Anita Duke

Hello and a warm welcome.

I wonder if you feel uncertain, confused or anxious and overwhelmed right now? Life can be tough enough without the extra challenges we meet along our path, especially in current times. Let's face it, we all sometimes need a helping hand, but it's not always easy to ask. It can feel incredibly lonely when we are struggling, so I hope I can encourage you to take the next step towards the support you need.

I take an open, intuitive and quite often creative approach to therapy, adapting my methods according to what you need and what, together, we find best achieves the change you seek.  First and foremost, however, I offer a welcoming, respectful and non-judgemental space for you to talk and be really heard. Time dedicated to unravelling what is happening for you and helping you through the difficulties you face.  

My Therapeutic Approach

I am an extensively trained and experienced, BACP accredited integrative counsellor and trauma therapist.  Being integrative in my approach, I draw from a range of counselling theories and other therapeutic approaches to support the path to emotional healing and wellbeing. These include traditional counselling and talking therapy practices, somatic therapy including mindfulness and breathwork, EMDR, CBT, psychodynamic therapy, clinical hypnotherapy, NLP and 'tapping' therapies such as Thought Field Therapy (TFT). 

Whether we are working together for just a few weeks, or you are benefitting from deeper mid- to longer-term exploration, I base my interventions on what I have found works, backed by modern research into the autonomic nervous system, trauma and dysregulation.

Problems I can help with:

Perhaps you are burdened with anxiety, stress and negative thoughts? Maybe you feel stuck, lost or low in mood or self-confidence? Perhaps you feel trapped by the continual replay of thoughts and emotions relating to past traumatic events or a specific phobia? Are you turning to negative habits or avoiding things you used to do and enjoy? 

These very human difficulties, and those listed below, are all areas I am used to working with and would be happy to help you work through:

• Anxiety, fear and phobias
• Stress and work-related issues
• Emotional trauma
• Relationship and family problems
• Unhelpful thinking or habits
• Low self-esteem and confidence
• Women’s issues
• Self-discovery and personal development

I am a strong advocate of 'one size does not fit all' so will work with you according to your needs and preferences and what we find makes the difference.  I often incorporate creativity into sessions to support self-awareness and change, particularly if we identify possible behaviour patterns and processes outside of conscious awareness that are no longer serving you.  

When you choose me as your therapist, I will encourage you to get curious and together we will find the pace and approach that is right for you, your circumstances and the outcome you seek.  Therapy is a collaborative process, and I will encourage autonomy for your own therapy.

Session information.

My standard sessions are for the full hour and are offered Tuesday – Friday (8am - 6pm) subject to availability.   

I offer both short-term and open ended / long-term therapy.  We will agree a regular time and day, usually weekly, to be your 'space' for as long as it is needed.   You may only need a few sessions for a specific problem, to learn some anxiety coping strategies or to 'hold' you steady in uncertain times, or you may benefit from us spending longer working together, exploring the root of the issue at a deeper level.  Between us we’ll find what is right for you.

I work both online across the UK and from my private, comfortable and peaceful client room on the outskirts of Bury St Edmunds, situated on the A134 Sudbury Road and only a few miles from the A14.  

Further details of how I work, the therapies I offer, and my current availability can be found on my website at www.anitaduketherapy.co.uk

Next Steps

I am a firm believer that the therapeutic relationship is key to a successful outcome, so it's important that you choose a therapist you are comfortable with.  Finding the right person to help you can feel overwhelming when you are struggling already, so I offer a FREE initial consultation (20 minutes via telephone or Zoom) for us to get to know each other, and for you to get a real sense of how I work and how I can help.

Your first appointment

Starting therapy can be daunting.  It's perfectly normal if you feel apprehensive before our first full session, but perhaps think of it as a space just for you - a gentle conversation between two people in a friendly, welcoming, caring and non-judgemental environment to explore what is happening for you and begin the process of change.  

The first session will also include time for me to take important contact and medical details, explain ethical considerations, such as confidentiality and privacy, and agree some practical working arrangements.  I am used to clients with first appointment nerves so do my best to make both the initial consultation and first session as relaxed as possible,

If you would like to speak to me further about how I can help, please email or give me a call.  If I am unavailable, I will get back to you as soon as possible.

FEES FOR COUNSELLING & PSYCHOTHERAPY

• Initial Consultation (20mins): FREE
• Standard Fee: £55 - full 1 hour session
• Concessions: £45 - full 1 hour session (max 8 sessions). Suitable for individuals on income support and students (18+).  Limited spaces.  Subject to availability.

See website for further information 

For up-to-date information on my current availability please see the home page of my website. Thank you.