Anita Duke


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This professional is temporarily unavailable and will not be responding to enquiries until they return.
This professional is temporarily unavailable and will not be responding to enquiries until they return.
About me
Hello and a very warm welcome. I’m Anita, an experienced BACP accredited integrative counsellor, trauma therapist, clinical hypnotherapist and breathwork coach working in well established private practice.
I wonder if you are looking at my profile because life’s experiences and/or relationships have left you struggling somehow? Perhaps you feel constantly anxious or tense. Maybe you feel so overwhelmed that you have started avoiding situations or people and feel disconnected from the things you used to enjoy. You feel stuck and perhaps a bit lost and, whether you know what the problem is or not, your confidence, energy and self-esteem has dipped. Does this sound familiar?
These very human experiences can significantly impact our health and wellbeing, how we are in the world, and our relationships. Modern life is tough enough without the extra challenges we meet along the way, but you don’t need to struggle alone. It's okay to need help - although finding the right person isn’t always easy. That’s where I might be able to come in.
As an experienced practitioner I take an intuitive, compassionate and creative approach to therapy drawing from what I have found works best. I look to support you to understand the difficulties that are impacting and impeding life, relationships and connection to self, and find the healing and changes you seek.
First and foremost, however, I offer a welcoming, consistent and respectful space to talk - and feel really heard. Time dedicated to gently exploring, unravelling and making sense of what has happened for you, whilst supporting connection to the innate natural resources of your mind, body and breath. In so doing, I will help you to grow in resilience, rather than just 'coping' or 'getting by'.
Most importantly, I aim to create a therapeutic space that feels trusted and fair and supports a feeling of safety and calm.
I offer both short-term and open-ended therapy (in-person and online) and will work with whatever you bring within my capacity and remit, but particularly:
• anxiety/phobias
• stress
• trauma
• bereavement/loss
• relationship difficulties
• women's mid-life challenges
• confidence/self-esteem
• rural/agricultural pressures
• personal development
• general wellbeing
My approach to therapy
As an integrative therapist I draw from a range of counselling and psychotherapy approaches according to your needs and preferences.
My practice is informed by modern understanding of the impact of anxiety, stress and trauma on the autonomic nervous system. As such, I use both ‘top-down’ talking therapy (exploring thoughts, feelings and behaviours) and ‘bottom-up’ somatic, body-based approaches (working with the body, breath and felt-sense).
If working longer term, I may use deeper, relational or creative approaches to identify any unconscious processes or parts of self that might be keeping you stuck.
I am also qualified to practice in EMDR, Clinical Hypnotherapy, NLP and Tapping Therapies which can be integrated into sessions if suitable.
When working with trauma, I champion wellbeing and resilience, inviting gentle, paced exploration of your experiences only when a sense of internal safety and grounding can be established. This phased approach safely supports healing, release and repair, whilst helping you find new meaning and purpose, and reconnect with life and relationships.
I work within diversity making reasonable adjustments to ensure my services are accessible. I value individual responsibility and choice whilst acknowledging the impact of social inequities. Our life stories, skin colour, identities and abilities may present differences and similarities, but I endeavour to stay open, curious and attuned to your lived experiences and needs, supporting you to access your personal power to the best of my ability.
Sessions
I work with individual adults of all ages whether new to 'adulting' or in or near retirement.
I practice Monday - Friday (8am - 6pm). Sessions are offered within these times subject to availability and capacity.
I offer both in-person therapy in Bury St Edmunds from my private therapy room located on the A134 Sudbury Road close to the A14 and online therapy (across the UK).
Sessions are for the full 60 minute hour.
Next Steps
I am a firm believer that the therapeutic relationship is key to a successful outcome, so it is important you find a therapist you feel comfortable with. I appreciate that this can feel quite daunting, confusing and even overwhelming, which is the reason I offer new clients a FREE initial, no-obligation consultation (20 minutes), subject to availability and capacity, by your choice of telephone or Zoom.
This brief but gentle discovery session is for us to discuss what brings you to therapy, whilst getting a sense of our ‘fit’ and how we might work together. I will never pressure you to decide immediately but, when you choose me as your therapist, we will agree a regular weekly time and day to be your 'space' - although I understand that life happens around therapy so may have some flexibility around this.
You might only need a few sessions for a specific problem or to learn some coping strategies, or you may choose to work open-ended for a while to 'hold' you steady in unsettling, uncertain times, or perhaps at a time of loss. Alternatively, you may benefit from us spending longer working together, exploring the root of the difficulties and challenges you face at a deeper level. Together we’ll find what’s right for your needs and circumstances and make space for this.
First Session
Once you start therapy with me, our first full intake session will include time to discuss and agree important ethical considerations, including confidentiality, data protection and general session information. I will also ask a few health and wellbeing questions and invite you to complete a short clinical assessment. This helps me identify your therapeutic needs and supports ongoing reviews.
