Polly Beaugrand
Integrative counsellorAbout Me
Therapy is an extremely personal and difficult journey to undertake. The success of your journey will depend on the relationship between you and your therapist. It is vital that you feel understood, accepted and valued as a fellow human being, no matter what your life story.
Here's a bit of information about me that I hope, will make your search for a therapist a little easier:
I was born into a Greek Cypriot family who emigrated to the U.K in the early 1950's. They eventually settled down in North London, where I was born and raised.
I am a mature woman, twice married and I have 2 adult children. I lived abroad for 3 years and in 1993 I moved to Cambridgeshire and have been here ever since.
During a pivotal time in my life I realised that the only way to affect real and positive change in my life was to face up to and conquer my demons; denial was no longer an option.
It was a life changing journey, one that has led me here. By the end I finally realised that the way to lasting change was through honest self awareness, understanding and finally compassion; compassion for myself and those who hurt my life.
I have extensive and specialist training and knowledge in: Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse, Trauma, Young People, Severe Mental Health Issues and the devastating effects this has on the family, Addictions, The Care System.
I first began my journey into Social Care in 1997. I volunteered as a Classroom Support Assistant at Meldreth Manor Residential School; a residential school for young people with severe and profound multiple disabilities.
This is were I learned that the absolute foundation for any meaningful relationship be it student - teacher, parent-child, lover-lover, sibling - sibling, employee-employer, client-carer, was through effective communication; being heard, being understood and being noticed.
The Young People that I worked with taught me that comminication is more than just mere words. They taught me that a raised eyebrow, a lifted finger, a hunched shoulder, a twitch of the lips were just as loud and expressive as words.
All I had to do was stop and listen.
I have also worked for Cambridgeshire's Children and Young Peoples Services in a Residential Home for Young People in Care. I worked and lived with these Young People for 12 years.
These Young People taught me to hear what was behind their words and actions. Verbal abuse, petty and violent crime, sexual abuse, addictions, promiscuity; all screamed of pain and betrayal and loss.
All I had to do was stop and listen.
It was while I was working with Looked After Children that I went to college and dedicated my spare time time to gaining a counselling qualification.
During my 20 years working as a support worker I have supported adults of all ages, children and young people from all walks of life and with varying problems, elderly care including dementia, addictions, homelessness, Looked After Children, unaccompanied minors, The Chronically Excluded, severe and enduring mental heath issues.
I was a volunteer counsellor at Centre 33, counselling Young People for nearly 3 years.
In March 2015 I became a volunteer counsellor at Choices; a local charity offering specialised, long term counselling for Adult Survivors of Child sexual Abuse. I became an associate counsellor at Choices in May 2016.
During the early part of 2016 I decided to dedicate my time to building my own counselling practice. I began working from rented therapy rooms in Cambridge and in February 2018 began working from my own permanent office in Histon, Cambs.
By being free of the past we no longer react to life's challenges, we are able to live and respond to life as it unfolds before us, as empowered, self controlled adults; no longer driven and controlled by repressed anger and denied memories.
Allow me to assist you in your journey.
I Will Hear you and I Will Understand.
Locations
Issues often worked with
Types of therapy
Therapy offered
Client groups
Fees
£40 per 50 minute session
Concessions available on request and subject to individual circumstances.
Training and qualifications
- Certificate in Counselling Skills Hills Road College, Cambs
- Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling Hills Road College
- Level 5 Diploma in CBT Stonebridge Online College
- Certificate in Health and Social Care Open University
- NVQ 3 Health and Social Care:Children and Young People
- Level 2 Awareness in Bereavement Care. Cruse Foundation Course