Hi, I'm Blanca!
My name is Maria but I go by my middle name which is Blanca, pronounced Blah-n-kah (like Casablanca).
I am a qualified Humanistic Psychotherapeutic Counsellor PGDip, MBACP specialised in anxiety, depression, stress and bereavement.
I see clients in Brighton, Newhaven and Seaford in Sussex. I offer face-to-face, online, and telephone sessions in English and Spanish.
A former NHS counsellor, I am passionate about mental health and over the years have worked with different local charities including Survivor’s Network, Off The Fence, Together Co., St. Catherine’s Hospice, Grassroots Suicide Prevention or As You Are.
Maria Blanca Balaguer (She /Her)
PGDip, MBACP Psychotherapeutic Counsellor
A bit about me
Originally from Spain, I have been living in Sussex for the last twenty odd years. Before training as a therapist, I worked in the art world, events and corporate communications where I learned a thing or two about stress and burnout. Over the years, I tried to find different ways to support myself, and I found therapy really helpful, which motivated me greatly to train as a psychotherapeutic counsellor.
Something I’ve learned in therapy myself is that I am good enough. That how we see the world comes from our own subjective lense and how the experiences we’ve had shape us. We are all unique human beings and therefore enough as we are.
In my spare time, I enjoy gardening, going for walks, going to the cinema, live music, catching up with friends or playing with my cats.
Organisations I've worked with
Ethical Practice
I am a registered member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychothyerapy (BACP) and practice according to their code of ethics. This means I practice according the following principles:
Being trustworthy – Honouring the trust placed in me as your counsellor
Autonomy – Respect for your right as a client to be self-governing
Beneficence – A commitment to promoting client’s wellbeing
Non-maleficence – A commitment to avoiding harm to clients
Justice – The fair and impartial treatment of all clients and the provision of adequate services
Self-respect – Fostering my self-knowledge, integrity, and care for self
I am also DBS-checked and fully insured. I attend regular clinical supervision sessions with a senior counsellor to ensure my counselling practice meets BACP’s ethical requirements. I am also in regular personal therapy – so I am a client too!
Humanistic Counselling
My counselling approach is informed by the humanistic tradition, specifically by existential and phenomenological reflections on being human. In our sessions together, we explore the significance behind your experiences as you reflect on your own reality. This approach understands that life is full of struggle, suffering and anxiety, but also sees the opportunity, hope and freedom our choices can bring us.
Qualifications
I’ve included some information about my qualifications and training. Please feel reassured that I am an ethical professional and work safely and responsibly.
✧ PGDip in Humanistic Psychotherapeutic Counselling (University of Brighton, UK)
✧ NCFE in Counselling skills and theory (level 2 and 3) MET, Brighton, UK
✧ MA in Events Management (University of Brighton, UK)
✧ BA(hons) in Art History (University of Zaragoza, Spain)
Specialist Training
I regularly invest time and funds into continuing my professional development. I hold specialist training in:
- Online Counselling
- Anxiety
- Autism
- ADHD
- Brief Therapy
- Bereavement & Grief
- Trauma
- Suicide Prevention & Self-Harm
- Pre-Trial therapy
- OCD
Book an appointment today
