Jennifer Clarke
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
I offer a safe, confidential, non-judgmental and nurturing space where you can talk, heal, learn and work to move forward; a space to explore the questions and issues that are bringing challenges to your life.
I am an accredited, experienced counsellor/psychotherapist working with people struggling with depression, feelings of anxiety, obsessive behaviours, issues in relationships including break-ups and unresolved trauma. I also support individuals who self-harm and experience suicidal ideation and those suffering from low self-esteem, addiction, loss, struggling with addiction, whose life has been directly or indirectly impacted by illness or a diagnosis such as ADHD or dementia and finally, bereavement. I also dedicate a day a week in my practice to supporting adolescents struggling with anxiety and confidence often connected to friendships and 'not good enough' angst.
I qualified as a Psychodynamic Psychotherapist and was awarded a Distinction on the Goldsmiths University MA degree course but also have training/qualifications within the Person-Centred and CBT counselling modalities. As such, my breadth of training and experience ensures that together we can establish the right counselling approach that suits you best.
Sometimes, individuals do not know what the root of their problem is; only that something feels wrong or amiss, that they feel lost or stuck and that resultingly, life and relationships are not fulfilling. I offer short and long-term counselling to adults, older adults and adolescents in face-to-face sessions and online or over the telephone.
I have practices in Putney and Teddington and will be opening a practice in Esher in early 2024.
Training, qualifications & experience
Regarding training and qualifications, I achieved a Distinction in my Masters in Psychodynamic Counselling and Psychotherapy from Goldsmiths, University of London and also hold a Graduate Certificate in Humanistic Counselling from Goldsmiths, Furthermore, I hold a Certificate in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy from Oxford University and a BSc in Applied Psychology and Sociology. I am currently working on publishing a paper about the psychological impact of Huntington's Disease on family members.
I have extensive counselling experience working with adults and adolescents in private practice, schools, health and charitable organisations. I am particularly interested in challenges that result in relationship issues and the impact that emotions can have on self-esteem. I have spent much of my career helping people to grow and achieve their potential and have witnessed that people can overcome adversity and particularly stressful periods in their life through commitment to therapeutic work.
I know how difficult it can be to seek help and therefore I provide a secure and non-judgmental space in which you can feel safe to explore the issues that concern you. I would like to assure you that my method of working is professional, gentle and respectful as you set the pace of our sessions. Furthermore, my approach comes from a place of genuine care that aims to support individuals move towards a place of greater understanding of emotions and relationships and ultimately a sense of increased inner peace and acceptance. We live in a stressful time and life can be tough and sometimes unfair so it is no surprise that many of us can, at times, feel overwhelmed or lost. I believe that taking time to look after our mental health is just as important as taking care of our physical health.
My personal experiences relating to family dynamics, working life in the mental health sector, motherhood, relationships and loss are reflected and beneficial in the way I work. Professionally, I have a breadth of counselling experience working with adolescents and adults (including the elderly) grappling with a range of challenges having a negative impact on their lives. I have also worked extensively with those who identify themselves as family carers who can, feel example, feel isolated, stressed, anxious, resentful or angry.
I have concessionary rates for those impacted by dementia, Parkinsons’s Disease and Huntington’s Disease. Twelve years previously in the care sector place me well to understand the challenges of such illnesses on both the individual and their carer. I can offer therapy to those in nursing homes too.
My preferred way of working is based on the psychodynamic approach which emphasises a belief that exploring our unconscious mind and past experiences can help us to understand how we think, feel and act in the present. I am a qualified Psychodynamic Counsellor and Psychotherapist with a Master’s Degree and a member of the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP) and National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS). I am also trained and informed by a range of different theoretical insights including Person-Centred, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Positive Psychology as well as Psychodynamic. This means I can adapt your sessions based not only on what is important to you as an individual but also using the language and approach that supports your way of understanding.
Credentials & Experience
I am qualified as a psychodynamic psychotherapist and was awarded a distinction on the MA Psychodynamic Counselling & Psychotherapy (Level 7) programme at Goldsmiths College, University of London, where I also did my Level 6 foundation therapy training.
Since receiving my MA I have set up private practice seeing adults and adolescents. I also work as a School Counsellor and as a Trustee at a charitable organisation Space2Grieve that supports adults and children with bereavement.
As part of my training, I worked with several organisations supporting adult clients at Wimbledon Guild, Sutton Counselling and the Carers Network. I also worked with adolescents via London Young Counselling and am currently working with children and adolescents via The Valley Trust
Associations
I am a registered member of the BACP – The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (#404623) and adhere to its code of ethics. I am also an accredited member of the NSCP – The National Society of Counselling and Psychotherapy (#NCS22-01841) and adhere to its code of ethics.
I am insured, DBS-checked and in regular supervision.
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.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Therapies offered
Fees
£80.00 per session
Free initial telephone session
Concessions offered for
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
Please email me should you need any further information about my fees. I will also send you by return a copy of my working contract which sets out my terms.
I work with several private health care insurance companies so email me if this is of relevance to you and we can have an exchange about how this can be arranged.
When I work
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Further information
My preferred way of working is based on the psychodynamic approach which emphasises a belief that exploring our unconscious mind and past experiences can help us to understand how we think, feel and act in the present. I am though also trained and informed by a range of different theoretical insights including Person-Centred, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Positive Psychology as well as Psychodynamic. This means I can adapt your sessions based not only on what is important to you as an individual but also using the language and approach that supports your way of understanding.
As a qualified Psychodynamic Counsellor and Psychotherapist with a Master’s Degree I am a member of the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP) and National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS) and uphold their ethical good practice guidelines and recommendations.
