Pat Church Counselling

Pat Church is a highly experienced and dedicated counsellor who runs a private therapy practice from a peaceful garden room in her home in Old Woking, Surrey. With 25 years of experience, Pat is a BACP Senior Accredited Therapist and specialises in the provision of one-to-one therapy, short-term work with couples, and support for young people. Pat has a keen interest in humanistic counselling, drawing on well-grounded theoretical understanding and compassionate common sense to help her clients gain a deeper understanding of themselves and their mental health.

The Approach

Pat's work is based on a Humanistic, person-centred approach, enabling clients to explore their thoughts and feelings without fear of judgement. Pat also incorporates other theoretical models like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), which helps change a core belief that causes unproductive behaviours. In addition, Pat employs Solution Focused Therapy for addressing specific problems, Gestalt for using body language to achieve a holistic view of the person, Transactional Analysis to promote a basic belief in a person's okay-ness, and the use of dreams as a means to understand and tackle deepest fears.

At the heart of Pat's approach is an unwavering belief that the client is an expert in themselves. Pat's role is to facilitate growth and healing by creating a trustful relationship and a conducive environment. Pat is open to working with clients for both brief periods and longer open-ended therapy, ensuring the best possible individualised care. Her sessions can often be scheduled at short notice, including daytimes, evenings, and Saturday mornings. She offers home visits when required and a sliding scale for one hour-long sessions.

Experience & Specialised Skills

Pat's previous experience includes administrative work for training colleges and a daily newspaper, as well as working with young individuals with special needs. She spent two years serving as a youth counsellor with the YMCA and Citizen's Advice Bureau before she launched her private counselling practice in 1992. Over the years, Pat has worked with a wide range of issues, such as relationship difficulties, low self-esteem, depression, obsessional compulsive disorders, panic attacks, eating disorders, self-harming tendencies, addictions, abuse, anger, bereavement/loss, life crises, and change.

Pat has established a network of supportive colleagues and has the ability to refer clients to appropriate services whenever necessary. Her professional background includes lectures to the British Institute of Graphologists on the connection between Graphology and counselling. Furthermore, Pat has written for the institute's quarterly journal and the American publication, The Vanguard. She has been hired as a counsellor for a relationship television programme and engaged by a private health provider on their Employee Assistance Programme. Pat follows the necessary guidelines and practices outlined by the BACP (British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy) and continually invests in professional development.