John Speirs

My Background and Training

I have had a varied career which has taken me to many countries, had my own business and have worked as a trainer for local Authorities. I have been working as a counsellor since 1987 and have been accredited with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy since 2001 and I am now classified as a Senior Accredited Counsellor by their Professional Standards Department. I started my training at Bristol University in 1986 and obtained a Diploma in Person-Centred Counselling in 1991 from Plymouth. I worked for several years as a Counsellor for NCH in Somerset and for the Somerset Council for Alcohol and Drugs providing Counselling in Taunton.

I have been in private practice since 1991. I do an increasing amount of work for Employee Assistance Programmes and see clients from Local Authorities and large companies, particularly with Work Related Stress issues. Over the last few years I have been attending training in working with Couples dealing with relationships and sexual problems and I regard this as an important and expanding area of my work. I have had foundation training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) regarded as a proven approach by the NHS, and I incorporate this into my work.

As part of my continued development (and as a requirement of all BACP accredited therapists) I am undertaking on-going professional supervision on a monthly basis for Counselling in Somerset. I practice in accordance with BACP Code of Ethics and the Equal Opportunities Policy.
I relax by looking after a large garden in South Somerset and keeping bees.