Jake Yearsley
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
I am a qualified Psychosynthesis Counsellor (pgDip) and qualified Psychosexual (sex and relationship) Therapist (dip). I am committed to my on-going personal and professional development and I am in regular supervision for my client work.
What is important to me is to ensure I create a non-judgemental space, where you can share and explore your thoughts, feelings and problems in a safe, accepting and confidential environment.
From my experience as a counsellor, what I have seen as most important for clients is the counsellor and client relationship. I have an approachable, genuine and open minded manner that helps people feel able to discuss their difficulties and builds a trust in the therapist client relationship. Equally my own experiences of therapy has allowed me to honour the healing journey that clients undergo and respect the clients choice in the pace and depth of the therapy.
My background and experience is very eclectic from many years working in the media and creative industries, to working as a gardener.
How I work
My approach is based on my belief that we are all intrinsically whole and it is our innate human desire to reconnect to that wholeness.
A psychosynthesis perspective views that the challenges life presents itself to us are opportunities for growth and transformation. Psychosynthesis acknowledges that we are all unique and individual souls on a journey through life. We are more than our problems and our failures, and that at the very deepest levels of our selves we are wise beings seeking to express our potential into the world.
I work with an integrative approach of counselling because people are different. Ways of working includes: psychosynthesis, gestalt, psychodynamic, person centered, existential, transpersonal (spiritual) models. I also offer somatic (body), trauma focused (neuroscience) and EFT modalities. If it is right for you, some of the ways we may work will be more creative, such as drawings, visualisations, mindfullness, body movements. However, I believe it is the relationship between client and therapist that is at the very heart of the therapeutic process.
Throughout the process of therapy we will work to discover or support your internal and external resources so that the therapist is no longer needed.
I mainly see clients on open-ended contracts, but I am also able to see clients for short term contracts.
What is Integrative Psychosexual therapy?
Integrative psychosexual therapy means it offers a more holistic approach to sex and relationships as opposed to the medical model of sex, the most commonly offered psychosexual therapy on the NHS. I offer a biopsychosocial model and homeodynamic model of sex and relationships.
The homeodynamic model for sexuality is sex positive, promoting sexual health and wellbeing rather than being focused on sexual fear and shame. Although I have knowledge of sexual dysfunctions, including compulsive sexual behaviour disorder, I do not over medicalise them, instead I offer psychoeducation about the sexual body, such as the physiology of sexuality, reproductive models of sex, pleasure principles, sexual energy, creativity and intimacy. I seek to build a persons sexual self esteem and sexual empowerment, creating a sexual diet that suits the individual needs of the client.
Couples/partner/s therapy
I also see couples or other partner relationships for either or both sex and relationship therapy. Again this is a more integrative, holistic approach to sex and relationships and works with a depatholgising manner to support the unfolding of what the relationship needs.
I specialise in gender and sexual diverse clients and relationships - see further down for more details.
What to expect
In the first session, we will look at what has brought you to counselling/psychosexual therapy and what you would like from it. I will ask some questions about your background and current life circumstances. This can sometimes be challenging for some people, so my approach is always to be sensitive around this and it is not a requirement that you must tell me your past. This is also the opportunity for you to discuss your concerns and ask questions without obligation for further therapy session. If we decide to work together, a therapeutic contract is agreed. We will discuss a mutually agreed number of sessions, (usually 6 sessions), with the option of further sessions. If you wish to continue we can review as we go along and if you wish you can give me feedback as to whether you are getting what you want from the therapy. Sessions are usually 50 mins in length and take place usually weekly.
Next step
Contact me for an initial discussion. This does not commit you to further therapy. It is a chance for both of us to explore whether working together would be helpful to you.
Training, qualifications & experience
I trained at the Psychosynthesis Trust in London and hold a postgraduate diploma (pgDip) in Psychosynthesis Counselling. I am also a qualified Psychosexual therapist, holding a diploma in Integrative Psychosexual therapy from the Centre for Psychosexual Health: - https://psychosexualhealth.org.uk/
Further to my core trainings I have trained in Somatic Trauma Therapy as well as Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT).
I also have many trainings in Gender and Sexual and Relationship Diversity (GSRD), including the Essentials training in GSD with Pink therapy, as well as trainings in Kink/BDSM, GSRD, Asexuality, Digisexuality, Out of control sexual behaviour, Trans/non binary identities with the organisations Gendered Intelligence and Pink Therapy.
Experience
Some of the issues that people have brought to therapy that I have experience in have included: depression, anxiety, panic disorder, stress, sexual abuse, relationship issues, phobias, obsessive compulsive disorder, Ill health, loss of meaning, parenting concerns, post natal depression, low self esteem, past traumas - emotional or physical, PTS/D, personality disorders, sexuality and gender identities, grief and bereavement, addictions – substance, sexual, emotional, anger related issues, work related issues.
Specialisms
Much of my counselling and further training has been working with gender, sexual and relationship diversity, which includes the spectrums of LGBTQAI+ peoples.
I practice affirmative therapy with LGBTQAI+ identities and offer a respectful space where diverse relationship styles and sexualities are not seen as problematic. I welcome trans people pre, post or questioning transition and respect the many different possible paths the client may choose.
