Darren Taylor.
BSc (Hons). MA (Jungian Studies). Grad Dip (Counselling). MBACP.
My early career was spent in commerce working for large organisations in the IT and outsourcing sectors.
However, after 20 years of doing this, I decided to change career and, following three years' training in Person Centred counselling, I qualified as a counsellor. I completed a further two years post graduate training in CBT/Mindfulness and went on to study Jungian psychology at master's level. I have also trained and qualified in relationship/couples counselling, mindfulness teaching and supervision.
I have been working as a psychotherapist for around 20 years and, as well as my private practice, I have worked in various settings including the NHS, community support, schools and the hospice sector.
Training and qualifications
My formal qualifications are:
MA (with distinction) Jungian and Post Jungian studies. Essex University
Grad. Cert. Person Centred Counselling. UCLAN
Grad. Dip. Person Centred Counselling. UCLAN
PG. Cert. CBT and Integrated Mindfulness. University of Salford
Mindfulness Training. University of Bangor
Mindfulness Advanced Teacher Training. Breathworks
Certificate in Couples and Relationship Counselling
Supervision Training - University of Strathclyde
My first degree is a BSc (Hons) in Management from the University of Aston
I am a Registered Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and, as such, I adhere to the BACP ethical framework which promotes the essential elements of professional practise including regular clinical supervision of my practice by a qualified and experienced supervisor.
A bit about me outside of therapy
Being a psychotherapist is one of my main interests in life, it is certainly a vocation rather than just a job and is an important source of meaning and fulfillment for me. There is hardly a day that goes by, therefore, when I am not studying or, more importantly, learning something from my clients.
Outside of work, and work-related interests, I like to travel. I enjoy spending time in the city and in the country, both in the UK and abroad. My favorite city is London but, recently, I have been spending extended periods in New York. I love the energy that the city exudes. I can walk the streets, the parks, the river and the canal paths for hours, taking in the images and observing the lives of others. I really enjoy the ballet and the theatre, including musical theatre and my guilty pleasures are ‘Phantom of the Opera' and ‘Les Miserables.’ I am also fascinated by the diverse architecture of cities and one of my great joys these days is urban sketching using ink.
For balance, I have an equal appreciation for the peace and quiet that can be found in nature and, whilst living in the characterful village of Croston is great, I do like to jump in my camper van for road trips into the deeper countryside where I like to walk in the hills or by the sea. In the UK, the Lake District, the Forest of Bowland and Pembrokeshire are regular destinations and, slightly further afield, I have enjoyed numerous trips to the Ionian islands of Greece and the coastal, central valley and mountain regions of California.
I like to go to the occasional sporting event (usually rugby), long distance running and am trying to become a better cook.