ABOUT ME AND MY APPROACH
Lorraine Trotman
BSc, MSc, MBACP (Accred)
I am an accredited member of the British Association for Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP) and abide by their ethical framework. "Accredited" status with the BACP is in addition to being "registered". Counsellors who are "BACP accredited" have passed a rigorous assessment and have a certain level of post-qualification experience.
I am also a Graduate Member of the British Psychological Society (BPS) completing my first degree in Psychology and an MSc in Organisational Psychology.
Throughout my working life I have been involved in supporting, enabling and encouraging individuals to grow and change. Prior to training and qualifying as a therapist, I trained and worked as an Occupational Psychologist in the City. My long-standing experience of both the corporate and counselling world enables me to help people navigate challenging periods in life in a warm and supportive environment, whilst balancing the pressures of a career.
MY APPROACH
Choosing a therapist, as well as the type of therapy, can feel quite overwhelming. I believe the most effective therapeutic outcomes occur when there is a strong relationship between client and therapist. Building trust and understanding of one another is essential to create a safe spece where you can begin to share experiences and express emotions that may be difficult for you to talk about.
My approach is grounded in integrative, humanistic psychology, which comes from the belief that no single model of thereapy will be suitable for every person. I work with you as an individual - a process that aims to explore issues central to you in a way that is non-judgmental. As such my practice is flexible and adapted according to your needs. I practice with a relational approach, which mens I try to meet you a s much as possible as one human being to another, rather than treat or anlyse you. what you will get is me, in relation to you and what you bring, rather than a fixed approach or school of thought. I hope that my way of working will help you feel heard and understood.
I also run coaching sessions for people at their place of work. These sessions give my clients some space each week to work through challenging situations and ensure that they’re mentally resilient enough to deal with whatever comes their way.
I offer confidential in-person counselling and psychotherapy and I also offer support via Zoom to help you gain a greater understanding of why you feel the way you do. I am trained to listen and offer a non-judgemental environment where you can talk through your problems and find ways of making choices to improve your quality of life. I practice with a relational approach, which means I try to meet you as much as possible as one human being to another, rather than treat or analyse you. I will work slightly differently with each client – what you will get is me, in relation to you and what you bring, rather than a fixed approach or school of thought.
I work with clients on an individual basis dealing with a wide range of issues. The length of time clients work with me varies according to the needs of each person and includes both longer term psychotherapeutic work as well as short term solution focused counselling. In broad terms, short term counselling will typically be between 6 to 12 sessions whilst working psychotherapeutically at greater depth will take longer.
People seek counselling or longer term therapy for any number of reasons. If you have never had therapy before, it might feel overwhelming but I hope at all times to make you feel comfortable to allow you to express yourself.
Choosing the right therapy and indeed therapist can be confusing and difficult if you haven’t had any previous experience of it. It takes a great deal of courage to pick up the phone or make contact and admit that you need some help. There are no easy ways to get over the fear and anxiety that you might feel and it is important to remember that this is a normal part of our lives. Accepting these feelings is all part of the process. Many people leave their first session feeling relieved that they have taken the first step.
EXPERIENCE
I have experience of working with clients from a range of ages, sexualities, backgrounds and cultures and have been privileged to be part of each of their journeys, through the tears, the laughter, the setbacks and the personal growth.
Issues that I deal with include but are not limited to:
Abuse
Addictions
Anxiety
Bereavement and Loss
Depression
Low Confidence and Self-Esteem
Personal Development
Relationship Issues
Stress
Work-related Issues
I also run coaching sessions for people at their place of work. These sessions give my clients some space each week to work through challenging situations and ensure that they’re mentally resilient enough to deal with whatever comes their way.
MY TRAINING
Couple/Relationship Therapy Training (CORST level 5)
Post Graduate Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling (Metanoia Institute)
Certificate in Counselling Skills (Metanoia Institute)
MSc in Occupational Psychology (City, University of London)
BSc (Hons) in Psychology (Birkbeck, University of London)
ACCREDITATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS
MBACP (Accred) (Accredited Member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy)
MBPsS (Graduate Member of the British Psychological Society)
Other relevant experience:
NHS Counsellor, Akerman Medical Practice, Stockwell, SW9
Counsellor at Dulwich Prep London, SE21
I meet regularly with a clinical supervisor to review and support my work.
I attend regular Continuing Professional Development (CPD) workshops to keep my skills and knowledge up-to-date.