Holly Ricioppo


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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
Many people will encounter times when they have anxieties, emotions and problems they cannot resolve alone or with those close to them. Difficulties from the past or happening now can leave you feeling vulnerable and conflicted about what sort of help you need. And in today’s fast-paced, quick-fix world, it can be hard to access meaningful support.
My approach is grounded, through many years of practice, in psychodynamic/psychoanalytic and Jungian principles. These invite deeper enquiry and exploration of both presenting problems and their underlying roots, with the potential for more profound and enduring understanding and insight. I work with adults who might be seeking support with issues such as:
- Life changes, uncertainty, grief and loss
- Symptoms of psychological distress such as depression, anxiety, obsessions, food/sleep/exercise worries
- Social anxiety, burn-out, overwhelm
- identity, choices and confusion
- Relationship problems
- Personal development & purpose
- Exploring and understanding dreams (including nightmares and recurring themes)
It can be challenging, sometimes frightening or painful to confront wounds, disturbing events or look deeply into who we are. I offer a confidential welcoming space, set aside from external demands, in which to explore whatever is most important to you, safely and at your own pace. Within this consistent, reliable therapeutic relationship you have the opportunity to examine how you respond to life's complexities, negotiate your needs and manage the unknown. Discovering new ways to go forward then becomes more tangible and realistic with the possibility for healing, relief, a richer sense of self and greater capacity to live as you intend.
I support and encourage a Diversity and LGBTQ+ welcoming ethos.
Practicalities:
I offer counselling and psychotherapy to independent adults from age 21 onwards
Sessions are 50 minutes, once weekly minimum, usually in person but in some circumstances, if appropriate, remotely.
My accessible rooms are in a beautiful setting within very close reach of Wells, Frome, Bath, Keynsham, Shepton and surrounding areas. I accept clients from any location in UK and sometimes internationally too (where feasible)
I mostly work long term (open ended), but will consider shorter term/time limited in some cases. In all cases your hopes and circumstances, together with what is realistic for you, are an important part of the discussion.
The therapy service I provide is not suited for children, young people under 21 years of age, or dependent adults (those who need daily support and are classed as vulnerable).
Training, qualifications & experience
- BA Hons (Combined Studies, Humanities - incl. Psychology)
- British Psychoanalytic Council and BACP accredited Qualification/Post Grad. Diploma Psychodynamic Counselling (duration of training course minimum 4 years, in person)
- Post Qualification Advanced Certificate of Completion: Clinical Practice from a Jungian Perspective (Society of Analytical Psychology)
- Tavistock Post-Graduate Certificate in the Study of the Couple Relationship
- Foundation Certificate in Psychodynamic Counselling Skills and Attitutes
- Registered professional member of the British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC) and the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP).
- Training Faculty Seminar leader (Jung module) and Diploma Tutor at Wessex Counselling and Psychotherapy (current)
- Over 28 years professional experience in therapeutic, Arts and educational settings holding teaching, leadership and management roles
- 3 years professional in NHS (in clincial setting and primary care with a patient caseload)
- Formerly a Teacher & Teacher-Trainer of Eastern Philosophies including Yoga, Zen arts, Tibetan Buddhist Meditation and Buddhist Mindfulness
- Additionally, over 9 years in psychodynamic counselling & therapy practice (charitable agency and private practice)
- I am committed to the ethical and professional standards set out by the BPC.
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.

The British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC) is a professional association, representing the profession of psychoanalytic psychotherapy.
The organisation is itself made up of fourteen member organisations and BPC accredits the trainings of its member organisations. An individual who qualifies from one of these trainings is then eligible for entry into the BPC's register.
BPC registrants are governed by a code of ethics, a policy of continuing professional development, a statement on confidentiality and a complaints procedure. The BPC is a Member Society of the European Federation for Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy in the Public Sector (EFPP). Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.

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.


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
Other areas of counselling I deal with
- relationship issues
- sleep, exercise and eating issues or disorders
- anxiety and panic attacks
- burn-out
- alienation/belonging/resettlement (eg. relocation, immigration)
- grief and bereavement
- workplace issues
- Stage of life or mid-life crisis
- chronic fatigue/ME
- Gender identity
- Sexuality, religion and culture differences, conflicts/disharmony
- Family issues
- Immigration experience
- Intercultural relationships
- Intercultural upbringing
- Racial identity experiences
- Couples Counselling
- Supervision
I have additional experience in working with people who wish to explore and develop their creative processes and motivation or are curious about how psychodynamic support could deepen/expand or free up their initiative and energy for projects.
Therapies offered
Fees
£85.00 per session
Free initial telephone session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
Fees are determined during initial consultations.
I do consider hardship and reserve some spaces for concessions. As you might expect these are in high demand so there may be a waiting list - but please do ask.
When I work
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My clinical practice runs Monday - Thursday.
I aim to respond to enquires within 24 hrs, within Mon-Thursday up to 8pm
Further information
How to proceed:
Please take a look at my website in the first instance. This ensures you have some further information about the way I work.
If I have a potential space to offer you I will arrange a short (free) phone consultation to introduce each other and consider the next steps.
Initial consultations If we decide to proceed you will be offered two (but sometimes more) assessment sessions to give us both the opportunity to find out whether working together feels right.