Jacqueline Connaughton

You’ve spent years understanding yourself, reading, reflecting and trying to make sense of your experiences. Yet something still catches you out: a familiar reaction, a relationship that leaves you doubting yourself, or a feeling you can’t quite explain.

Understanding something intellectually doesn’t always mean its effects have gone.

I’m Jackie Connaughton, a BACP registered counsellor with more than 25 years’ experience, working online with women across the UK.

My work starts with a different question: “What has shaped me?” rather than “What is wrong with me?”

Every woman makes sense in the context of her life. Our experiences and relationships shape how we see ourselves, how we relate to others and how we respond to life today.

Why loss sits at the heart of my work
I see loss running through almost everything that brings women to counselling. It starts earlier than we realise, and as life goes on, the losses grow larger and land harder.

Loss isn’t only about bereavement. It includes the childhood we needed but didn’t have, the relationship we hoped would be different, the belonging we struggled to find, and the future we thought we would have.

Some losses are recognised and openly grieved. Others are harder to name. We adapt, carry on and find ways to cope, often without recognising how much an experience has shaped us.

Earlier losses influence how we experience later ones. A bereavement, separation or major life change can bring older feelings to the surface, helping explain why a particular loss affects us so deeply. Understanding these connections helps us make sense of the present without reducing everything to the past.

When grief changes more than you expected
Around nine to twelve months after a bereavement, something often shifts. The practical tasks are done. Other people assume you’re moving forward. The first anniversary is approaching, and the reality of the loss can feel different.

The questions deepen. Who am I now? What did this person mean to me? How do I live in a world that has changed shape?

Grief reaches into identity, relationships and our sense of the future. You don’t have to be in the earliest stages of bereavement to seek counselling. For many women, this later period brings space to explore what the loss means and how to live with what has changed.

Other life changes can raise the same questions. Children leaving home, separation, menopause or a changing sense of identity can leave you wondering who you are and what comes next.

If this feels familiar, a free 20-minute introductory conversation is a chance to talk about what’s bringing you to counselling and whether we might work well together.

When the past is still present
Experiences from childhood shape what we learn about love, safety, belonging and our own worth. Their influence can continue into adult life, affecting how we see ourselves, what we expect from others and how we respond under pressure.

You might find yourself putting everyone else first, taking responsibility for other people’s feelings, doubting your judgement or reacting strongly to situations that seem relatively small.

Some patterns also pass through generations, shaping family relationships and expectations in ways that are difficult to see from within them. My work explores these connections alongside what is happening in your life now, helping you recognise familiar responses and where you have more choice.

How I work
My approach is integrative and relational, grounded in person-centred principles and informed by attachment theory, childhood trauma, grief and an understanding of how our experiences affect both mind and body. I work only with women.

I won’t tell you who you should be or decide what your experiences mean for you. We explore what matters to you, without pushing you to revisit difficult experiences before you’re ready.

Counselling cannot change what has happened. It can help you recognise familiar patterns sooner, understand your reactions and develop more choice in how you respond. It can also help you relate to yourself with understanding rather than criticism.

My training and qualifications
I hold a Diploma in Counselling and a Certificate in Counselling with Distinction from the University of Salford.

I have also undertaken Breaking the Cycle (BTC) generational trauma therapy training with Dr Mariel Buqué. My continuing professional development includes attachment, trauma-informed practice, grief and bereavement, somatic approaches and nervous system regulation.

My wider professional learning has been influenced by Dr Gabor Maté, particularly his approach to compassionate enquiry, alongside Dr Mary-Frances O’Connor, Peter Levine and Deb Dana.

I am a Registered Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and work within its Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions.

Getting started

I offer online counselling to women throughout the UK. Sessions last 60 minutes and cost £75.

To arrange your free 20-minute introductory conversation, contact me by email or through my website. We can discuss what you need and decide whether working together feels right. I aim to reply within 24hrs.

There is no obligation to continue. The conversation is an opportunity to explore whether counselling with me is right for you.

• Stress Management
• Workplace stress and burnout
• Sleep Issues

Getting started
Finding the right counsellor is an important decision.

If you're wondering whether counselling might be right for you, I offer a complimentary 20-minute introductory conversation.

It is an opportunity to talk about what has brought you here, ask any questions you may have, and see whether working together feels like the right fit.

There is no obligation to continue, and you don't need to have all the words before we speak.

Fee

£75 per 60-minute session, payable by BACS before each session.

Cancellations

I ask for 24 hours' notice where possible. This helps me keep your regular space available and offer appointments to others when you are unable to attend.

I offer online counselling for women across the UK, providing a private and confidential space to explore anxiety, grief, trauma, emotional overwhelm, relationship difficulties and the lasting impact of life experiences.

My approach is integrative and draws on relational counselling, trauma-informed practice, nervous system regulation, Polyvagal Theory and somatic awareness.

Rather than focusing on “What's wrong with me?”, we can become curious about “What has shaped me?”, and how those experiences may still influence the way you think, feel, relate and respond today.

Counselling with me is thoughtful, collaborative and guided by your individual needs. You don't have to arrive with everything figured out, and you don't have to tell your whole story before you're ready.

We begin where you are, at a pace that feels appropriate for you.