First Steps Forward.
Counselling, Coaching, Mentoring, Advisory Teacher, and Autism Training Provider. Clinical Supervisor.
First Steps Forward.
Counselling, Coaching, Mentoring, Advisory Teacher, and Autism Training Provider. Clinical Supervisor.
Who is First Steps Forward?
The Practice
This practice has many facets which include Counselling, Coaching, Mentoring, Advisory Teacher and Training, as well as supervision for trainee and established counsellors.
Counselling for clients aged 11-18 as well as those 18 plus for diverse support needs is available, as well as more specific Counselling for young people and adults with Autism and Additional needs.
Dave is also able to mentor adults with Autism who have concerns about employment, as well as support companies.
Dave has specialised in Special Educational Needs, Learning Disabilities and Autism and delivers training to professionals, including parents, in this area.
Dave has experience in supporting adults and young people including through advising Schools and Colleges. Bespoke one to one support is available for children and families where there is challenging behaviour.
Dave is also a qualified clinical supervisor.
Client Centred
Being at the centre of the process enables the client to feel valued.
It is about forming a positive therapeutic relationship, through guiding the client to find their own solutions while the Counsellor/Coach/Mentor acts as a critical friend challenging the client to look within themselves.
Dave is a person-centred counsellor, meaning that he is guided by the client as where they wish the session to go. That also means that he is not there to give answers, but to facilitate the client to achieve that themselves, empowering them to be able to transfer these skills to other challenging occasions in their lives. It is about forming positive therapeutic relationships, as a critical friend, challenging where appropriate but always supportive.
The Setting
Dave is based in Surrey he delivers both face to face and online sessions.
The face-to-face sessions are delivered in the Therapy Office Shed, in the garden at the rear of the house. It is under the trees and requires a walk around the side of the house and across the ‘bark path’ to get to the office shed. It is a warm, confidential, and a safe space to let it all go. It can get a bit muddy to walk across the grass/bark.
Online sessions means that Dave is able to deliver counselling to any one in the UK. Dave takes private clients directly through recommendations from previous clients, through various platforms such as Counselling Directory, National Counselling Society Directory, the NAS directory, as well as through West Sussex and Surrey Council local offers. He also works through a local charity supporting people bereaved through the suicide of family or friends, as well as counselling directly both adults and young people.
At the same time, Dave also takes work from an agency who are a national company who triage and match clients with specialist counsellors to meet their needs, this means a diverse and eclectic mix of needs are often being presented, and managed, in the counselling sessions. Training for corporate organisations, schools and colleges will be delivered at your preferred location as well as virtually. Dave's style and approach will be uniquely tailored to your needs and will be central to the healing and recovery process.
What First Steps Forward Delivers
Counselling, Coaching and Mentoring
There at times when we all require an enabler to support and encourage us to overcome day to day life experiences that have become too much to deal with alone. First Steps Forward put you at the centre of the process enabling you to feel valued and supported. It is about forming positive therapeutic working relationships. It is about guiding you to find you own solutions while the Counsellor acts as a critical friend, acting in a non-judgemental way you will be supported and encouraged to identify and manage solutions towards self-healing. This takes place in a safe and confidential environment where you are able to feel empowered. The counsellor promises to listen without judgement and will give you the time you need. Then, when you are ready, will guide you towards self-healing.
Costs for Counselling, Counsellor Supervision, personal mentoring and coaching.
At the initial meeting counselling, mentoring and coaching costs will be agreed and a counselling contract signed.
All private client sessions are 50 minutes and cost £60 per session. There are concessions available for certain benefits as well as for blue light services, public services, armed forces, veterans, and NHS at the discretion of the counsellor on an individual basis, please do not be offended if proof is requested. If you are not sure feel free to ask rather than go without if you need support.
Trainee counsellor and counsellor supervision £90 per 90 minutes.
