I am now available for private practice, having worked for thirty years in the NHS. My training is existential and I have experience of working with most forms of psychological distress, social problems and relationship issues.

I provide counselling in weekly sessions; short-term up to six weeks, or long-term reviewed every six months. I can offer face to face meeting in Little Common, East Sussex or via Zoom.

My training is in Existential Counselling and our work together would be about understanding you, in the way you respond to your unique life-difficulties. Although I have a lot of experience of working to manage or resolve mental health difficulties, we would approach each of these problems as an understandable response to experiences of trauma, relationship conflict and general uncertainty in life.

Existential Counselling is an effective means of finding balance in life. It can enable an unfolding of who you are, in an opening of your potential for growth and your ability to give meaning to your life.

I have set out below some questions and answers in relation to my counselling practice. If you have any further questions please do contact me, at simonwharne@live.co.uk

Counselling is provided at a cost of £85.00 per session. I also provide some sessions at £50.00 for students and those in financial hardship.

I am available to provide supervision to registered counsellors. My experience and knowledge are extensive and up-to-date in relation to managing life difficulties, from everyday anxiety to severe psychosis and bipolar disorder. I am registered with the BPS as a supervising psychologist

The cost for supervision is £85.00 per session.

Simon is currently a Deputy Course Leader, running a doctoral training programme for Counselling Psychologists. He completed his PhD with the Open University and his DCPsych with the New School of Psychotherapy and Counselling. He retired from his career in NHS Community Mental Health Services, having worked in these services for thirty years, managing community teams for twenty years. He worked as a counsellor at diploma level for several years and took on roles in the voluntary sector. Research interests have ranged from ‘social inclusion,’ to ‘decision-making in mental healthcare’ and more recently ‘resilience,’ ‘trauma’ and ‘post traumatic growth.’ He has published articles and book chapters on; the design and implementation of secondary mental health services; managing mental health conditions such as bi-polar and psychosis. He has also written on homelessness; the use of a hermeneutic phenomenological research methodologies, and the application of certain philosophies in therapeutic practice.

Having met with you and explored your concerns, if we agree, I will arrange to offer a series of counselling sessions.

Tel: 07340 959318. simonwharne@live.co.uk

I will try to make these sessions at a time that is convenient for you, although there might be occasions when I cannot see you in that regular slot. Similarly, you will not always be available. I do therefore work with some flexibility and if we can give as much notice as possible, arrangements can be changed. However, I will charge for sessions that are unattended without notice or adequate reasons. I take payment by bank transfer and will provide details. 

The General Data Protection Regulation grants you certain rights over any data that is held in relation to you.  

I use computer-based technology to maintain records. However, I keep the minimum personal information; only that which is necessary for diary entries and the invoicing of assessment and counselling appointments. I also keep a record on the themes discussed in sessions, as a form of processing and formulation. These records are anonymised and, as far as possible, personally identifying information is excluded. Both of these forms of information are kept in encrypted files on separate securely stored hard drives.

I can inform you of your rights regarding confidentiality, outlining certain limitations on those rights. These limitations are in relation to serious crime such as terrorism, money laundering, and risk to children or vulnerable adults under Safeguarding requirements. I do not have the right withhold information from the police or from Social Care Best Interests enquiries. Your right to access any data kept by me, regarding the service I provide to you, will be respected. You can exercise your right to rectification if you believe incorrect information has been recorded. Your to right to restrictions on the processing and portability of data, regarding you, will be respected, along with your right to object and to not be subject to automated decision-making including profiling. Records are kept for five years after counselling is concluded, and are then deleted.  

The title: ‘Counselling Psychologist’ is protected under law (while anyone can call themselves a Counsellor). Counselling Psychologists are registered with the British Psychological Society and with the Health and Care Professions Council. Both these organisations provide guidance and ethical codes which Counselling Psychologists are required to follow. In this way you are protected by these organisations and you can make a complaint to them about a registered professional if you feel that you have not been treated appropriately.