Frances Toynbee


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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
I offer support for people who are struggling with some of the difficulties life can throw at you. I am qualified to work with children and young people and adults.
We all need help sometimes, and having someone who really wants to understand what it is like to be you, to understand the world by looking through your eyes, can help you work out how to navigate your troubles and distress. It can be very liberating speaking to someone outside your world, who is non judgemental and accepting.
I worked in education for many years specialising in adolescents who struggled with their behaviour and attendance at school. I also worked in mainstream schools as a Special Educational Needs Coordinator. I have a deep understanding of the pressures of school life, exams and relationships.
I have a therapy room in Holgate, central York. I also have a therapy room in Ampleforth, Ryedale.
I believe that by building a therapeutic relationship of mutual trust, it is possible to find ways of coming to terms with any difficulties and possibly learn new ways of managing these troubles.
Drop me an email with your contact details and the best time to call, and I'll give you a ring if you think I can help.
If you are looking for support for your child, we will speak first on the phone to discuss what is worrying you and your child (free of charge) as I believe working in partnership with parents/caregivers is essential.
Training, qualifications & experience
- Clinical Training in Imago Relationship Therapy: Part 1.(Imago International Training Institute 2023-2024)
- Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling, Children and Adolescents (Northern Guild for Psychotherapy and Counselling 2017-2019)
- Awareness in Bereavement Care (Cruse Bereavement Care 2016)
- Bereavement in Children (Winston's Wish 2013)
- Advanced Diploma in Interpersonal and Counselling Skills (Institute of Education, London University, 1990-1992)
- Introduction to Counselling Skills (I.L.E.A. Schools Psychology Service 1987-1989)
My experience: I have been a volunteer for Cruse Bereavement Care since 2016 working with adults and children. I have also had clients in Primary and Secondary schools working with anxiety, attachment disorders, bereavement and behavioural difficulties.
My teaching experience included setting up and running small schools for children with a range of difficulties including school phobia and social, emotional and behavioural problems. I worked in mainstream schools too, with Special Educational Needs. I conducted research for my PhD on how children labelled with behavioural difficulties experienced school.
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
Therapies offered
Fees
From £60.00
Concessions offered for
Additional information
In cases of need I am prepared to discuss concessions.
When I work
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2pm to 6pm Tuesdays and Wednesdays in York.
Thursday 10 am to 5pm in Ampleforth.
I can see clients in central York or Ampleforth.
Further information
My approach is humanistic and person centred, this means that if you are my client, your wants and needs come first, and I will give you space to explore what troubles you at your own pace. I believe that with my support, you can find ways to come to terms with whatever troubles you.
I use a range of strategies, if it helps to be creative, to draw or paint, or play games to build the relationship, this is what we can do. Sometimes it is easier to look at difficult feelings through play, particularly for younger people and children. The choice is yours.
The core of my work is the understanding that if strive for the deepest possible understanding of your experience, I can help you process your difficult feelings and find ways of being happier.
As the first time we talk on the phone will be free of charge, you can decide if you think I can help you or your child, this process relies on mutual trust.