About Me-Sonia Dixon - Individual and Relationship Counselling

A bit about me....

I have been working as a Counsellor in Brighton since 2003. I completed my training at Brighton University and have a Post-Graduate Diploma in Counselling. I work in a Person-Centred way and integrate other humanistic models depending on the needs of each individual client. I am also a qualified counselling supervisor and offer individual and group supervision to qualified counsellors and those still in training. I supervise both in private practice and on a freelance basis for a number of local counselling services.

I started off my counselling career working in drug and alcohol services including Addaction and CRI/Equinox. I worked in this field for 5 years offering 1:1 counselling and also facillitating groupwork programmes.

I broadened my counselling experience taking opportunities to work at The Women's Centre, Brighton & Hove LGBT Switchboard Counselling Service and Terrence Higgins Trust, as well as managing the Counselling Service for Age Concern in Brighton, for a couple of years.

More recently I have focused on developing my experience in working with Trauma, particularly in relation to sexual abuse/violence and have supervised teams of counsellors working for Survivors Network (Rape Crisis), Mankind and The Haven Project.

From time to time I also work as a freelance trainer, delivering workshops in counselling skills; having worked as an Adult Education Tutor for VarndeanCollege, teaching counselling skills courses on site and community based locations for a number of years.

Before moving into counselling I managed a diversity programme in a large company, delivering workshops on equality, discrimination, bullying and harassment. I also delivered training in coaching and facilitation skills.

I am passionate about counselling and am proud to be involved in the profession in a number of different ways, just seeing the difference that counselling can make to people's lives is very rewarding. Outside of the counselling world I have a love of art, having studied for a Fine Art Degree many moons ago. I still enjoy being creative and usually have a project on the go, I find it really helps with my own sense of wellbeing.

Qualifications:

Advanced Certificate in Couples Counselling Using the Arts

Certificate in Couples Counselling Using the Arts

Post Graduate Diploma in Counselling
Post Graduate Certificate in Counselling Supervision

Certificate in Drug & Alcohol Counselling (Addaction/Action for Change)

Intermediate Certificate in Counselling (NOCN Level 2)

Professional Graduate Certificate in Education (Post-Compulsory Education)
7407 City and Guilds Certificate in Further Education Teaching

BA (Hons) Fine Art

As a counsellor I am a Registered Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and am bound by the Ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling and Psychotherapy and subject to the Professional Conduct Procedure therein.

I have full professional liability insurance.