Abi Spence
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
There are many reasons why you might decide to begin therapy.
This might be what you are experiencing in the here and now; we are living in a time of great uncertainty, change and responsibility, with more access to information and more choice than ever before. Sometimes this can feel overwhelming. However, it could also be experiences from your childhood or more recent history which have been left unresolved, leading to anxiety, depression or toxic cycles of behaviour.
Whatever might have brought you to this point, I can provide a safe, non-judgemental and confidential space separate from your family and social group, in which to explore whatever you wish to bring. I work with adults on a one-to-one basis to assist you to process, respond to or engage with whatever might be preventing you from living your life to its fullest and happiest.
For 50 minutes, one day a week, you can be present and alive to your thoughts, feelings and sensations in a way that life may prevent you from being. I offer short term work (6-12 sessions) longer term (6 months to a year) or without a fixed time for the therapy to come to an end.
The most important aspect of being able to work together effectively is our relationship; whether you feel I am someone you can visualise yourself meeting with once a week. However, it's difficult to assess this from these brief words and a photo.
It can be daunting, not knowing what to expect, so here is how it might go:
First, contact me via any means that feels comfortable: phone, email, voice note or text are all fine.
After this, we have a a brief phone chat or email exchange to discuss the details of the initial meeting; time, date, and what format the session will take (in-person, phone or online).
The next step is the initial session. There is no fee for this, which is 25 minutes long. It can be online, on the phone or in-person. During it, we will discuss what has brought you to this point, your expectations of therapy and any other questions you may have. There is no obligation to make any commitment beyond this session. If you would like to continue, we will pick a date and time to begin our meetings. Once we have agreed a start date, I will send you some information, and a client/therapist agreement form for you to read through and sign.
Where we will meet:
Sessions can be online, or in person.
I work in York and Harome. In York, my consultation room is on the first floor of Unit 2 in Miller's Yard, Gillygate. There is parking at Union Terrace, Monk Bar and Bootham Row car parks nearby, and parking available in nearby streets. It is a 10 minute walk from York station.
I also work in Harome, a village just off the A170 on the edge of the North York Moors National Park. My consultation room is in an outbuilding which has been converted to be a home office and therapy room. It is situated on Main Street, which runs through the centre of the village, and is comfortable, private and quiet.
Parking is possible along the length of Main Street. There is no public transport to the village, which is close to Helmsley, near Malton and Pickering, and 22 miles from York.
Contact me for my current availability.
Training, qualifications & experience
- Fully-qualified BACP-registered therapist with a Diploma in Integrative Psychotherapy and Counselling (Level 7) from the Minster Centre, a UKCP registered training centre for integrative psychotherapy.
- I have recently completed an Advanced Diploma and MA in Integrative Psychotherapy, with sibling relationships as my area of specialist research.
- I am a member of BICA, (the British Infertility Counselling Association), The Relational School, and I am a media volunteer for Fertility Network UK.
- As well as the issues mentioned below, my specialisms include:
- Childhood trauma (including physical and sexual abuse)
- Sibling and family issues
- Fertility issues, from undergoing IVF and miscarriage to involuntary childlessness and PPD (Post Partum Depression)
- Minority stress (experienced by those who do not identify as white, cis, heterosexual, or neuro-typical)
- Boarding school experiences: those who attended themselves, or might be managing the effects caused by others in their lives who are ex boarders. Attachment issues, imposter syndrome, addiction, depression and workaholism can be symptomatic of boarding school experiences.
- Isolation, loneliness and economic and environmental challenges experienced by rural and/or farming communities.
- My training and way of working is integrative, which means I call on many different approaches to work with your unique experiences and understanding of the world, and your place within it.
- I am a registered member of the British Association of Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP), one of the UK’s national accrediting bodies. I also hold DBS clearance. This means I work in accordance with professionally recognised standards.
- I am in clinical supervision and undertake regular CPD (Continued Professional Development).
- I have worked in private practices in Queens Park and Tooting in London, Pickering and Acomb. I now work at Miller's Yard in York and in Harome, North Yorkshire.
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.
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
Childhood trauma (including sexual, physical and emotional abuse)
Sibling relationships
Minority stress
Ex-boarders and boarding school survivors
Fertility issues (including fertility treatment, involuntary childlessness and miscarriage)
Post-partum depression (which can sometimes manifest as anxiety and hypervigilance as well as low mood and energy)
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£65.00 per session
Free initial in-person, telephone or online session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
The introductory session is free of charge. This is 25 minutes long, and can be online, in person or on the phone. There is no obligation to continue after this introductory meeting. Online and in-person sessions are £65.00.
I currently work Monday- Thursday. Contact me for my current availability.
When I work
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Contact me for my current availability. I work both online and in person.
Further information
Before undertaking my psychotherapy training, I worked in pressured, results-based environments. I understand what it's like to have to manage multiple responsibilities, attempt to meet the expectations of others and feel overwhelmed.
I came to therapy as a client, and found it to be life-changing. I wanted to create for others what I had received: space, time and generous, attentive focus on whatever I happened to bring.
By giving yourself the opportunity to examine your fears, motivations and actions with the help of a psychotherapist, I believe it is possible to gain clarity and understanding which can be transformative.
