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Tracy Benbow - Therapist and Counsellor

My journey into therapy began in 1993 when my life was turned upside down. My young daughter was tragically scalded, and we rushed her to Booth Hall Children’s Hospital in an ambulance. The entire family was devastated, and it was a long, challenging road to recovery. During this time, I realized that I needed to find ways to help my daughter develop the emotional and psychological tools to cope with her scars throughout her life.

I found that ChildLine was the best place to learn, so I began my therapeutic journey as a ChildLine counsellor. For four years, I supported children over the phone, which provided me with the tools and experience I needed to help my daughter. This also sparked my passion for learning, and I decided to further my education by enrolling in a counselling course at Bangor University. Over four years, I gained valuable experience in various mental health areas, including drug and alcohol issues, sexual abuse, and self-harm. During this time, I also worked with the probation service, providing counselling for individuals on probation.

My career continued to evolve when I worked with Vale of Clwyd Mind for 11 years as a Project Manager. In this role, I facilitated self-help groups for conditions like self-harm, OCD, and hearing voices, while also focusing on social inclusion and developing a busy drop-in center. When Mind Cymru launched the Mental Health First Aid training, I was among the first cohort to become a trained facilitator in Wales, and I delivered this training for five years.

As I continued my work in therapy, my love for horses led me toward equine-assisted therapy. I became Egala-trained, using horses as a tool to help clients overcome challenging issues. Alongside my role at Mind, I also became a foster carer, working with young people facing challenges such as ADHD, autism, self-harm, eating disorders, and sexual abuse. I have had the privilege of fostering for over 20 years, and I continue to see incredible progress in the young people I care for.

Qualifications:

• Postgraduate Diploma in Integrative Counselling (University of Bangor)

• Diploma in Crystal Therapy

• Reiki Master

• Diploma in Solution-Focused Therapy (University of Liverpool)

• Fully insured and DBS checked

• Member of the APHP (Association of Professional Hypnosis and Psychotherapy)

Personal Life: Outside of my professional work, I am passionate about horses. I enjoy riding and have competed in dressage and county-level showing. I also love fishing, metal detecting, and spending quality time with my wonderful family.

Thank you for visiting my website.

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