; well that has been life-changing, and publication - seeing my words on the page where others can read and learn from them has enabled me to move on'
(Alex from Where Angels Fear to Tread http://www.cambridgescholars.com/where-angels-fear-to-tread-13)
I work with individuals, and groups, offering support for:
- creative personal writing (from writing personal journals to publication)
- re-storying and re-authoring life story experiences (using narrative therapy
- writing together in order resolve conflict or trauma (for good examples of this see 'Threads of Hope' a publication written by me with volunteers from the Listening Point project telling the story of our work together following the murder of a child http://www.cambridgescholars.com/threads-of-hope)
- support for authors (within the field of counselling and psychotherapy) involved in writing for publication or writing dissertations for masters or doctorates.
Consultations in respect of therapeutic writing can be face-to-face, or via secure video conferencing or email correspondence.