Sandra McKeever

I am a senior accredited counsellor, psychotherapist, supervisor and counselling trainer with over twenty years of experience in the counselling and psychotherapy professions.  I have experience of working with a wide range of clients with many different presenting issues, and have worked as a therapist in many different settings, including a GP practice, an agency working with eating disorders and a student counselling service in Further Education, along with private practice.  I have also worked for one of the principal awarding bodies, as qualification lead and as an assessor on the qualifying practitioner level qualification, and work in professional standards at the BACP. As a result, I am able to bring understanding of the many issues that face our profession and the individuals who work within it.

I aim to bring all of my experience in the profession to our sessions, to share the knowledge and understanding I have, to help my supervisees develop into strong, competent and ethical therapists and ultimately to be a place of support in what at times can be challenging and difficult, but rewarding, work.

Although my focus is on supporting the supervisee to work safely and ethically with their clients, I also see my role as supporting supervisees to achieve their own potential within the profession. To do this, I recognise the importance of the supervisory relationship and offer a safe, nurturing, non-judgmental space, allowing supervisees to be open and honest in all the material they bring to these sessions. I see my role as assisting therapists in developing their particular skills and abilities in a safe and ethical way, allowing them to offer the best of themselves to their clients. Supervision is a space in which we need to be able to freely off load, explore our own and our clients' experiences in a safe, non judgemental space, and to be offered appropriate guidance and support when needed. 

The supervisory model I base my work on is the Hawkins and Shohet Seven Eyed model of Supervision, but I also draw on the Inskipp/Procter model that focuses on the 'Normative, Formative, Restorative' functions of supervision. These together allow a holistic overview of the dynamics in supervision, whilst working in the best interests of both client and therapist. I have trained in supervision with Robin Shohet, attended the Fundamentals of Supervision training ran by CSTD in Bath, and also trained in supervision with Derby University. 

I work with person-centred theory at the core of my practice and bring these same qualities and skills to the supervisory relationship.  I also have knowledge and experience of working integratively, primarily within the humanistic field, and with an excellent understanding of the transpersonal. I have a background in alternative spirituality and astrology and a life long interest in the connection between body, mind and spirit. I have explored alternative approaches to mental health, particularly those approaches of indigenous cultures.

I have extensive CPD including a post qualifying training in Somatic therapy for PTSD and trauma with Babette Rothschild, and have attended further training with Dr Janine Fisher and Christiane Sanderson, in understanding narcissistic abuse, domestic abuse, working with survivors of child sexual abuse, traumatic attachment, borderline personality disorder and structured disassociation, working with survivors of narcissistic abuse and working with boarding school survivors. I also trained with CRUSE Bereavement Care. I attend conferences, read widely and continue to write and research. I have written articles and I am one of the authors of a training manual for counselling students, 'A Student's Guide to Therapeutic Counselling' published by Sage.  I also have considerable experience of working as a counselling trainer, and in setting standards for the training of therapists. 

If you would like to meet with me, I can offer a one hour session, free of charge. It is an introductory space for both of us to explore what it is you want and need from supervision, and for me to evaluate whether I can meet those requirements, and that I am 'good fit' for you and your practice at this time. As with therapy, the relationship is the key to us successfully working together, and both of us need to feel that potential is there.

Should we decide we would like to work together I will take some details and I will also talk through the contract. However, there is no requirement to make a decision immediately, although I cannot keep a place open for more than one week.

Please note I do not supervise work with children and young people. I only offer supervision to those therapists who work primarily face to face/in the room.

Mentoring and private tutoring are also available. 

I am a Senior Accredited counsellor, psychotherapist, supervisor and counselling trainer with over 20 years of experience in the therapy professions.

Counselling and Psychotherapy can be helpful at many times in our lives, whether we are dealing with major life changes, feeling mentally or emotionally unwell, struggling with aspects of our personality, with our work or with relationships or just feeling dissatisfied with life and ourselves. As a therapist I am trained to listen empathically and non-judgmentally and to assist you in finding the answers and solutions to whatever is troubling you within a confidential setting.  Therapy can also be used to help us understand who we are, why we are as we are and to develop more fully into the person we have the potential to be and does not just have to be for the times we are struggling in life. Therapy can help people discuss their perception of themselves, their hopes and their dreams, honestly and openly, and in so doing, begin to know themselves, their strengths and their weaknesses, and recognise how they can move forwards, finding a place of peace and acceptance within. 

I work primarily from a humanistic perspective, which focuses on the therapeutic relationship to enable change to occur. The work I do puts the client at the centre of the process, and recognises that they are the expert on themselves and empowers them to find their own answers.  I have training and experience in working in various theoretical models, including trauma and PTSD, and as a result I am able to include other ways of working and adapt the work to what is most appropriate for each individual client and their particular issues. 

With over 30 years of experience working with alternative spirituality and healing techniques, particularly Shamanism, Astrology and Tibetan Buddhism I am able to bring an extra perspective to the work we do. 

I only offer face to face/in the room counselling and psychotherapy  in my therapy room in Glastonbury.  This allows me to provide a safe space, with minimum disruption, and allows clients to 'leave behind' whatever they have spoken about in therapy, knowing it will be held in confidence until we next meet.  Sessions are weekly and last one hour. 

I have considerable training in many areas - originally gaining a Diploma in counselling, followed by a Post Graduate Diploma and a Masters in Counselling.  This training took six years in total, and for 5 of those years I was in ongoing personal therapy and have engaged with personal therapy at relevant times since. 

Continuing Professional Development has been considerable, including training in working with victims of domestic abuse and coercive control, working with PTSD and trauma, working with victims of sexual abuse, working with boarding school survivors, working with victims of narcissistic abuse, and borderline personality disorder and traumatic attachment.  I have also trained with CRUSE bereavement care and worked with an agency specialising in eating disorders, along with working in a GP practice.  I have a particular interest in spiritual crisis and the body/mind/spirit connection. Much of the research around trauma indicates the connection between chronic illness and trauma. 

I have attended many conferences and keep up to date with developments in the profession and continue to research and write. I also have considerable experience of working as a counselling trainer, and in setting standards for the training of therapists. 

I am therefore able to bring considerable levels of expertise and experience to the work with my clients.  

The initial session is free of charge and lasts up to 45 minutes.  This is an opportunity for us to meet and discuss what it is you need from therapy, and to see whether I am someone you feel you can work with and for me to assess whether  your needs are something I feel I can meet.  It is also an opportunity to talk through the working contract and take personal information should you be interested  in working with me. 

All the research shows that it is the relationship between the therapist and their client that is the key factor in successful outcomes in therapy.  It is important therefore that the counsellor you choose feels a good fit - that this is someone you feel comfortable and safe to be with, but who you also feel has the training and expertise to be able to offer the support you need.  As a result I do not expect clients to always say they want to work with me in the assessment and its absolutely ok to meet with me and go away and think about how you found this initial session.  Please be aware however, I can only keep a space open for one week. 

Before we meet I will send out paperwork, including contracts, which will give you time to read them through and think about whether you have any questions you may want to ask me when we do meet, which I will be more than happy to answer.  I encourage clients to be open and honest in this initial session as it will give us both a much clearer sense of our suitability to work together.

Once the initial assessment session has taken place, we will arrange a regular time for you to attend therapy, which will be the same time every week and sessions will last one hour.