Jane Collingwood

Thank you for visiting my page -

Why Talk?

‘A problem shared is a problem halved’

Most of us have come across this well known adage that encourages us to talk to others to resolve issues and concerns that are bothering us.  At the moment we are living in a climate where it can feel - everywhere we turn - people have their own problems to manage.
Very often the biggest problem with this can be – who do I talk to?
And why do we find that sometimes the hardest people to talk to are those closest to us?

What Shall I Talk About?

Are you finding your life leaves you feeling –

                            Dissatisfied, Anxious, Low or Unfulfilled?

                            Angry?

                            Unappreciated?

                            Sad? Depressed?

Certain people may unsettle you, as may certain situations. .................... Why?

You may only feel like this occasionally.
You may have felt like this for a week or since the lockdown
You may have always felt like this.

However – if you have reached a point when you feel you that you have no control over these feelings.  Perhaps they are becoming more and more frequent.  Perhaps they have become the norm.

This may be the time to seek some help.

Why Talk to A Counsellor?

Counselling offers a safe place and the time to really explore and understand what it means to be the person that you are.

To be able to examine - Why you feel a certain way.
                                      Why you react a certain way.
                                      Why perhaps you continue to repeat behaviours that leave you unhappy.

In understanding:-

      who you are
      what you need to function and cope
      what you are capable of
      what your limitations are

All of this will not only increase your own mental well being and ability to cope and function but it also increases your ability to convey this successfully to others thereby improving the relationships you have with those around you.

Why Me?

So what can I offer you?

I am a qualified therapeutic counsellor and psychotherapist.   I offer a confidential professional space – drawing on my training and skills to ensure that you are kept at the centre of your personal process of exploring and understanding the issues troubling you at all times.

You may find that you need to look at very recent events or you may find it useful to look at many aspects of your personal history. You may want to look at both.

Specialising in Bereavement work since qualifying - I fully understand and appreciate that loss is a fundamental part of our life and the impact of all types of loss has greatly influenced my work.

The loss of a lifestyle, a home, a relationship, an ideal, a faith, a friend, a belief, self confidence, self esteem, regular sleep, appetite, sense of identity, a physical or mental ability ........... the "loss list" goes on. And none of us are immune.

Not just loss but the anticipation of loss or change. I fully appreciate the stresses and strains of anticipating events in our life and how debilitating this can be.

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I strongly believe that some of the best support we can get is from ourselves.

However I also believe that many of us need some help in finding out exactly how we can support ourselves.

Understanding, Accepting and Believing that we do have a choice of how and when we act - within our our limitations and boundaries - allows us to communicate and interact with others in the confidence that we are being true to ourselves and in turn true to those around us.

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I do not underestimate how incredibly hard it is to start talking about our problems.

If you are reading this then you are probably ready to start talking to someone.

I understand if you choose not to talk to me.

But I encourage you to keep looking and find someone that you can talk to.


How can you contact me?

Either leave me a message on the telephone number provided or drop me an email. I shall get in touch within 48 hours to answer any further questions you may have and if you would like, arrange when we can meet.

The fee for one hour individual counselling is £50 per session, payable at the end of each session by cash or cheque.

Please note - I do not offer couples counselling.

A limited number of concessions are available for students and those on low income.

I would also like to offer one free session and ongoing concessions to any keyworkers working in the current climate.

I have availability Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays  (8.30am to 7.30pm).

A free initial half an hour consultation via Zoom is available to see if I am someone that you feel you might like to work with, and to get any of your initial questions answered.

Online counselling is offered through a secure app - ZOOM - please contact me to find out further details.

I have a small welcoming room on the ground floor of a residential address just off the Westbury Road, near Babminton School - BS9.     

A further option is Walk and Talk on the Downs.                                                                 

Please be assured that if either of us feel that I am not providing the appropriate and relevant help that you need then I will identify options for you where you will be able to access more specialised support.


I hope that you have had chance to read the information provided on this Counselling Directory. There are some really good sections that you may find affirm the reasons you have come to look for a counsellor and also there are answers to Frequently asked Questions about what you can expect from counselling or psychotherapy.