Ian Hibberson

Personal Profile

I am a fully qualified and experienced Person-Centred Counsellor and Psychotherapist. I underwent my training in the Person-Centred Approach to counselling at the University of Nottingham where I attained a First Class degree in Humanistic Counselling Practice. I was also awarded The Robert Peers Prize for academic excellence and special course contribution.

I am a listed member of The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) http://www.bacp.co.uk/ and adhere to their Ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling and Psychotherapy (2002), a copy of which is available to download at http://www.bacp.co.uk/ethical_framework/

In addition to my private practice I am also an independent network counsellor and assessor for a large nationwide Employee Assistance Programme. For the past four years I have been a volunteer counsellor and assessor with Age Concern's Nottingham and Notthinghamshire's Harmony Counselling Service. I have counselled for Nottingham City council as part of their Employee Well-being and Health Improvement Team and was more recently employed by them as counsellor support for employees facing redundancy. I have also worked with adolescents in the Sherwood Community Counselling Service and given a number of years service as a telephone volunteer with the Samaritans.

My theoretical approach is Person-Centred for short, intermediate and long-term counselling. I have worked successfully with a broad range of issues both in the short term (6 to 10 solution-focussed sessions) and in longer term work of up to two years (including palliative support). I have extensive experience of working with clients in their own homes and also of residential home counselling. My client base has included a broad demographic of 18 to 70 year olds with diverse cross cultural ethnicities and religious orientations. I have wide experience of counselling clients in male and female same sex relationships.

Areas of counselling that I have worked with and issues I have supported people through are:

•Addictions: alcohol, nicotine, pornography, substance misuse.
•Relationship breakdown, divorce & separation, domestic violence.
•Depression, anxiety, stress, shame, guilt, self-confidence & self-esteem issues.
•Abuse: male/female, physical, emotional, racial, sexual, bullying.
•Male/female body image. Obsessive compulsions, eating disorders. Self-harm.
•Childhood issues. Adoption, trauma, coping with disability.
•Bereavement, grief & loss. Suicide & related issues. Mortality & ageing. Terminal illness & health issues, support for carers.
•Occupational & work related issues: Redundancy & concerns relating to job security. Emotional support through work related mediation, disciplinary hearings, long & short term sick leave, work-load considerations, interview fear, work related stress, anxiety, depression & panic attacks.
•Clients who have been diagnosed & treated within the mental health system.
•Sexual orientation / identity, sexual expression e.g. Cross dressing.
•Spiritual development & Faith. Philosophical / Existential
Counselling.
•Personal Development & Life Changes. Generally coping with
change and Personal Identity.
•Creative issues & blocks for musicians, writers, performers etc. Athletic / sports performance.
•Personal therapy for Counsellors & Counsellors in training. Student Counselling.
•Cross cultural issues and concerns
e.g. Arranged marriage, Political Displacement.
•General short term emotional support.

Work Approach

My aim as a counsellor is to provide you with a physical and emotional environment within which you can feel safe to explore your problems, issues and concerns with trust and without fear of judgement. I will respect and support your ability to make your own choices and be respectful and sensitive to who you are and the changes you wish to make.

As your counsellor I shall not be offering instant solutions or judgements. I will however be offering you my full and undivided attention and a commitment to supporting and working with you towards developing your own understandings, insights and solutions in ways that are right for you. Counselling offers you the opportunity, the time and the space and a safe environment within which to explore alternative and more effective ways of living.

Humanistic Person-Centred Counselling was developed by and from the work of Carl Rogers. At the heart of this approach to counselling and psychotherapy is the basic belief that within each human being there resides “... an underlying flow of movement towards constructive fulfilment of its inherent possibilites”
                                                 A Way of Being: Carl Rogers

Person-Centred Counselling is based on the conviction that we each have the capacity and inner resources needed to develop positive and lasting change. I believe that we all have the capacity to reach in and to cultivate this potential no matter how hidden, dimly perceived or blocked it may currently seem to be.

I invite you to counselling with me. The first hour is free of charge. I offer you the opportunity to explore your own potential and to begin to mobilise your own inner resources .......... and to embrace positive change.