The Foster Practice

27/08/2025

My apologies on the big gap in posts. In all honesty, when it gets this busy, all the focus must be on you the client. That might sound trite, but it's true. Follow ups, materials, referrals, supervision and always further education/development are a part of the core work. The same is true for clients. The 50 minutes you spend in a session usually starts a process that continues until the next session when you will have reflected, planned and processed.

Also... there has been another project. I now have a separate office, with air conditioning at home. So far the feedback has been great, clients are loving the office (and the nosey birds). Photos soon!

25/03/2025

Sadly these individuals have not taken the time to understand what counsellors and psychotherapists do. We do not and cannot diagnose any conditions of any sort. This is something that can only be done by a GP or Psychiatrist. We train for years and are regulated. We do accreditation, we are audited and attend monthly, often fortnightly supervision to check and balance our work.

One of the things we can and do recommend is that a client see their GP if we have concerns. We do this when they need additional oversight that falls beyond our training. This is essential so clients remain safe.

I am all for any action that provides rigour and protection for our clients, but it must be done from a position of understanding the data and issues being faced in this sector.

If you have any concerns about a therapist, you can and certainly should speak to their membership body. We have a code of ethics that to be adhered to at all times.

Thank you to the BACP and the NCPS who have released responses to these comments.

Join the Accredited Register A Society Registrant is listed publicly on our website and is recorded as a Registrant in our Accredited Register. The Society allows Registrants to progress through different levels of membership depending upon qualifications and experience, but all Registrants have…

13/01/2025

Climate anxiety is a thing. With the awful situation going on in LA, it's worth being mindful of your own needs. Maybe even the need for a media break. Disconnecting for a while doesn't mean you don't want to stay informed or that you don't care. Self-care is essential to be able to support others. Here's a good article by Mental Health UK on Climate Anxiety

If news reports of rising temperatures, melting ice caps, or forest fires fill you with dread and anxiety, you aren’t alone. You might be experiencing ‘climate anxiety’, and while it is a relatively new term, it’s on the rise and particularly affects young people.

23/12/2024

It’s that time again. Christmas can be difficult for so many. If you’re not okay, it’s okay to ask for help. If it’s too much, it’s okay to get some quiet time. Christmas doesn’t need to be what you see on the TV or social media. It can be what works for you. Take care of yourselves. ❤️

28/10/2024

So, yes, Emotional Literacy is a thing and it is an essential part of therapeutic work. Often the reason we don't feel okay is that we cannot understand how we are feeling or why we are feeling that way. Emotional literacy is a great skill to build on and it's something you can do yourself at home. I often recommend to clients to download a copy of the 'Emotions Circle' and stick it on the fridge or above your desk.

When you're struggling, take a look at it. What are the emotions your feeling? Let it sit for a minute and don't be afraid to have a 'hmm, what is that?' thought when exploring uncomfortable feelings. Often this will give you the space to explore what it is and why it's there.

This little 'fire-break' gives you a moment to decide what you want to do with that emotion rather than simply reacting to it.

Emotional literacy is the ability to identify and read other people's emotions. But not everyone is strong in this area.

21/10/2024

Qualification and Regulation. I believe this is an incredibly important conversation to have. Counsellors and Psychotherapists who register with the main membership bodies have to prove their level of qualification, providing evidence and references from their supervisors. When looking for a counsellor look at the main membership bodies of BACP, UKCP, NCPS or BABCP (there are a few others who cover specialist areas).

If someone completes a £97 'Introduction to Counselling', they are not deemed a qualified counsellor by these membership bodies and would not be accepted. It costs a huge amount to qualify. However, they can advertise themselves as therapists. This is obviously an issue and most therapists you speak to will tell you they would like their professional titles to be ringfenced as other professional titles are. In fact, I wrote to the new CEO of BACP last year asking him to look at this issue specifically. It needs to be done.

There is one mistake in this article and this is of 'accreditation'. You can be qualified to doctorate level and not have accreditation in place. The accreditation process is a voluntary process that allows therapists to submit an overview to the membership body of their current experience, hours delivered, further development and write case studies to demonstrate their current standing. They can apply for Accreditation or Senior Accreditation. Being a registered member does not mean you are not qualified, but it does mean that the therapist has chosen not to put in for Accreditation. It does not mean they are not a good therapist. BACP have been at pains to share this of late on their social media.

Funnily enough, I thought of writing an article on how to choose a therapist (as it can appear a bit overwhelming) and I think now that maybe that will be my next article.

Exclusive: Lack of formal oversight means anyone can set up in practice and continue to work after misconduct cases, campaigners say

14/09/2024

A bit of downtime! Having a lovely start to the day at Romsey Show. If you fancy a coffee LCC is the place to stop. By the countryside ring. She comes to Clanfield often and her coffee (Wi******er Coffee Roasters) is just fantastic.

04/09/2024

This is fascinating. Anyone who knows me, knows that resilience is a subject that I have been exploring for the long time. It is worth being mindful of the fact that resilience isn't binary. We don't just get it and keep it. Resilience increases and decreases depending on a number of factors. However, we can influence it.

Peer-reviewed study finds link between higher mental resilience and lower risk of death, especially in women

27/08/2024

This is a good step forward. You can now call 111 and select option 2 if you need urgent mental health support. You will then speak to a trained professional.

People in crisis can now access urgent help in England by calling 111 and talking to trained staff.

26/08/2024

MindStep Blog - I've been thinking about how much advice there is out there on self-care. Seems that everyone has a view on what we should be doing and I thought I would write about it on the latest MindStep Blog post.

Each of us have different needs when it comes to self-care. For some, self-care is luxury they don't have time for.

23/08/2024

Goodness time flies! I built my old website back in 2015 so it was about time to release a completely new one. More content to come but I rather like it.

Free 30 minute consultation. Therapy is tailored and practical, specialising in trauma, anxiety and depression. www.thefosterpractice.co.uk

21/08/2024

This is a great article by Mariana and as a trauma therapist I particularly relate to the sense that ghosting isn’t always a bad thing.

I know this can feel like a shocking revelation if you’ve ever been on the receiving end of ghosting, wondering why somebody is not getting back to you. Of course there are times when it is not ok.

However, when I speak to my clients who are survivors of abuse sometimes ghosting is their only safe option to step away from someone who is causing damage.

Technology means we are all available pretty much all the time. There are multiple ways of contacting each other and it can feel like there’s nowhere to hide. As Mariana states many people who are finally able to be free of their abuser can find that they are being pursued and, at worst, stalked by that person. So don’t feel bad if that’s what you need to do to be safe.

Do you take a look at a really good article..

In some cases, ghosting or cloaking can be a necessary act of self-preservation, particularly for individuals who may be facing potential or existing abuse.