Jennifer Young

It’s likely if you're reading this that you've already made a big step in reaching out for support for yourself or someone else.  Considering counselling for the first time can be an incredibly difficult experience for many people. The thought of opening up about the things we're finding most difficult, things that we often don't fully understand, can leave us feeling even more vulnerable and isolated. Whatever your difficulty, for example. relationship or family problems, bullying, anxiety or low mood, for counselling to 'work', it is really important that you feel comfortable and safe within the relationship between you and your therapist from the very first contact.

Please do read on, visit my website, to learn a little more about how I can support you.  Alternatively, you can email or call 07421097646 at no cost to talk through your needs.

My background, training and experience incorporates my passion to support the well-being of all clients. I work with clients from age 5 upwards from a predominantly person-centred framework, providing a non-judgemental, confidential and supportive environment where clients are at the centre of our time together.

In practice, this means that sessions are adapted to the individual, with one persons experience looking very different to another, this could include the issues we might work on or the way we might work though them, how sessions take place or how many.

Next Steps, first contact to therapeutic work:

It’s likely if you're reading this that you've already made a big step in reaching out for support for yourself or someone else. The next step might be to contact one or more therapists to find out if counselling is for you and if so, which therapist might be the right one.

You can contact me via telephone or email for a free consultation to ask questions or voice worries you might have and to establish a general idea of what you hope to get from sessions, and whether I can offer the right kind of support you might be looking for. The number or type of sessions each client needs can vary a lot and is something that might be clear from the start or evolve over time and is always agreed upon between us. It’s really important that you are involved in finding the best way for us to work and and from our first meeting, you always have a choice in how you want to move forward. During consultation and initial meetings, we will usually consider a collaborative assessment of risk including Covid, physical or emotional safety. If appropriate, we will agree together, a date, time and setting for a first session during this consultation or perhaps after some time to consider.

I currently have a regularly updated risk assessment regarding Covid-19 that will consider individual circumstances. If sessions are agreed, our counselling agreement includes details of what is expected of both you and I to ensure risks are minimised where possible.

Please call 07421097646 or email for more information.

How I work:

I currently offer both face-to-face and remote sessions. Face-to-face sessions generally take place in my counselling room in Northwich and I will include outdoor sessions as the weather improves. Remote sessions are usually delivered via Zoom, Whatsapp or telephone. In the main I work within a person-centred framework where a confidential, non-judgemental and empathic environment can enable clients to talk openly and explore whatever it is that brings them to counselling. The way we work can also change between sessions, bringing in elements of CBT, TA, polyvagal theory and creative ways of working as appropriate in order to tailor counselling to you and how you want to work.

Single session counselling:

It may be that you have a quite a specific issue that that you would like to work through with a focused and swift approach. If this is identified as appropriate during our initial chat, we will agree a single-session date and time for approximately 1 to 1½ hours. Single-session counselling can be incredibly beneficial, although it may be that during or following this session you would like more sessions, which we can arrange going forward.

Ongoing and initial sessions:

Outside of planned single-sessions agreements (see above), sessions generally last around 50 to 60 minutes and are usually weekly at the start of counselling. We review progress together regularly to make sure that sessions are meeting your needs and if appropriate, when the time is right, to work towards a planned ending to sessions. How many sessions client want or need varies a lot, with some clients finding what they need in a single session or perhaps 10 weekly sessions, and for others, ongoing support, monthly check ins or dipping in and out of counselling might be more suitable.

Session dates and times will be agreed together along with a suitable location or platform such as zoom or Whatsapp and I endeavour to send reminders the day before via text message.

Online/Telephone counselling:

Online and telephone counselling aims to provide the same support as counselling in-person, although there are some clear differences. Where clients can find a safe and private space to talk, it can provide an opportunity to access support in a time and place that is perhaps more convenient and suitable to them than ‘in-person’. Remote counselling can change how some aspects of non-verbal communication impact sessions which can be welcome for some, but for others, developing an open dialogue with your counsellor to ensure any uncertainties are clarified as we progress will be helpful. Although remote counselling can be suitable to lots of individuals, there may be some occasions where it would not be considered suitable, for example where there may a level of risk that cannot be held safely, if a client doesn’t have access to a confidential space or perhaps if more creative ways of working in-person might be the best approach.

Professional Assurances:

It’s really important you feel comfortable to talk openly during sessions and although this depends on how you feel in sessions, it's good to know that there are professional frameworks that many practitioners work by. I am a registered member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) which clarifies expected standards. Included in the BACPs ethical framework, are many elements of what counselling is supposed to look like and what is not good practice, things like confidentiality, training and qualifications or respecting your ability to self-govern, along with practitioners being answerable to a governing body. To find out more please visit www.bacp.co.uk.

Young People
Children

Initial consultation calls are at no cost.

Standard sessions (50-60 min) are offered at £55 although discounts of £5 per session can be discussed, including block booking/fees (no obligation with reimbursement if not used), students and those with low-incomes.

Single sessions (50-90 min) are offered at £70

Initial session fees are required in advance to secure your booking and it is requested that all fees are paid a week in advance via cash, cheque or BACS. Non-attendance or same day cancellations may be subject to a charge.

Please call 07421097646 or email for more information.

I hold enhanced DBS certification and full professional indemnity insurance. Professional references and certification can be provided on request.