Founder of Victoria Counselling and Training Service
My early working life was 9 years in the Royal Navy, followed by many years as an engineer in the office equipment industry. This may have paid the bills but did not inspire me in the way that my observations of other people did and this need was addressed by joining the Samaritans, where I became Deputy Director of ongoing training.
At this time, I began studying for a degree in Psychology at the Open University. Towards the end of my degree, I attended a presentation with Pauline by Petruska Clarkson on Transactional Analysis (TA). Very interested, I turned to Pauline, saying that this was an approach I wanted to learn more about and I thus enrolled at Metanoia, Ealing, for 4 years of training in TA. Whilst at Metanoia, I also ran Gestalt therapy groups and this was another skills set which worked well alongside TA.
Suffice to say that TA became a lifelong passion of mine, all stemming from attending that presentation!
In 1986, I set up Victoria Counselling Service, which became Victoria Counselling and Training Service in 1989, when I began to offer counsellor training courses. My time delivering counselling courses, as well as TA workshops and therapy groups, has meant that I have followed my passion. Facilitating students and clients in using TA to learn, grow and heal has been both meaningful and humbling.
I have been professionally involved with Victoria Counselling and Training Service since 1986, joining full time in 1993. Before this, I was Subject Leader in Psychology at a local college. This gave me valuable experience in supporting learning in innovative and flexible ways, particularly with those who found learning anxiety-provoking. I was keen also to make learning interesting and thought provoking.
I then went on to study to become a Chartered Counselling Psychologist at City University, London, qualifying in 1999. Delivering and teaching counselling courses alongside my husband David has been a joy and a highlight of my life.
My professional training engaged me in studying a range of counselling models which I have put to good use in my own counselling practice and in my teaching and supervision work. Highlights would be Transactional Analysis, Inner Child work, Cognitive Behavioural Counselling and Gestalt.
I have loved the creativity of designing and refining counselling courses and, most of all, I have been privileged and inspired by the many students I have taught this past 30 years. I thank them all for contributing to my own growth, too.
Hi, I am Ky Harkins and I am a Counselling Tutor as well as being a Counsellor and Clinical Supervisor. I qualified in 2019 at Victoria Counselling Training Service and am proud to have been teaching here for 5 years. I also run a counselling placement facility for trainee counsellors in Southend.
In addition to the above, I am a 50 year old, single mum of three beautiful children (one of whom is also currently training to be a Counsellor). I tell you this because it is never too late to follow your dreams!
I am trained to work in Person Centred/Humanistic Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Transactional Analysis and Inner Child Therapy. Although I work with many different types of mental health issues, due to my own lived experiences, unhealthy relationships and narcissistic abuse have become my ‘forte’ and I love helping both women and men grow strong enough to escape these relationships and know their own worth.
I have a huge passion for Counselling and teaching and have therefore been lucky enough to work in a role that combines the two!
Please contact me on 07919523315 or email ky73@icloud.com for details of counselling with me or my team. Alternatively, please visit my website www.kyharkinscounselling.co.uk
Hello, my name is Neil Austin.
As well as my work here as a tutor I also work as an addictions therapist at the Priory Hospital Chelmsford.
What I offer is a professional, empathetic, and results-focused therapy experience. As an integrative trained counsellor, I bring together multiple therapeutic techniques to create a tailored approach for each client. Because each person’s challenges are unique, therapy should be too.
I do not believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, I use a combination of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), transactional analysis, and person-centred therapy. This blend allows for flexibility and a deeper connection during sessions. Consequently, clients feel heard, understood, and empowered to make meaningful change.
Whether you are struggling with addiction or mental health issues, I offer a safe and supportive environment. My services focus on helping individuals work through a wide range of emotional and behavioural difficulties. These include addiction treatment, mental health therapy, and personalised counselling sessions.
Furthermore, I address both the surface behaviours and the root causes behind them. This dual focus ensures long-term progress and personal growth. Clients receive compassionate support and practical tools that lead to real results.
My academic and professional background supports a comprehensive approach to therapy. I hold a BSc (Hons) in Reflective Therapeutic Practice from Metanoia Institute. I’ve also earned a Level 5 Diploma in CBT and a Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling.
Additionally, I have completed specialised courses in bereavement counselling and education. This variety of training allows me to work with clients from all walks of life. Importantly, my methods always adapt to suit each person’s pace and goals.
I have had the pleasure of being a tutor at Victoria Counselling and Training Services since 2022.
I am also a practising counsellor and work with those who need support across a number of different issues, but I specialise in working with those directly affected by addiction through individual and group therapy.
I myself trained and qualified at VCTS and work on integrative basis utilising principally Person Centred, Cognitive Behavioural, Transactional Analysis and Inner Child therapies.
Dr. Kevin Burrows is a BACP Accredited Counsellor / Psychotherapist and Registered Supervisor for Counsellors, Hypnotherapists and Art, Play and Nature Based Therapists.
I offer Personal Therapy through a range of therapy models appropriate to client needs. These range from the cognitive to the expressive therapies and include CBT, EMDR, Expressive Arts, Ecotherapy, Jungian Sand Play therapy, Hypnotherapy and many more. My research PhD looked at how the Expressive arts and other arts and nature based therapies can
provide deeper insights into how Creative play rapidly unlocks the unconscious and shared perception. As well as personal therapy a lot of my work is as a Supervisor with other Therapists. This includes Face to Face talking Therapists, Hypnotherapists, Art Based and Play Therapists, Nature and Ecotherapists and Sandplay Therapists.
I am a level 7 trainer of Expressive Arts Therapy issued from the European Graduate School in Switzerland and I am registered REACE
with the International Expressive Arts Therapy Association IEATA .
I run CPD courses that offer experiential training for approaches to Arts Based Therapies Covering Expressive Arts Therapies and Jungian Sand
Play as an adjunction to Victoria Counselling’s courses. I want to share the essence of Art Based Therapies and how they can enhance face to face
therapies.
Creation Counselling
www.creationcounselling.org
Director Dr. Kevin Burrows
BA, PGCE, MA, PhD.
BACP, PSA Accredited Counsellor/Psychotherapist/Supervisor
Expressive Arts Therapist (REACE) (CAGS)
Jungian Sandplay Practitioner (MAST)
EMDR Practitioner (EMDR Association UK & Ireland)
University of Stratclyde Cert Ecopsychology
