LISA FINCH - BACP Accredited Counsellor & Supervisor

My personal journey into my professional development​

 I am in my 50s and a mother of two adult daughters.  When they were very young I accessed a course that helped me to develop positive parenting skills.  This helped me tremendously, on so many levels. As parents we can choose to bring up our children differently to how we ourselves, were parented - Seems obvious, but actually, it is surprising how we can just follow suit, if we do not think about it enough. This doesn't mean we have to necessarily be extremely different, but adaptive to our personal value systems and the times we live in.

 

I also became very aware and appreciative of my environment at this time, and the needs of the planet, to which the ways of our world, it seemed, didn’t care.  There didn’t seem to be enough care about trees, recycling or global warming.  In fact, I realised, we hardly cared for ourselves. In the self help books I was reading then, I learnt that that first you must find self-love – a concept that is still difficult for most of us to comprehend to this day. This is how and why I decided to enter the ‘caring industry’ and started my counselling training in 1999.  I qualified with a CPCAB European Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling in 2002 at Redlands, Bournemouth, Dorset.

Counselling 

In 2001 I started a volunteer course for HomestartUK and for two years, I supported families in crisis, with at least one child under five years old.  I also worked in a rest home at this time, and developed some rewarding relationships with the elderly residents.  To this day, I often think of these people, their life stories they shared, the values that they had come to realise with their life experience, and their views on immortality. 

Whilst I was at my final counselling placement, I became acutely aware that drugs and alcohol could affect a person’s ability to heal through therapy, so I trained at EDAS – Essential Drug Advisory Services. I also volunteered for them as an adult service-user advisor.
In 2003 I was invited by the Chief Executive, to start employment in their young people’s drug and alcohol service, as an Outreach Worker. I gave education in the youth clubs and schools, as well as providing one to one counselling. Many of the young people had complex needs; their issues sometimes included self-harm, peer pressure, bereavement, anxiety, depression and other mental health issues, anger problems, and family difficulties. Poor school attendance, employment and housing problems were also common issues.

My roles varied with in the organisation I had the opportunity to set up projects such as an after-care programme, and a parent support service.

I have seen many different kinds of people through my one to one work; age range being from 12 years up, my eldest client being 83

(Eldest resident at the rest home was 100!). Everybody’s life is unique but it seems each of us reach points during our time where it becomes overwhelming, and to talk to someone, safely and privately, outside of our close ones, can really help to clear the mind, release painful feelings, come to terms with our losses; find strategies that help us deal with difficult circumstances or relationships and move through to a freshfocus with more positivity, resilience and confidence. I love this work; it feels an honour to see people grow stronger and happier. See more below - 20 years in

 

Family Support 

To under pin my work with parents & carers, I achieved my Accredited AFT Foundation Certificate in Family Therapy and Systemic Practise in 2009. I then established and piloted my second family support service. My role was to work for the family unit, maybe with one parent or grandparent but would frequently involved mediation if both parents/carers attended, and often included the siblings.

Significant changes to styles of communication within the family can strengthen the executive decision makers’ position (carer(s) in charge) and their delegation of responsibility.  It can enable safer boundaries implementation for the young person(s), reduce the risk of volatile conflict, as well as giving them space to grow and develop self-orientation, which will support them in their life choices as they become more independent. Transitions of the life stages for each family member can often be difficult, where adjustment of expectations in roles change and sense of identity can be questioned. 

 

I feel passionate about family life because no matter how a family is made up, the way we treat each other will shape our lives, impact on how we relate to other people and the kind of personal relationships we have, and ultimately, how we feel about ourselves.

Supervision

As I have trained and worked in the caring profession I have experienced many supervisors and styles of supervision, good and bad. Right from the beginning I realised just how important supervision is, checking my input with my clients; developing my personal awareness and internal observer. Even more importantly, experience has taught me that the supervisory relationship itself can be a catalysis for open and honest reflection and is paramount to professional practice and level of capacity to be there for the clients. This led me to qualify as a Humanistic Counselling Supervisor, with a CPCAB Level 6 Therapeutic Supervision qualification 2012 and have provided over 500hrs of supervision and supervision of supervision - working with managers, counselling supervisors, and trainee counsellors and supervisors, as well as teachers and alternative therapists. 

​

Private Practice 

In 2010 I decided  to offer private counselling support and have invested in freshfocus, a service created with you and me in mind. I aim to respond to clients as quickly as possible, not keeping you waiting or being restricted by time limted therapy  - If I do not have space I will recommend other counsellors, that I trust. 
My aim is to be there for clients who wish to find and sustain a way of living  that enables them – you –  to take care of the matters that are important to you and to discover ways that can help you to maintain healthy positive energy and mental health.
​

Generally, I aim to work with my clients and the issues they bring, find light in their lives, where at times it can be very dark ; help them to develop a safe-care routine and a sustainable and healthy relationship with themselves.

 

20 Years in...

As from April 2016 I am  (British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy) BACP Accredited in Psychotherapy & Counselling – that means I have the rubber stamp approval from the British Association of Psychotherapy and Counselling and deemed to meet 'the quality standard for a competent experienced practitioner and professional recognition of the quality of your practice.'

​

In 2018, I professionally qualified as a BACP Level 5 Counsellor for Young People. This qualification underpins my extensive experience  for young people counselling and the supervision I provide other young people counsellors. 

​

In 2022 I undertook a Level 2 in Understand Autism. I feel it is important to develop an understanding in neurodiversity, and the impact this can have on the person's life path and their relationships.

​

I undertake continuous profession development training in trauma, abuse and attachment, and continue to develop my understanding and capacity in working with ADHD, Autism, PTSD, dissociative survivors, and those who have attachment disorders (BPD and EUPD) - often suffering with disabilities,  depression and anxiety. I am also increasingly integrating the approach of Internal Family Systems, which works with all parts of a person's, with the aim to bring a sense of inner peace and wholeness

​

I am based in Winton, Bournemouth, working face to face and online.  My services can be assessed through a direct self-referral or through BUPA.

 

I still love my work and I look forward to meeting you!