Rae Yates

I also work with people who may find it more difficult to access counselling and therapy including people who:

• experience neurodiversity such as ASD or ADHD
• hear voices
• have beliefs and experiences that others find unusual
• in emotional or psychological crisis
• in consensual non-monogamous or poly relationships
• people labelled with PTSD, DID, schizophrenia or a personality disorder.

I work from a non-pathologising understanding of mental health issues and emotional distress.

I am an experienced counsellor within the LGBTQ+ / Queer community.  I want to ensure that LGBTQ+ people can access private counselling and therapy knowing that they will be safe, accepted and understood and not have to explain their gender or sexuality. I work with people exploring and questioning their sexuality and / or gender, and all the other issues that come with being human. I worked for 2 years at East London Out Project (ELOP), a specialist LGBTQ centre offering counselling and group support in Walthamstow, East London. 

I am a qualified (Certificate) Person-Centred Supervisor offering individual online supervision to people working with LGBTQ+ people.  I am in the process of completing my Diploma in Clinical Supervision with an Intersectional Lens.

I have 20+ years’ experience working in the mental health and homelessness sector in London. I have developed and managed psychologically and trauma informed environments, offering non-medical, Person-Centred peer support to men and women with experience of psychological crisis and distress, trauma and abuse, sex working, and using alcohol and drugs to cope. I have trained in group facilitation skills and for 6 years have been running the ‘Westminster Unusual Beliefs Group’, a peer-led community support group for people who hear voices, and have experiences and beliefs that are distressing or others find unusual or label as paranoid.

I have personal lived experience of chronic fatigue and a long-term health condition.

I am currently only working online - webcam (using Zoom), phone, or email.

Professional qualifications and memberships 

Member of National Counselling Society (NCS Accredited Registrant - MNCS Accred.)Membership number: NCS18-07417

Work experience

• Volunteer Counsellor, ELOP (East London Out Project) LGBTQ Centre
• Volunteer Counselling Supervisor, London Friend (LGBTQ+)
• Service Manager, St Mungo's, London (homelessness sector)

Other memberships

• Gendered Intelligence Counsellors and Therapists Network
• Hearing Voices Network, UK
• World Conference for Person-Centred and Experiential Psychotherapy and Counselling (WAPCEPC)

National Counselling Society Code of Ethics

Training

• Certificate in Clinical Supervision with an Intersectional Lens (multi-modality), TA East, London
• Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling – Person-Centred Pathway, City Lit Institute, London
• Certificate in Counselling Skills – Person Centred Approach, City Lit