Rate Sophie Robinson-Matthews

My name is Sophie and I support people therapeutically with mental & life wellness.

I provide psychotherapeutic counselling.

I draw holistically from many different therapeutic approaches and evidence-based methods to meet your individual needs and goals - each session is bespoke to you. My core therapeutic style is in Person-centred counselling and this is always at the heart of my services. It means I believe everyone has the power to access their best version of themselves and blossom into their most authentic Self. It also means that I treat you with warmth, compassion and acceptance so that you may flourish.

In practice, I am integrative which means that I draw from many therapeutic and psychological approaches because I believe that no one model fits all so enjoy a variety to best meet the needs of my clients.

I have many areas of interest; my primary five would be identity, anxiety and related issues (e.g. OCD), bereavement, including grief and loss, communication, and women's issues (such as PMDD, PME, PMT, PASS).

I am also happy to use the pronouns you prefer.

My aim is always to support my client with what they need to reach their goal, even if that is simply being happier with themselves. I want to use my skills and knowledge to help you gain more autonomy, self-esteem and hope so that you can live a life that brings you more joy and less stress, overwhelm or conflicts. Witnessing you realise mental/mindset shifts, implement behavioural changes, and overcome life's challenges is why I do what I do. I live with passion and supporting my clients is a true passion and privilege for me.

I have worked in support services since 2012 and am passionate about sharing my skills and knowledge to help others with whatever they are struggling with.

I am dedicated to following an ethical code for counsellors and continually update my knowledge base with all of the wonderful new research, tools and techniques that I strive to understand and learn to merge in my therapy services. This means I draw on research and developing best practices from psychology, counselling, philosophy, neuroscience, meditative studies, and other holistic areas that are less easily defined.

I believe personal development is eternal so learning new ways of helping others is a passion for me!

I pride myself on being a role-model to my clients - practising what I preach. If I haven't tried it personally or it's not scientifically sound (has a good research evidence base), then I won't recommend it.

I love helping my clients walk their own path of healing. Insight-oriented questions are one of my favourite interventions as they really allow the client to deepen their self-awareness and autonomy which is what I'm all about.

I want every client to walk away knowing they can create their own destiny.

My style is encouraging, uplifting, and full of wisdom.

I am asked sometimes questions like, what is your success rate or what results can you guarantee. Firstly, this is psychotherapy and counselling, which by definition isn't quantifiable because we are dealing with nuanced individuals and complex problems that have multiple contributing factors - these are people's lives and a lot of the success of therapy is down to our ability to understand each other and your commitment to your journey and effort to improve each day. I can only guarantee that I will support you and give you tools I think will suit your needs and help you.

Psychotherapeutic Counselling is a blend of counselling and psychotherapy - so you get the best of both!  More specifically I personally blend my seven formal years of psychology training with my four years of formal counselling training (and all the extra professional and personal development I undertake) to provide you with a service that can meet your needs - offering a niche understanding of psychology and mental health from clinical, trans-personal, humanistic, qualitative, cognitive, behavioural, neurological and physiological perspectives, and blending that with counselling theories and methodologies.   This means I can offer you a much deeper understanding of issues than counsellors not trained formally in human psychology and have a wider "toolbox" that I can draw from to help unlock you from and support you through issues, difficulties, worries, and concerns.  

A brief resume and some of my working history are below if you should like to see where my vocation has taken me to date:

RELEVANT EDUCATION

Hypnotherapy Practitioner, Level 4 - in progress (General Hypnotherapy Reg, IACT, IICT, IHF, IHA, ICR, ACCPH, NZAPH)

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Therapy, in progress - Complementary Medical Assoc. (ABC Awards, CPD 150)

Emotional Freedom Technique Diploma Level 3, Distinction - Complementary Medical Assoc. (ABC Awards, CPD 150)

Certificate in Online & Telephone Counselling - Counselling Tutor (ACTO, National Counselling Society, CPD 80)

Understanding Behaviour that Challenges, Level 2 (CACHE) - North Warwickshire & Hinckley College

Journal Therapy Diploma Level 3, Distinction - Complementary Medical Association (ABC Awards, CPD 150)

Understanding Nutrition and Health Level 2 - Learning Curve Group (NCFE, Cache, Ofqual)

Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling Level 5- City of Wolverhampton College

Bereavement Counselling Level 2 (Ascentis)- Cruse Bereavement Care

Counselling Skills Diploma Level 3 (NCFE)- City of Wolverhampton College

Counselling Skills Level 2 (NCFE)- City of Wolverhampton College

Information, Advice or Guidance Level 2- City of Wolverhampton College

BTEC in Education & Training Level 3 (QCF)- Topps Training

MSc Forensic Psychology (Merit 2:1) + Willan Research Award- Coventry University (Lit review: The Effect of Violent Video Games on Children; Research: Male Victims of Domestic Abuse & Violence)

BSc (Hons) Psychology (First class 1:1)- University of Wolverhampton (Research: The Effect of Good Luck on Behaviour) 

RELEVANT TRAINING (Reverse chronological order)

Essential Training for Safe Practice (knowledge refresher) - Rapid Transformational Therapy, Marisa Peer (13.06.2022)

