Eileen McAleer

I have a Therapy Information Leaflet that I am happy to email to you if you would like a clear overview of my understanding of therapy and how I work.

I have been working full-time as a therapist since 1988 (34 years) and as a supervisor for 28 years. Positions held include: College Counsellor (9 years); School Counsellor (3 years); Personal Development Facilitator for groups of trainee therapists at Liverpool John Moores University (6 Years), COMPASS (2 years) and Hugh Baird FE College (9 years); Counselling Tutor (1 year); Visiting lecturer (2 years); Workshop Facilitator (14 years); and NHS Counsellor (22 years) and NHS Supervisor of Counsellors (10 years) - concurrent with my private practice.

I have had my own private practice for 25 years. I work with individual clients, EAP clients, individual supervisees and groups of supervisees.

Supervisees have come from a wide range of organisational backgrounds, for example, the prison service, NHS, Further Education, Higher Education, schools, the voluntary sector as well as private practitioners and post graduate students/trainees.

My initial training was in the Person-Centred Approach. I studied for an MA in Psychotherapy and Counselling at Regent’s University, London (1995) where I was introduced to phenomenology, existentialism and the transpersonal. Following on from this I developed my interest in the transpersonal further through my PhD at Liverpool John Moores University (2008). Counselling for Depression (CfD) training was completed in 2011.

I am a BACP Senior Accredited Counsellor and Psychotherapist (1995); BACP Senior Accredited Supervisor of Individuals and Groups (2016); UKCP Registered Psychotherapist (1996); and UKCP Registered Supervisor of Individuals and Groups (2016).

What will happen when I see a Counsellor/Therapist?

Occasionally in our lives we may find ourselves facing a crisis, difficulties and/or experiencing feelings that concern us and that we are struggling to cope with.

As an uninvolved person I will listen carefully to you without judging you. I will not tell you what to do. I will seek to help you make sense of things and to uncover and draw upon your own inner resources. You decide the focus of your sessions and this can change according to your changing needs.

The aim of counselling/therapy is not to necessarily ‘solve’ difficult problems encountered in life, but to provide an environment in which you can safely explore your difficulties. Often, through this process, you may become aware of inner resources that lead to changes. These changes may show up in your relationship with yourself, with others and/or in your way of coping with the difficulty or crisis you first came with.

What happens in the initial meeting?

In the initial meeting I will gather some relevant background details from you. Also, you will have the opportunity to clarify your purpose for seeking counselling/therapy and to specify your needs and requirements. I will outline how I work and my understanding of the therapeutic process. By the end of the meeting we will know if we can work together. If what I offer is not right for you I will endeavour to suggest other counsellors/therapists or external agencies that may be of help.

I have a Supervision Information Leaflet that I am happy to email to you if you would like a clear overview of my understanding of supervision and how I work.

I have been working full-time as a therapist since 1988 (34 years) and as a supervisor for 28 years. Positions held include: College Counsellor (9 years); School Counsellor (3 years); Personal Development Facilitator for groups of trainee therapists at Liverpool John Moores University (6 Years), COMPASS (2 years) and Hugh Baird FE College (9 years); Counselling Tutor (1 year); Visiting lecturer (2 years); Workshop Facilitator (14 years); and NHS Counsellor (22 years) and NHS Supervisor of Counsellors (10 years) - concurrent with my private practice.

I have had my own private practice for 25 years. I work with individual clients, EAP clients, individual supervisees and groups of supervisees.

Supervisees have come from a wide range of organisational backgrounds, for example, the prison service, NHS, Further Education, Higher Education, schools, the voluntary sector as well as private practitioners and post graduate students/trainees.

My initial training was in the Person-Centred Approach. I studied for an MA in Psychotherapy and Counselling at Regent’s University, London (1995) where I was introduced to phenomenology, existentialism and the transpersonal. Following on from this I developed my interest in the transpersonal further through my PhD at Liverpool John Moores University (2008). Counselling for Depression (CfD) training was completed in 2011.

I am a BACP Senior Accredited Counsellor and Psychotherapist (1995); BACP Senior Accredited Supervisor of Individuals and Groups (2016); UKCP Registered Psychotherapist (1996); and UKCP Registered Supervisor of Individuals and Groups (2016).

What is my approach to Supervision?

My approach to supervision varies according to two factors:

1. The supervisee’s experience.

2. The context within which the supervisee works and her or his therapeutic approach.

1. Supervisee experience

If a supervisee is still involved in therapy training for example, it sometimes may be appropriate for me to offer guidance and make more suggestions than I would, say, with someone more experienced. With more experienced therapists I expect to work with client material in a more collaborative way. This happens through discussion and the sharing of perceptions, hunches, ideas, thoughts and feelings about a client.

2. Context and therapeutic approach

Supervisees work in different contexts and organisations and have particular therapeutic approaches. I endeavour to acknowledge and work with:

 organisational expectations and limitations

 client variety i.e. age, sexuality, economic and social status, personal potential and limitation, race and religious and spiritual beliefs

 I am open to working with therapists who have a different approach to myself.

What are the therapeutic approaches that inform my practice as a Supervisor?

Person-centred therapy, phenomenology, transpersonal psychology/spirituality and my own personal and professional experience influence my supervisory approach.