Gillian Perrow

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CCETSW, REL CERT CC, MBACP
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

Axminster EX13 & Yeovil BA20
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

About me

Qualified Counsellor with 30 years experience working with individuals couples and families, encouraging, supporting and empowering them to make positive changes. I also help people to see how they may be repeating types of behaviour and thoughts that impact on themselves and others.

I love working with people and supporting them with their emotional needs. I am passionate about enabling people to achieve a greater understanding of themselves and their relationship with others.

My interest in supporting people was sparked in my early career as a Nurse and Residential Social Worker. When my children were growing up I ran mother and toddler groups, and assisted in pre-play school groups and also worked at the school my children attended.

I have been involved with self-development of both myself and others for over 30 years. I have attended and led self-development groups in California, Israel, Holland, India, London and the West Country.

Once my children were older I trained as a Relate Counsellor and worked for Relate for 22 years.

Counselling can help with:

  • More intimate and satisfying relationships
  • Greater sense of self worth and self awareness
  • Increased confidence and self esteem
  • Feeling calmer and more relaxed
  • Better communication skills
  • Develop healthier patterns of relating to others

Counselling provides an opportunity to talk through issues in a clear, direct and honest way while working towards the changes you require.

My counselling approach is integrative, person-centred, psychodynamic and systemic, which means I have a range of approaches to draw from.

I look forward to helping you change your life in a positive way.

How I work

I offer Counselling for couples and families as well as individuals. Counselling can assist you to identify your own personal resources and capabilities, which can be hard to find during times of confusion, conflict or anxiety. Counselling can help you see your circumstances from a new perspective.

Through the Counselling process you will be encouraged, supported and empowered to make positive changes. As well as helping you cope with a current issue or crisis, we will identify tools you need for the future.

Couple Counselling:

Some couples tend to come for counselling as a ‘last resort’ believing ‘it’s too late’.

Seriously consider taking action in time to make a difference, especially if:

  • One of you is insecure, jealous or possessive
  • You are often snappy or moody with each other
  • Sex rarely happens
  • Discussions become rows
  • You can’t discuss feelings with each other

Couple counselling helps you understand each other by:

  • Improving communication
  • Helping you to express your feelings as well as your disagreements
  • Exploring the conflicts in your present and previous relationships
  • Forming healthier patterns of relating to others

I also work with people who are ending a marriage, civil partnership or a long-term relationship. I can help people going through this painful process to overcome emotional difficulties and develop the confidence to rebuild their lives.

Family Counselling:

Most families have arguments and sometimes these get out of hand. Big changes in a family, such as separation, divorce, re-marriage or bereavement, can cause stress for everyone. Equally an individual family member experiencing health problems, work stress or growing up issues, could impact on the rest of the family.

Family Counselling can reduce conflict which means fewer rows at home and can help everyone cope better with their situation.

Examples of where Family Counselling could help:

  • Parents whose different ideas about parenting are causing friction
  • Children/young people struggling with sibling relationships
  • Parents and children who are struggling to communicate effectively
  • Step-families struggling to integrate

In Family Counselling every family member can expect to have a voice and be heard.

Individual Counselling:

I can help you to cope with a current issue or crisis, enabling you to identify the tools you need for the future, in order to appreciate and be kind to yourself. From this experience we can recognise and transform behaviours, accept change and move on.

Whatever your problem, you really don’t need to feel alone.

Training, qualifications & experience

  • CCETSW Diploma (Residential Social Work 1972-1974)
  • Playgroup Leader NVQ 2 & 3 (1982 -1984)
  • Psychotherapy Course (1988 – 1990)
  • Accredited Relate Couple Counsellor Rel Cert CC (1990 - to present day)
  • Transactional Analysis Course (1990 – 1991)
  • City & Guilds Adult and F E Teaching Certificate (1994 -1996)
  • Relate Trainer Qualified (1996)
  • Relate Family Counsellor Qualified (2005)
  • Relate Therapeutic Mediator Qualified (2007)
  • Non Violent Communication Training (2009)
  • Member of British School of Counselling & Psychotherapy (MBACP)

I am committed to Continuous Professional Development and I attend conferences and training days regularly, to keep up to date with new developments in the field.

I am a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and I adhere to their code of ethics. I am committed to working for the client’s best interest; practising confidentiality, having a transparent working contract and promoting the client’s right to make their own decisions.

Member organisations

BACP
British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP)

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

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy
Accredited Register Scheme

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.

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy

Fees

Additional information

Individuals £45.00

Couples £45.00

Tel Counselling £45.00

A reduction can be negotiated for those on low incomes or receiving benefits.Each session is 55 minutes long
Payment is by cheque or cash during the appointment or by prior BACS payment

£40 cancellation fee applies if less than 48 hours’ notice is given to cancel an appointment.

When I work

I offer flexible working hours and prompt appointments.

Further information

I offer an initial consultation for us to explore and clarify your needs. Clients usually see me for a further 6 to 12 sessions. I practice in the Health and Wellbeing Centre in Axminster.

Axminster Health & Wellbeing Centre, Hanover House, Chard Street, Axminster, Devon, EX13 5DZ

Ninesprings Natural Health Centre, 70 Hendford, Yeovil, Somerset, BA20 1UR

Type of session

In person
Online
Phone

Types of client

Children
Young people
Adults
Older adults
Couples
Families