Pamela Roberts
Member Status: Accredited
Member No: NCS20-02075
Location: Guildford
I am an Advanced Accredited Member with the Federation of Drugs and Alcohol Professionals (FDAP) and National Counselling Society (NCPS) and a registered member of The British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). As a member of these organisations, I adhere to their ethical framework. Furthermore, I am required to keep up to date with latest development in the field of psychotherapy, addiction and trauma through continuous professional development.
My professional counselling and therapy training began in 2003. After a period of personal upheaval, the experience gave rise to a life-changing direction and brought me to the world of psychology and psychotherapy. Since that time, I have worked in a variety of settings and had experiences working with different organisations; an outreach worker, working with people who found themselves homeless and often falling into sex work, alcohol and drugs. I have worked in addiction rehabilitation centres and psychiatric environments, through which I have gained so much insight and knowledge. Later, I joined an ex-colleague to assist with a new start business offering addictions treatment in a Dayhab setting. For some years now I have been working with the Priory Group as a therapist and the manager of the Addictions Treatment Programme. I now run my own private practice as well as working closely with Portobello Behavioural Health and The Priory.
Since 2004 I’ve been working with individuals, couples, families and groups as a psychotherapist. I have extensive knowledge in trauma therapy and a special interest in working with addictions. I continue to explore and enrich my experience and knowledge in this field. I am interested in group processes, e.g. family, social, community, and conflict resolution. The importance of a sense of belonging is such a key topic, as well as the potential issues that can be evoked within and between relationships. With nearly 20 years of experience and research, I’ve continued to focus on the deep psychological shifts people need to make for their well-being.
My therapeutic orientation is a relational and collaborative approach. I draw upon psychodynamic, behavioural, gestalt, systemic and other humanistic and client-centred philosophies. Throughout my years as a psychotherapist, I have continued my studies, most recently with NAOS Institute, Bath University and currently with Metanoia.
My time in these settings has led, not only to a great deal of experience and understanding about addictions, but also a particular interest into complex trauma and PTSD. The prolonged exposure or repeated experiences of inter-relational trauma has a profound effect on the relationship between individuals and groups, our first group of course being our family, and the way we influence with each other. Trauma, relationship dynamics, addiction, life experiences can help or hinder our growth and the ability to change and fuels my own passion to support people as they navigate these complexities.
My therapy is partially informed by 25 years of experience in the business travel industry. I started this career with British Airways in a corporate capacity. This led to a long-term career with Hogg Robinson Business Travel International acting as a Business Analyst and taking a middle management role, organising staff worldwide, and managing the multi-million travel budgets for three of the top ten clients for HRBTI.
