Eric Blencowe

Overview

I aim to offer a safe and compassionate space where you can explore your challenges in comfort, confidentially and without judgement. I offer short (6-8 weeks) and longer-term counselling, depending on your individual needs and wishes.

My therapeutic approach

My role is to be with you, to listen to you and to observe you as you make sense of your feelings, thoughts and behaviours. I aim to support you in moving forward so that you can realise your full potential. As an "integrative" therapist, I take the view that there is no single approach that can treat you in all situations. This gives more choice of how you want to look at your issues and creates flexibility to tailor therapy to your individual needs and aspirations. We can talk further about what approaches may help when we have our first session.

What to expect in our first session

In our first session, which costs £55, we can explore your reasons for coming to counselling, and what you hope to achieve from therapy. The session affords an opportunity for you to meet me, ask any questions you may have, and to decide whether you think I can offer you what you need. At the same time I can assess whether I feel I would be the right person with whom you can explore your challenges. The session is intended also to lead us to consider whether short- or longer-term therapy might be considered. What is most important, however, is that therapy is client-led, so at no point would you feel you were obliged to continue, if you felt this was not for you.

Nature of challenges I have worked with

I have worked with clients who have presented with a wide range of issues including depression, anxiety, stress (including work-related), historic and current bullying, low self-esteem, trauma, post-traumatic stress, relationships, and adult survivors of child abuse, amongst others.

Areas of Specialism

In addition, I specialise in:

• Boarding School Survivor Syndrome: this tends to require longer-term therapy in response to issues which may have remained hidden or dormant for many years or even decades. See https://www.boardingschoolsurvivors.co.uk/ for more information;
• Living with Life-Limiting Illnesses (LLI): this applies both to those who have LLI conditions, and their carers and loved ones;
• Difficulties and challenges experienced being LGBTQ&A; and
• Difficulties arising within mixed-race relationships: these may arise from external sources.

Where I practise

I practise at 3 Grove Road, Fishponds, which is located near the junction of Lodge Causeway and Fishponds Road in Fishponds, Bristol. It is on the 48 and 49 bus route, and I also offer free off-street parking to clients coming by car.

More information

I worked for the British Civil Service and the United Nations for 28 years, taking an early voluntary exit in order to pursue a new vocation as a counsellor. The Civil Service career experience has given me a broad insight into human behaviour both here in the UK and elsewhere in the world, as my work led me to meet and work with people from a very wide range of backgrounds, languages and cultures. As such, I feel I have gained great experience of people, including working closely with them.

Please go to my website for more information. www.ericblencowe.co.uk

Boarding School Survivor Syndrome.

Living with Life-Limiting Illnesses.

LGBTQ&A issues.

Mixed-race relationships.

£55 for an initial one-hour session.

£55 for subsequent one-hour sessions.

In addition, I offer two concessionary slots for those who have difficulty paying the full fee. These are negotiated in advance by 'phone or email before the first session.

Fees for all sessions are payable at the start of each session.