Prior experience
From 2018- 2021, I worked as a counsellor with The Clare Project, a Brighton based charity supporting trans and non binary identified adults. Prior to that I have worked as counsellor for All Sorts in Brighton, a youth charity that supports young LGBTQAI+ people. I have volunteered as a counsellor for Mind out, Brighton, LGBTQAI+ charity, Metro, London, LGBTQAI+ charity and Arc counselling, Workingham.
From 2018- 2019, I worked as a psychosexual therapist in placement for South London and Maudsley, NHS psychosexual services.
Professional affiliations and ethics
I am a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), one of the main professional organisations that regulate the profession of counselling and psychotherapy.
Becoming a member of the BACP means I am committed to work with strict accordance to the BACP ethical framework and code of conduct to assure you that your therapy will be practised to the highest professional standard.
I am also an individual member of the College of Sexual and Relationship Therapy (COSRT).
Member organisations
BACP is one of the UK’s leading professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy with around 60,000 members. The Association has several different categories of membership, including Student Member, Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP, Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Accred) and Senior Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Snr Acccred).
Registered and accredited members are listed on the BACP Register, which shows that they have demonstrated BACP’s recommended standards for training, proficiency and ethical practice. The BACP Register was the first register of psychological therapists to be accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
Accredited and senior accredited membership are voluntary categories for members who choose to undertake a rigorous application and assessment process to demonstrate additional standards around practice, training and supervision.
Individual members will have completed an appropriate counselling or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but they won’t appear on the BACP Register until they've demonstrated that they meet the standards for registration. Student members are still in the process of completing their training.
All members are bound by the BACP Ethical Framework and a Professional Conduct Procedure.
COSRT is the UK’s leading membership organisation for therapists specialising in sexual and relationship issues.
All members must abide by their Code of Ethics and the performance of accredited members is regularly monitored.
Accredited register membership
The Accredited Register Scheme was set up in 2013 by the Department of Health (DoH) as a way to recognise organisations that hold voluntary registers which meet certain standards. These standards are set by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
This therapist has indicated that they belong to an Accredited Register.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Other areas of counselling I deal with
Much of my counselling work is specialized in LGBTQAI+ clients, with a large proportion of my client group from the trans communities. I work with clients within the trans umbrella, or transgender clients pre, post or questioning transition. I can support the journey of transition (if the client chooses to or not) and work with an internal integration of becoming more of who they are. In other words a more authentic self. Although I am not a gatekeeper for medical treatment, I can offer the psychological support when beginning hormone treatment, or pre and post surgery.
I also work with adult individuals that identify to non-heteronormative sexualities, such as gay, lesbian, bisexual, MSM, WSM, as well as non-monogamous relationship styles. I am kink, sex positive, BDSM friendly and aware. I practice affirmative GSRD therapy, and offer a respectful space where diverse relationship(s) are not seen as problematic.
I work with a depathologising model, where I see the client for who they are, validating their self identity. I encourage clients to self define. My aim is to support the wellbeing of the client with non-judgement and promote good self-esteem and a positive identity.
My intention is to support people who have diverse gender and sexual identities in finding ways where they can find more comfortable and fulfilling lives.
Therapies offered
Fees
£75.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
My fees are:
For a 60 min session:
£75 individual sessions
£90 couples/partners (60 mins)
£130 couples/partners (90 mins)
Concession rates: I offer a small % of my practice at a negotiated concession rate for people experiencing financial hardship. However, currently there are no available places. However, feel free to enquire for more details.
* I can offer a free of charge 20-30 min phone chat before contracting for sessions if you require that.
For longer sessions please discuss fee with me.
Payment
I accept bank transfers/paypal/revolut.
Locations
Since covid, I have been working online. Over the year I have assessed this new way of working and the benefits have shown to outweigh the drawbacks. Therefore, I have decided to continue to work online for now.
Cancellation Policy:
Please note, I require 48-hour cancellation for appointments made, or else full fee will be charged. However if we can find a different time slot in the same week, there will be no extra charge.
When I work
Weekdays, except Fridays and some week day evenings
Further information
EFT and Somatic trauma therapy
Other than an integrative Psychosynthesis model, I also offer Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) and Somatic Trauma therapy. These modalities are widely used today for trauma based therapy work.
EFT a form of meridian tapping is a useful tool that works on regulating the nervous system and can be used for many issues, such as limiting belief patterns, negative emotions, anxiety, phobias, and addictions. By tapping on specific points of the face and upper body can release negative emotions.There is now much research into the benefit of using EFT with cognitive instruction. Current research shows that tapping on points of the body can induce a mini REM state in the brain, which reorganises how we process information. It also reduces cortisol levels, which helps with stress regulation and improves heart rate variability (HRV).
Somatic Trauma therapy works with the theories of Peter Levine and Babette Rothschild in a very safe way to process and heal traumatic experiences, involving both cognitive and somatic methods. Somatic Trauma therapy is a therapy that does not require touch, however it gives attention to both body and mind as necessary for the treatment of trauma. Improving quality of life is at the core of Somatic Trauma therapy. Attention is put into developing psychological and physical resources, as well as balancing the autonomic nervous system (ANS).
These more body and energetic therapies can be integrated into a psychotherapeutic process of counselling when appropriate, or if you the client would wish for me to include them.