List of barriers and concerns
Abuse
Addictions
ADHD
Affairs and betrayal
Anger
Anxiety-Social anxiety
Autistic Spectrum Condition/Asperger’s
Bullying
Carer support
Depression
Domestic Abuse
Emotional abuse
Family issues
Learning difficulties/ SEND
Low self-confidence/low self esteem
Neurodiversity
Passive aggressive behaviour
Physical Abuse
PTSD symptoms
Healthy relationships
Self-harm
Sexuality
Stress
Suicidal thoughts
Trauma
Transitioning
Autism Related Services
Autism-Corporate Mentoring and Coaching
Autism- Corporate Training, Educational and Social Care in-service training
Autism- Mentoring and Coaching Individuals and families
Neuro-typicals, non Autistic people, often find that the Autistic Spectrum Condition (A.S.C) is complex and difficult to understand, and working alongside colleagues or employing staff who are on the spectrum leaves many feeling de-skilled. While many people with Autism struggle in the workplace with work related issues such as interview
Neuro-typicals, non Autistic people, often find that the Autistic Spectrum Condition (A.S.C) is complex and difficult to understand, and working alongside colleagues or employing staff who are on the spectrum leaves many feeling de-skilled. While many people with Autism struggle in the workplace with work related issues such as interviewing, getting on with colleagues,
making and keeping relationships. I am able to support the worker and the employer with advice on reasonable adjustments as well as coaching or mentoring in the workplace.
Autism- Mentoring and Coaching Individuals and families
Autism- Corporate Training, Educational and Social Care in-service training
Autism- Mentoring and Coaching Individuals and families
Adults and children who believe that they may be on the Autistic Spectrum or who have a diagnosis may struggle with understanding the diagnosis as well as with skills such as social integration, social skills and relationships, sensory overloads and many more. These are often linked to self harm and depression and impact on day to day l
Adults and children who believe that they may be on the Autistic Spectrum or who have a diagnosis may struggle with understanding the diagnosis as well as with skills such as social integration, social skills and relationships, sensory overloads and many more. These are often linked to self harm and depression and impact on day to day living, making life a struggle. Families where there is Autism sometimes struggle with getting a diagnosis, understanding the impact of the diagnosis as well as practical parenting strategies. Dave can work alongside parents to offer strategies and support as well as support children to understand the diagnosis.
Autism- Corporate Training, Educational and Social Care in-service training
Autism- Corporate Training, Educational and Social Care in-service training
Autism- Corporate Training, Educational and Social Care in-service training
Dave is uniquely placed having worked in many disciplines such as Education-as a lecturer and teacher, social care, public services. Also more recently running a county wide and pan London team of family support and well being coordinators in a national charity that supports adults and children on the Autistic Spectrum. Including crisis i
Dave is uniquely placed having worked in many disciplines such as Education-as a lecturer and teacher, social care, public services. Also more recently running a county wide and pan London team of family support and well being coordinators in a national charity that supports adults and children on the Autistic Spectrum. Including crisis intervention and workshops for parents to support upskilling. Dave has experience of supporting people with S.E.N as well as Autism and learning disabilities. This enables him to understand how best to select from the raft of strategies which may work to support individuals and families. He is able to offer training that encompasses general or specific Autism awareness, PDA, and other bespoke training with real life experiences and examples, teaching strategies as well as support and mentoring.
Qualifications and Costs
Qualifications and Memberships
Costs for Training, Mentoring, Funded sessions
Costs for Training, Mentoring, Funded sessions
BSc (Hons), BA (Hons) in Counselling
Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PCET) QTLS
Post Graduate Diploma in Education (SEN)
Post Graduate Diploma in Psychology and Learning Disabilities
Post Graduate Certificate in Clinical Supervision
Masters in Education (Autism)
Masters degree in Understanding Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
Member of the National Counselling Society (MNCS)
Costs for Training, Mentoring, Funded sessions
Costs for Training, Mentoring, Funded sessions
Costs for Training, Mentoring, Funded sessions
Corporate Training and presentations- £400 per 2 hours, £150 per subsequent hours. Travel costs to be included depending on location.
Education and Inset training- £400 per 2 hours. Half or full days negotiable. Travel costs to be included depending on location.
Coaching Funded sessions with children/adults, e.g. via schools, colleges, social services £80 per 50 minutes (Hourly rates available). Travel time and mileage to be included.