West Sussex Counselling
A private counselling organisation in Worthing, West Sussex
Gina Sweeting
Counselling, Supervision and Consultancy
About me
The ultimate value of counselling for me is the risk that both counsellor and client take to meet each other on a human level to share and appreciate the experience of living. Secondary to this is ensuring that I am professional and accountable in terms of the relationship and help that I offer.
I worked as a Primary Care Counsellor in the Chichester and Worthing NHS from 1999 to 2006.
I gained a psychology degree in 1987 and before training as a counsellor worked in the health service as a facilitator, working to improve the quality of the service for patients. I did my professional training in Devon achieving an Advanced Diploma in Integrative Counselling. I am now an accredited member of the British Association for Counsellors and Psychotherapists
My qualifications include:
- Diploma in Advanced Counselling
- Certificate in supervision
- Certificate in Couples Counselling
- Certificate in Counselling skills and theory
- M.Sc in Sociology
- B.Sc in Psychology
I abide by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) Code of Ethics. As recommended by the BACP I have regular supervision and undertake my own personal therapy.
The types of issues that people have brought to counselling with me are depression, anxiety, relationship problems, family difficulties, abuse, bereavement, eating problems, obsessive behaviours or self harm. We have looked at the strategies they used growing up that helped them get what they needed or helped them survive. We have looked at how those strategies were useful then but may create more problems now and looked at ways of living using different strategies.
Inspiration and Learning
My learning and inspiration has come from many sources and over many years. Having worked over thirteen years in the health service I feel passionately that we are only helpful to others if we have what we need ourselves. Too many doctors, nurses, therapists, teachers etc feel stressed and exploited in their working environments and become burnt out. Counselling can help people step back from their situation and work out what they need in order to have a balanced and healthy life.
The majority of my learning comes from my clients who take a risk to open up with often very painful memories, feelings and thoughts. When another shares what they imagined to be unbearable feelings and work through these to truly grapple with the reality of life we both gain in terms of a deep connection and acceptance of the world and other people.
I am a mother and step mother. In the same way that paid professionals can get burnt out if they do not have what they need for themselves I believe that parents, and in particular mothers, often experience low self-esteem, lack of confidence, isolation, guilt and resentment and a reduced experience of joy in parenting if they do not get their needs met. I have learnt much from my parenting experience and the help that I received from counselling.
I enjoy and have integrated into my work ideas from Transactional Analysis, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Gestalt, and Systemic Theories.