If you are distressed or anxious, I'll sit alongside you until the thoughts, feelings or sensations reduce, perhaps supporting this with a guided calming or balancing practice. As we begin gentle exploration, you may be surprised to find yourself talking more than expected, and noticing that already something starts to change, but if it takes longer to open to the process that’s fine.
Together, we’ll find a pace and working style that feels right for you, undertaking regular reviews along the way - because this is your therapy, and you are at the heart of what I do.
Getting in Contact
Further details of how I work, the therapies I offer, and any current availability can be found on my website at www.anitaduketherapy.co.uk
If you would like to speak to me further about how I can help, please get in contact via email, telephone or the contact page of my website. I welcome all genuine enquiries and will get back to you as soon as possible within my practice hours.
Training, qualifications & experience
I am a registered and accredited member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and registered as a Clinical Hypnotherapist with the General Hypnotherapy Register (GHR). I am accredited by the General Hypnotherapy Standards Council (GHSC) and have been awarded the General Qualification in Hypnotherapy Practice (GQHP).
I abide by the code of conduct and ethical framework of both professional bodies. This includes undertaking continuous professional development (CPD) and regular supervision.
Additionally, I am qualified to practice EMDR and licensed as a Master NLP Practitioner by the Society of Neuro Linguistic Programming™. I am also a certified Breathwork Coach, an Authorised Human Toolbox™ Practitioner, a Diagnostic Practitioner of Thought Field Therapy (TFT) and licensed as a Style Coach™.
As an educator, I am an Associate Tutor with The Bedfordshire Centre for Therapeutic Studies, and an approved tutor for the CPCAB L2 Award in Breathwork Coaching.
I subscribe to the Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) update system, and am fully insured.
I work exclusively in the UK in accordance with English law, and my practice is registered with the Information Commissioners Office (ICO).
Professional Qualifications
- Advanced Diploma in Somatic Trauma Therapy
- Diploma in Integrative Counselling
- Advanced Diploma in Hypno-Psychotherapy & Counselling
- Diploma in Integrative Hypnotherapy & Psychotherapy
- Diploma in Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprogramming (EMDR)
- Certificate in Online & Telephone Counselling
- CPCAB Award in Breathwork Coaching
- Master Practitioner in Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP)
- Diagnostic Practitioner in Thought Field Therapy (TFT)
- Advanced Certificate in Understanding and Applying Parts Theories
- Foundation Certificate in Polyvagal Theory
- Certificate in Cognitive Behavioural Hypnosis
- Certificate in Hypno-Virtual Gastric Band
- Authorised Practitioner in The Human Toolbox™
- Diploma in Style Coaching™
In addition, I have undertaken continual professional development in:
- Trauma-Informed practice (Level 7)
- Sensorimotor Psychotherapy
- Polyvagal Theory
- Psychodynamic Theory & Practice
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy (CBH)
- Gestalt Therapy
- Transactional Analysis (TA)
- Inner Child Therapy
- Analytical Hypno-psychotherapy
- NLP Life Coaching
- NLP Fast Phobia / Theatre Screen (Rewind Technique)
- Working Safely with Suicide & Self-Harm
- Working with Anxiety Disorders
- Working with Emotional Eating & Weight Management
- Working with Bereavement & Loss
- Working with Narcissistic Abuse
- Working at Relational Depth
- Working with the Trauma of Racism
- Power & Relational Dynamics
- Allying with Anti-Racist Practice
- Race and Cultural Attunement
- Increasing Inclusivity in Practice
- Creative Therapy
- Working with Groups
Previous Experience
Prior to launching my private practice in 2019, I worked as a counsellor for a local social enterprise providing low-cost NHS IAPT services. I have also worked as an Anxiety UK Approved Therapist (offering both counselling and clinical hypnotherapy), and as a personal life coach and hypnotherapist specialising in confidence and self-esteem for women.
I continue to support charities through my practice, working closely with YANA, the East Anglian charity offering rural mental health support.
Before training as a therapist, I spent 12 years working in corporate sales and marketing at senior level, and a further 12 years working within state education in both teaching and behavioural support roles.
In addition to my therapy qualifications, I hold a bachelor's (joint honours) degree in History & Government, and the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) Graduate Diploma in Marketing.
Member organisations
school Registered / Accredited
Being registered/accredited with a professional body means an individual must have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by their member organisation.

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
Therapies offered
Fees
£60.00 per session
Free initial telephone or online session
When I work
Monday - Friday (8am-6pm).
Sessions offered within these times according to availability and capacity.
For current availability please see website
Further information
For regularly updated information on current availability please my website - www.anitaduketherapy.co.uk.
Thank you.