Jennifer Astle
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About me
Have you been feeling anxious, overthinking things or questioning yourself more than you'd like.? Are you finding it difficult to switch off from your thoughts, worrying about what others think of you? Or are you spending a lot of time doubting whether you're doing enough or getting things right? It may be that you appear to be coping on the outside, while inside you're feeling overwhelmed, uncertain or struggling to make sense of things.
We can sometimes find ourselves caught up in the same patterns of thinking, reacting to situations in ways we don't fully understand, finding it a struggle to find different ways forward.
It may well be that you can't quite put your finger on what's wrong, but you know that something doesn't feel right.
Do you find that you keep things to yourself and bottled up because you don't want to burden anyone?
If any of this resonates with you you're welcome to get in touch.
Talking and being heard can make a real difference. But I understand that it's natural to feel unsure about where to begin with counselling and to find it difficult to put your thoughts and feelings into words. But I want to reassure you that you don't need to.
This can be that space for you.
My aim is for you to feel heard and understood, without feeling that you have to hide how you're really feeling, explain everything perfectly or to be anything other than yourself. So I won't expect you to come prepared and know what you are going to say. We will simply begin wherever you feel comfortable, taking the time to explore what's happening for you at a pace that feels manageable. This space gives you the time to explore your thoughts and feelings, perhaps in ways you haven't felt able to do before. But there is no pressure to talk about anything before you're ready.
Whether you're struggling with anxiety, low self-esteem, self-doubt or difficulties in your relationships, we can take the time to understand what things are like for you and what might be contributing to how you're feeling.
My aim is to create a space that gives you this opportunity. A space where you take the lead and are able to talk openly about your thoughts and feelings, make sense of difficult experiences and begin to understand yourself and your relationships more clearly.
Whatever brings you to counselling your experiences matter.
I'm a qualified person-centred counsellor and a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).
Through my experience as a counsellor I have supported people with a range of personal and emotional difficulties, including anxiety, low self-esteem, confidence issues, bereavement and relationship concerns at varying levels. I understand that everyone's journey is different and that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to counselling. I aim to understand you as an individual, offering a supportive and non-judgemental space where we can explore your experiences and find a way forward together.
Training, qualifications & experience
I am a qualified person-centred counsellor and a registered member of the BACP. I have experience in supporting clients with a range of personal and emotional difficulties including anxiety, stress, low self-esteem, confidence issues, bereavement and relationship concerns and difficulties.
I believe that learning is an ongoing part of being a counsellor. I regularly undertake additional training and professional development to continue developing my skills, broaden my understanding and ensure that my practice remains informed and responsive. For you as a client, this means I am continually reflecting on and developing my practice so that I can offer a safe, respectful and supportive space tailored to your individual needs.
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
Photos & videos
Fees
£60.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
Initial 15 minute consultation via phone free.
Session 50 minutes
Concessions to students, trainee counsellors (limited)
Availability Monday-Friday evenings and Saturday morning. Start of November availability opens for session bookings anytime Thursday and Friday as well as Saturday morning.
Further information
Person-centred counselling places you at the heart of the therapeutic relationship. I aim to provide a space where you can feel comfortable being yourself, knowing that you will be listened to and accepted for who you are.
You don't need to have all the answers or even know where to begin. Together, we can explore whatever feels important to you, helping you develop a deeper understanding of yourself and find your own way forward.