The Biopsychosocial-Spiritual Model of Healthcare - Inaugural Lecture Coventry Uni: Prof Deborah Lycett (June 2021)

Connect with Autism and the 3 C's approach - Act for Autism - completed on 17.11.2020

How to do Counselling Online - BACP (Open University) - completed on 22.04.2020

Three Principles Coaching Approach - The Open University

An Introduction to Infection Prevention & Control - Virtual College - completed on 18.03.2020

Suicide Prevention training - Zero Suicide Alliance

Introduction to Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) & Early Trauma - Home Office, Public Health England

Safeguarding & Thresholds - Learn, Grow, Love CIC (Wolverhampton Safeguarding)

Reiki Usui Shiki Ryoho Second Degree - Usui System (Accred. Holistic Healers Assoc. 1998, In-person training)

Reiki Usui Shiki Ryoho First Degree - Usui System (Accred. Holistic Healers Assoc. 1998, In-person training)

Disability Awareness training - Access to Work UK

Solution’s Focused Mentoring CPD certified training – Ark Consultancy Ltd.

Stop, Understand, Move on training- SUMO via Headstart

Offence Disclosure training– Mentoring West Midlands

MTQ48 – Mental Toughness training– Ark Consultancy

Money Management training– Citizens Advice Bureau

Autism & Anxiety– Autism West Midlands

Autism Awareness– Autism West Midlands

Substance use & bereavement– Recovery Near You 

Tier 2 Dug & alcohol awareness– Drugtrain (DANOS competencies)

Tier 1 Basic drug & alcohol awareness– Drugtrain (DANOS competencies)

Outcome Star– Triangle Consulting (Youth and Work Star focus)

Knowledge & Understanding (4 modules towards Level 3 Adult Social Care)

Disability, mental health & domestic violence– OCN via the Haven

Sexual violence & abuse against women: dynamics, effects & support– OCN via the Haven

Helpline & C.A.A.D.A. risk assessment– the Haven Wolverhampton

Certificate in Engage & Empower– Homeless Link

Certificate in M.H. Crisis Intervention– Mental Health First Aid UK

Domestic Violence Awareness– OCN via the Haven Wolverhampton

Uni of W’ton Psychology Society– Attended several guest lecture seminars

* Enhanced DBS certificate (formerly CRB check). 

BRIEF RELEVANT WORKING HISTORY

*Sept 2020-Nov 2020 See, Hear, Respond: Banardos – Counsellor

Providing therapeutic support to families adversely impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, either through bereavement, redundancy, worsening in mental health or child behaviour etc.

*2018-Sept 2020  BBO: Family Matters - Mentor

Supporting Clients with additional needs/barriers. Providing weekly 1:1 mentoring /coaching to clients. Identifying work /education opportunities for client and organising external support or training.

*2016-2018 Counsellor

Various voluntary counsellor roles with Cruse Bereavement Care, Talent Match, and Family Matters. 

*2015–May 2018 Talent Match Black Country, Gazebo Central hub – Mentor

Supporting clients age 18–29 years, who are not in education, training or employment, towards their aspirations.  Utilising a range of techniques and skills to build confidence, motivation and ability. Providing integrative counselling with a person-centred core.  Strong behavioural management skills, group management, leading interventions, team working and relationship building with other departmental colleagues and external agencies.  Personal time management and record keeping.  Lone working.  Clients have a range of problems e.g. mental health, disability, lack of qualifications, homelessness, substance misuse, offending behaviour/history, single parenthood.

*2015– May 2015 Creative Support– Mental Health Support & Recovery Worker

Working in Birmingham hubs across all aspects of direct support for clients. Ran art, stress, anxiety and depression group therapy sessions. Supported clients with substance misuse, bipolar and schizophrenia management and wellbeing to integrate back into the community.

*2012–Feb 2015 The Haven Wolverhampton– Engagement Support Worker and Peer Educator

Supporting women and children affected by domestic abuse and homelessness and complex needs. Mentor and case supervise within a one to one role which involves a form of person-centred counselling to goal set and work towards independence from the services at the Haven, including self-esteem coaching, support with employment/ employability, education and health. I also used CBT and mindfulness within my one-to-one sessions. Teach and run group therapy and skills sessions. Attend weekly supervision sessions, train new and support other volunteers. Provide general information, advice or guidance to anyone accessing the services, including those with learning difficulties, mental health issues, substance misuse and learning difficulties.

*2013–March 2015 The Haven Wolverhampton– Project Assistant Manager/ Administrator

Supporting and ensuring the smooth administration and organisation of the Social Training and Engagement Programme for survivors of abuse. Engaging, empowering and supporting the attendees in any way necessary in order for them to attend services and gain autonomy. I have now been involved in running 3 successful programmes whilst covering for my manager, the Senior Engagement Officer. Independent working, management of the office and centre; including clerical duties and writing of case studies and change-based evidence documentation. Arrangement of transport, childcare and catering. Travel to refuges to encourage and provide information about services. Attend meetings with funders and staff to discuss Haven WRC services and how we might improve them. Listen to and accurately report client feedback.