Irene Steele
Senior Counsellor

I joined the department as a GP Counsellor 5 years ago with many years experience, working for different agencies. I work as a therapist from an integrated model which has evolved from my training which includes Psychodynamic, Person Centred, and CBT, Relate Systemic model of couple therapy, Person Centred Art therapy, & Supervision from a Person Centred model. These various orientations allow me to access many different tools of understanding for each couple and client I work with which fits with my belief that therapy should not be orientation led but client led.

Along with being a GP Counsellor in a Shropshire surgery working to a brief therapy model with individuals and couples, my roles include line managing GP Counsellors working for the trust in Shropshire. As a member of the ‘Primary Care Mental Health Team’ in Telford I line manage GP Counsellors and two Community Development Workers who are also part of the team. As a supervisor I supervise GP Counsellors and ‘Trainee Counsellors’ who are in placement at GP practices within the South Staffordshire & Shropshire Healthcare N.H.S Foundation Trust.

A colleague & I run an open forum / supervision group for all our trainees, on a monthly basis. This facility is free and available to all of our trainees.