Jan Kilroy-Jolley

Are you experiencing difficulties in your life, feeling stuck and alone with your thoughts and feelings, not knowing which way to turn?. If you believe that you need help to take the next steps towards finding a solution, then I am here to support you, and work with you through this process

How Can Counselling Help You?

I will support you to gain a clearer perspective about whatever is troubling you. Together we identify what might be stopping you from reaching your full potential, and what action you may need to take to improve your situation.

The aim of the therapeutic process is to help you to make sense of your experiences, to help you cultivate more acceptance, connection and trust in yourself, to change your behaviour/ thoughts to those which are more productive for you, to manage distressing feelings without avoiding them and provide you with a supportive and non-judgemental space, so you are more able to address the difficulties that maybe preventing you from living your life to the full.

My role is to walk beside you on your journey, giving you space and time to make sense of how your current/ past circumstances may be impacting on you. Whilst working at your pace, I will endeavour to help you to gain a deeper understanding of yourself, and move towards achieving your desired outcomes.

How I work:

I am a qualified, experienced counsellor and Registered Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP). I offer a safe, empathic, and confidential online environment, where you can explore your personal difficulties without fear of judgement.

I work as an integrative counsellor, which means that I draw upon a range of different approaches and methods, tailoring them to best meet the needs of each individual I work with. The approaches/ methods I use are: Person Centred Counselling; Acceptance and Commitment Therapy; Brainspotting; EMDR; Attachment-Informed EMDR; IFS-Informed EMDR; Flash Technique; Advanced Flash Technique; Rewind Technique; Emotional Freedom Technique; Inner Child Healing; Grounding Techniques, and Self-Care Strategies.

What is Brainspotting?

"Where we look affects how we feel" (David Grand PhD)

Approved by the British Psychological Society, Brainspotting is a powerful relational, brain-body therapy, which is used widely within the field of Trauma. Brainspotting helps clients to process and release core sources of emotional/ physical body pain, trauma, and various other distressing symptoms. It is found to be an effective treatment option for those experiencing Anxiety, Depression, Physical Illness (pain/ chronic fatigue), Stress, Complex Grief, PTSD, Phobias, Anger Issues, etc.

Evidence suggests that trauma is stored in the subcortical/ mid-brain (emotional brain), which regulates much of what the body does. As a result, traumatic events can leave a physiological imprint in the body. Brainspotting allows the therapist to access a client's emotions on a deeper level, processing and releasing the neurophysiological effects of trauma, thus activating the body's innate ability to heal itself.

What is Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)?

Developed by Gary Craig, EFT tapping, often described as acupuncture without the use of needles, is a model of healing which can help to reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, chronic pain, stress, performance issues, limiting beliefs and trauma. According to Gary Craig, negative emotions, challenging memories,  and negative thoughts/ limiting beliefs are strongly influenced by our past experiences, which in turn can cause disruptions in our body's energy system. 

EFT involves using your fingers to gently tap on your body's acupuncture points, which are situated along the meridian lines of Chinese medicine. During a one-to-one session, I will help you to tap into the issues that are troubling you, and support you to make the changes which will help you to move forward with your life.

What is EMDR?

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a method of trauma therapy developed by Dr Francine Shapiro in the late 1980's. It is a method that accelerates the processing of traumatic, frozen memories and resolves fixed behavioural patterns.

What is an EMDR session like?

EMDR utilises the natural healing ability of your body. After a thorough assessment, and preparation phase or EMDR resourcing (coping skills to keep you calm and in the present moment), the client will be asked specific questions about a particular distressing memory. During the EMDR treatment the client repeatedly focuses for short periods of time, simultaneously on distressing material as well as on an external stimulus, for example bilateral eye movements led by the therapist, a tactile stimulus (hand or knee tapping) or auditory stimulation (bilateral music or sound). The client will then be asked to report back on the experiences they have had during each set of eye movements etc. With repeated sets of eye movements/ tapping, the memory tends to change in such a way that it loses its painful intensity and simply becomes a neutral memory.

What can EMDR be used for?

In addition to its use for the treatment of PTSD, EMDR has been effective in treating:

• Anxiety and panic attacks
• Depression
• Stress
• Phobias
• Sleep problems
• Grief
• Low self-esteem

Can anyone benefit from EMDR?

EMDR can accelerate therapy by resolving the impact of your past traumas and allowing you to live more fully present. It is not however appropriate for everyone. The process is rapid, and any disturbing experiences, if they occur at all, last for a comparatively short period of time. Nevertheless, clients need to be aware of, and willing to experience, the strong feelings and thoughts which sometimes occur during and after sessions. 

Who I Work With:

I have worked extensively with adults who have experienced issues related to:

• Historic childhood sexual abuse/ trauma

• Sexual assault

• Depression

• Anxiety

• Domestic abuse

• Relationship difficulties

• Divorce/ Separation

• Bullying

• Bereavement, Loss and Grief

• Self-Esteem

• Confidence

Experience:

Prior to and since qualifying as a counsellor in 2008, I have worked (within a voluntary and salaried capacity) in a variety of different settings (NHS, learning disabilities, younger people, adults and older demographics).

What is Online Counselling?

Online counselling is a way for you to engage in counselling using internet technology such as Zoom and telephone. You direct your counselling by selecting the method of communication you feel most comfortable with. You choose the place and pace of your counselling to suit your needs.

Online counselling can provide an opportunity to explore a personal difficulty in a confidential and supportive environment. This may include expressing feelings that are painful, which most of us experience at certain times in our life. When this happens, it can be difficult to stay positive and cope with everyday life. Online counselling can provide support for a broad range of personal difficulties, but there are occasions where it would not be considered suitable, for example where a client is at risk. If this applies to you, either when applying for support, or during ongoing sessions, I will offer information of alternative sources of support, which you can make contact with and request support from.

Sessions:

I offer short, medium and long term counselling, meaning that we can adapt the number of sessions to best meet your needs, reviewing this on an ongoing basis as we progress.

I am sensitive to the cultural and ethnic origins of individuals, and to people's religious beliefs; gender identity;  age; disability, and sexual orientation.

Contact Me:

I am happy for you to telephone or email me, so that I can answer any questions that you may have, or tell you more about how I work. Because I understand how important it is to find the right counsellor, I offer a free, no obligation, 30 minute Zoom or telephone consultation.

Counselling:
I charge £55 for a 60 minute session.

Payment will be made prior to each session, payable by bank transfer.

Initial Consultation:
I offer prospective clients a free, no obligation, 30 minute telephone or zoom consultation.

I have developed and delivered workshops to volunteer counsellors, clients and third sector organisations, on issues encompassing Self-Harm, Self-Care, Stress Management, Positive Psychology and Grounding Techniques.