Avon CBT : CBT, ADHD Support and Couples Counselling in Bristol, North Somerset and Online
Avon CBT : Professional Therapy & Support
Professional Training
I am a university-trained accredited counsellor and psychotherapist. My training includes CBT at the University of South Wales, relationship counselling with Relate, and Person-Centred Counselling with Network Counselling in Bristol.
I am a Certified ADHD Clinical Services Provider and have completed advanced ADHD training. I also hold a Diploma in Online Counselling and am trained in outdoor ‘Walk and Talk’ counselling; Conscious Parenting, Stress Management, Health and Wellbeing coaching; and Mental Health First Aid instruction. Online counselling options include therapy via email and text chat, alongside phone and webcam sessions. I draw on these different training approaches to suit each person I support.
I have delivered lectures and training to a university, schools, the Armed Forces and national counselling groups on mental health awareness, self-harm and safely supporting people with suicidal thoughts.
I am a Fellow of the Royal Society for Public Health; the longest established public health body in the world. My qualifications and training providers are listed below.
Specialist Qualifications
Post-Graduate Certificate in Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy – University of South Wales
Certificate in Person-Centred Counselling (Pastoral Counselling Skills) – Network Counselling, Bristol - validated by the University of Gloucestershire
Relate Certificate in Relational Counselling - Relate Counselling
Diploma in Online Counselling - Online Counselling Services & Training (ACTO Level 2 registered course)
ADHD Certified Clinical Services Provider - Evergreen Certifications (USA)
Certificate in Stress Management and Health and Wellbeing Coaching – Centre for Coaching, London
Conscious Parenting Coach and Group Training Provider - Trained by Laura Lyles-Reagan, Heart to Heart Parenting (USA)
‘Pregnancy and Infant Loss’ and ‘Subsequent Pregnancies After Loss’ Accredited Practitioner - Foundation for Infant Loss Training
TEAM-CBT (Level 3) Advanced TEAM-CBT Therapist - Feeling Good Institute (USA)
First Aid for Mental Health Supervising Instructor (Level 1, 2 and 3) - Nuco Training Ltd
Youth Mental Health First Aid Instructor – MHFA England
Information Management and Cyber Security Data Protection Training - MOD
Trauma Risk Management (TRiM) Team Leader and Assessor - Royal Navy and RNLI
Safeguarding Supervision Training - Safeguarding Network
Level 3 Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults training
NQF Level 7 in Leadership and Management - Professional Recognition Award (MCGI) - City and Guilds Institute, London
BA (Hons) in Theological Studies – University of Bristol
Diploma of Higher Education in Nursing Studies – University of the West of England
Ethical and Safe Practice
My therapeutic work is guided by and aligned with my core values of Integrity and Compassion.
As an Accredited Counsellor, listed on two registers that have been accredited by the Professional Standards Authority, I work within the Association of Christians in Counselling (ACC) ‘Code of Ethics and Practice’, the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society’s (NCPS) ‘Code of Ethics’ and the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies’ (BABCP) ‘Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics’.
I am firmly committed to providing a counselling practice which is anti-discriminatory. I welcome enquiries from clients of any age, relationship status, sex, gender, sexual orientation, religious belief or cultural background. I have been trained to deliver online therapy, enabling clients with limited mobility to have easier access to counselling. Avon CBT & Psychotherapy is registered with the UK Government’s Disability Confident Employers scheme and has achieved Level 2 status.
I am fully insured and vetted to an Enhanced Level by the Disclosure and Barring Service.
My practice is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). To learn how your information is managed, click this link: Privacy Notice.
Having benefited from therapy myself, I aim to offer the same support to individuals and couples working through difficulties in their lives.
Testimonials
Business Awards: 2024 Mental Health Awards Winner: “The Community Mental Health Initiative award goes to Avon CBT and Psychotherapy for their impactful mental health support and coaching. Their dedication extends beyond individual therapy, including suicide prevention education and community mental health awareness initiatives.” UK Business Awards 2024
Generalised Anxiety: “Simon has been extremely helpful and professional, helping me to feel at ease, encouraging me to open up about my fears and anxiety and enabling me to face my anxiety and explore my thoughts around panic. He was recommended to me by a colleague and exceeded all my expectations.” LT (former client)
Phobia: “CBT completely changed my relationship with the fear of vomit [Emetophobia]. I guess the whole thing was a bit like rewiring my brain, and I really didn’t expect it to work! But it did. We did a range of activities, none of which I expected to enjoy – but Simon helped me understand it as a process. Simon was kind and thoughtful, he found ways to relate to me and I never felt judged.” OD (former client)
Trauma: “Simon provided an environment where I could gradually feel safer to express all my emotions and talk about incredibly difficult and painful things, and then come to the realisation that I could and needed to be able to do this. His warmth, kindness, empathy and non-judgemental approach gave me the conditions I needed to be able to explore so many areas of my life and go to depths I wasn’t expecting to when I began therapy.” LI (former client)
Person-Centred Counselling: “Simon offers a caring and positive approach to counselling. His ability to listen, understand the heart of what I said and then carefully re-articulate my words was really appreciated. His forward-thinking manner offered hope and helpful practical steps forward.” BT (former client)
CBT: “Simon has a warm and non-judgmental approach to CBT and always demonstrates patience and compassion throughout the journey. I have been amazed by how far I have come with his support.” CD (former client)
Couples Counselling: “I am much more confident in my ability as a parent and I’m enjoying spending time - much more than previously - with my child; my relationship with my husband has improved - both as a result of the depression and anxiety going but also because therapy has helped me explore where the issues with these relationships really lay and helped me find ways to manage difficulties.” LI (former client)
CBT: “CBT with Simon helped me to learn and utilise strategies to manage my reactions to various situations and "triggers". I also learnt to recognise my disordered and negative thinking patterns, using CBT to change these destructive and incorrect thought processes into more positive ones.” CN (former client)
Coaching: “I didnt know what to expect as I hadn’t really had counselling / coaching before but Simon took the time to listen to me and made me feel really relaxed. The space we were talking in was a safe space where I could be open and honest. During our 4 sessions together, Simon provided me with lots of new and different ways of thinking about dealing with situations that I may find myself in. I really enjoyed our sessions and can’t thank Simon enough.” GS (former client)
Trauma: “Simon has helped me to delve into my past, enabling me to understand current behaviours, habits, feelings, insecurities and to develop processes to soothe, resolve or live with these in the present day. This has resulted in me learning to understand and communicate with my wife, both to meet my needs but also appreciate her perspective and what she may be feeling.” SI (former client)
Contact Simon Chapman:
Avon CBT is fully insured and supervised, and all services provided adhere to professional ethical standards. If you’d like to speak with Simon about working together, you can contact him here.