Tim O’Neill - Profile

My experience 

With over 29 years post qualification experience, I am a BACP Senior Accredited Counsellor Psychotherapist. I have held accredited status since 2003. I work with adults of all ages and specialise in counselling young people 13 years + and also university students. I am also a qualified supervisor and counselling lecturer. I am a BUPA registered therapist in addition to other major health insurance providers.

How I can help you as a counsellor

I help adults and young people with a range of issues. These include various anxiety disorders (Panic, Generalised Anxiety Disorder, OCD, Social Anxiety etc), exam stress, depression, stress, relationship issues, low self-esteem, self harm and bereavement. (Please see below for a definitive list)

I offer you a FREE 20 minute introductory phone call to discuss working together and answer any questions you wish to ask. I can offer you daytime, evening and weekend sessions. In addition to my normal face to face appointments. I offer Walk and Talk therapy (see below)

My experience in counselling young people and university students 

My specialism in working therapeutically with young people 13 years + and also university students, is informed by many years counselling experience in sixth form colleges, universities and further education. I have attended many training events specific to young people covering many of the conditions referred to in this profile. I can be flexible in appointment times to accommodate school/study commitments.

If you are a trainee counsellor studying on Diploma, Degree, Masters or PhD level courses I can offer you term time contracts in line with both your personal and academic needs.

Exam Stress

I have extensive experience of working effectively with young people coping with exam stress and anxiety. I use an established CBT model to facilitate a young person’s ability to successfully prepare for and sit their exams. Most of my work with exam stress has been with A level, GCSE and university students.

How I work as a therapist

When working together I integrate Person-Centred and Cognitive Therapy approaches. It is important to me that you have the autonomy to choose the issues and concerns you wish to focus upon and the pace you wish to work at. I aim to be open and honest in relation to all aspects of our work together.

I work alongside you in a relationship built around equality and trust. I offer a safe, confidential environment, free from judgement where I seek to empathically communicate my understanding of your concerns. The quality of the counselling relationship is often the most significant factor for clients reflecting on why counselling helped them.

I also integrate aspects of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to enhance our work together. I introduce (where appropriate) basic neuro-science and psycho-education to enable clients to more fully understand what contributes to their anxiety, stress or depression. I will also (again if appropriate) introduce clients to certain self help models to aid the development of coping strategies and build resilience.

With supervisees who use an integrative relational model (see Supervision profile), I draw upon Psychodynamic theory where appropriate. I have also trained in Person Centred Art Therapy.

I understand the reason you are seeking counselling may not be in relation to any specific issue. You may want a safe and confidential space to explore your feelings or seek to grow as a person. It is my wish that our sessions together can help you to understand yourself better and provide greater insight and awareness of your presenting issues, your life experience or the changes you wish to make going forward.

Walk and Talk Therapy

I have had training in walk and talk therapy, this a form of counselling where confidential sessions take place outside with you the client and myself walking side by side. The pace is always set by you. If you wish to pause or sit you are free to do so.

The objective of Walk and Talk is for us to have a counselling session. However walking in a natural environment provides an additional therapeutic context. I adhere to the BACP Ethical Framework and same rules of confidentiality as in face to face counselling sessions.

Walk & Talk offers you the benefits of walking outside with the psychological benefits of talking to a counsellor. Studies show it reduces levels of anxiety, stress, depression and enhances a sense of well being. Sessions take place in Godalming away from traffic and surrounded by beautiful countryside. I also offer Walk and Talk sessions in Guildford.

Please contact me for further details and my published article if you are interested in Walk and Talk sessions.

My Supervision Work

Qualified as a Counselling Supervisor since 2009, I offer supervision to both experienced practitioners and counsellors in training. I have supervised counselling students on Diploma, Masters and Phd level courses working with Humanistic, Integrative and Psychodynamic orientations. I have a good awareness of the varying demands supervisee’s face on different level courses. I work as a supervisor with Roehampton University and the CPCAB (for whom I also work as a lecturer) in addition to individual practitioners.

One of the great pleasures of my supervision work is watching people I supervise grow as practitioners, both in relation to their counselling work and, also developing their own confidence and unique ways of working.