Welcome to
A Drop of Hope
Providing a safe space for you to feel heard, valued and accepted
COUNSELLING AND THERAPY FOR INDIVIDUALS
Welcome, and thank you for visiting.
Hello, I am Marcela Thompson, offering counselling & psychotherapy services for clients based in Newark on Trent, Lincoln, Grantham, Nottingham and surrounding areas. I work with individuals age 16+ on both short-term and on an open-ended basis, either face to face or online, and am therefore accessible from further afield.
I am a genuine and compassionate therapist, providing a confidential space where we work together through the issues you are struggling with. My aim is to support you in whatever you are going through and also, help you to build the resilience to deal with future difficulties.
People often don't know what to expect from therapy, it might feel uncomfortable to talk to a stranger about feelings and experiences. I appreciate that reaching out is scary, and facing the fears takes some courage. My aim is to demystify how therapy works by being clear, open and honest. I can reassure you contacting a therapist is a positive step towards your wellbeing, and I hope my warm approach will ease your worry of coming to therapy.
I am looking forward to meeting you.
How can therapy help you?
Life can bring challenges involving complicated feelings and unhelpful thoughts. You might feel stressed, anxious, stuck, unhappy and unsure what to do. There may be unresolved trauma in your life. You may be suffering from depression or have relationship difficulties. As mind and body are connected, you might even experience physical challenges.
Therapy will help you navigate through challenging moments safely. Speaking to someone impartial and supportive can help you to find a new perspective and understanding of the situation you find yourself in. Together, we explore thoughts, feelings and behaviours to identify their origin as well as unhelpful patterns causing you distress.
As you learn more about yourself, you begin to create a life which feels more real to you. This will ease the struggles you are experiencing, strengthen your confidence, improve relationships and open new possibilities.
How I WORK?
As I believe everyone is unique, not one way of working fits everyone. My approach is integrative which means I use a combination of theories and can adapt to your specific needs as you progress through therapy at your pace. Sometimes, with client agreement I work with objects, or implement breathing and relaxation techniques.
I am open minded and non-judgmental, this doesn't mean that I don’t share my view, but I always value and accept you for who you are and where you are in life.
I believe in honesty, fairness, respect and choice and that everyone deserves to be seen and heard.
For me, the sessions aren’t just about techniques or therapy; they are heartfelt conversations between two humans. I genuinely care about your well-being and your journey, which I hope we embark on together.
My commitment is to provide support backed by my life experience and professional knowledge, in a way that is helpful to you.
Never lose hope
Issues I WORK WITH
Here are some issues that I can support you through therapy:
Separation and divorce
Confidence/ Low-self esteem
Self-harm
Burnout
Relationship difficulties
Stress
Anxiety
Depression
Panic attacks
Work-related difficulties
Loss/Bereavement
Trauma
Family problems
Problems with school or college
Fostering and adoption
Cultural challenges
Abuse
Learning disability
and more...
Feeling heard
Too many times, we don’t feel heard or understood or maybe dismissed; we fear being judged. As a result, we don’t say anything and stay quiet. I know how that feels! I would like you to have a different experience. I want to give you that voice and a feeling that someone hears you and understands you.
Feeling valued
Your views, thoughts, feelings, what you do, and how are important to me. We all see things through our own lenses depending on life experiences we’ve had. Respecting and honouring the difference is an important part of therapy.
Feeling accepted
Acceptance is an essential part of how I work. I was fortunate to learn this skill through my personal journey and can now offer it to others. This doesn’t mean that I don’t share my perspective, but in my work with clients, there is no space for negative judgment, criticism or blame.
CONTACT ME
Please get in touch to arrange a free 15 min consultation. This is an opportunity for both of us to speak and for me to answer any questions you might have.
All enquiries will be answered as soon as possible, usually within 24 hours. All contact is strictly confidential and uses secure phone and email services.
ABOUT ME
I have many years of professional experience working in support roles and I am passionate in what I do.
Before becoming a therapist I have fostered many children and young people aged 0-18, sometimes including their parents, providing support around parenting and difficult life experiences. With many of them I am still in contact now. The work was rewarding, sometimes heart breaking but definitely fulfilling.
I was born in Czech Republic, living in UK for 30 years. Throughout my life I have experienced many up and downs. Looking back, these made me the person I am today and led me to become a compassionate therapist. I am grateful for these experiences.
My Location
I work mainly from two locations, both are within Newark on Trent, NG24. I will provide location details when we arrange our counselling sessions.
FEES
Initial assessment £45
Individual session £45
Counselling sessions for individuals last 50 minutes, usually taking place on a weekly basis.
Initial assessment session last 60 minutes.
Fees can be paid weekly, at least 24 hours before the appointment. I accept payment by bank transfer.
Note that if cancelling an appointment, I require 48 hours’ notice; otherwise you will still need to pay for any sessions missed. If possible the session can be rearranged within the same week, subject to availability.
My qualifications
BSc Honours Degree in Counselling and Psychotherapy at the Sherwood Psychotherapy Training Institute Nottingham, accredited by Staffordshire University – first class.
I have over 3 years of clinical experience working with people from all walks of life and with a wide range of difficulties.
As a member of BACP, I adhere to their ethical framework and the UK law. Your stories are safe with me. I also undertake regular clinical supervision to ensure I practice safely and ethically.
In addition to my degree, I have completed the following:
- Couples Counselling Training
- Counselling Young People (age 11-18)
- Various courses relating to counselling
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Counselling is usually a good way to help with a current problem, which can be discussed and – hopefully – resolved within a limited number of sessions. Over a certain number of weeks, understanding the situation improves, and a way forward becomes clear.
Psychotherapy often describes work that goes a bit deeper, towards more substantial life issues and problems having a deeper effect on the client’s life. Therapy usually requires a longer-term approach, so the number of sessions can be open-ended.
Which option is most suitable depends on the client and the difficulties they are facing.
Once you decide to get back in touch, we can arrange an initial assessment appointment within 1-2 weeks or if possible sooner. This enables us to discuss more in-depth, the reasons you are thinking of coming to therapy and whether I am the right therapist for you. We can also discuss what you hope to achieve from therapy and set goals to work towards.
Then we would arrange a set number of counselling sessions to take place at the same time every week, that is convenient for you and where I have availability. How quickly these sessions can begin will depend on the availability of that free ‘slot’.
This depends on the nature and complexity of the problem. For some people, a few sessions help to bring their issues into focus, and they feel ready to move forward; other problems may require more of an open-ended approach. Ultimately, this is your choice.
Before we begin any work, we will agree on the number of sessions we’ll undertake, and at the end of that number review our progress.
Sessions take place in a comfortable and confidential place. After the initial enquiry I will invite you to have an assessment where we discuss in detail the reasons you are seeking therapy. We might talk about your experiences of relationships, historical events that might have impacted you and also set out goals you want to achieve from therapy. At any time, I will be happy to answer any questions or concerns. Should you wish to proceed with therapy, we’ll arrange further sessions. The first session will include a contract to ensure that you are clear and happy with the service you are about to receive, this will only take a few minutes. Each time together you will have my full attention and understanding, we'll talk about what matters to you, depending on what you feel is most important at the time. I want to reassure you that we will work through your difficulties at your pace. Please remember that you don’t have to discuss anything you are not ready for.
© Marcela Thompson
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