Jennifer James
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
I am a body-oriented psychotherapist, (body psychotherapist, also sometimes called a somatic psychotherapist). I have a Diploma in Body Psychotherapy and am UKCP registered. Body-oriented psychotherapy is a form of psychotherapy which involves talking in chairs (which accesses thinking and some non-verbal language), and other methods, e.g. gentle movement, breath-work, visualisations, dream-work, Gestalt exercises, and biodynamic massage, in which I am trained.
Body psychotherapy is helpful for many issues, and is particularly useful for: anxiety, depression, complex PTSD, (Complex Post traumatic Stress Disorder), PTSD, psychosomatic problems, stress, identity issues, transitions e.g. menopause, bereavement, divorce/ separation, relationship issues, and problems with self-esteem or confidence.
It may also be of interest to counsellors and psychotherapists who offer more traditional talk therapy to receive body psychotherapy, because it enables the therapist to get deeply in touch with themselves at a somatic level, and learn about working in a more relational-embodied way, so I am open to other therapists making contact if they wish to try this form of psychotherapy, either short-term (6 minimum) sessions or more open-ended therapy.
I offer a non-judgemental, confidential space where you can just be you. I have been told that I am kind, warm, and deeply intuitive.
I have an interest in existential issues an so am open to people who wish to explore this or any issues related to the birth-death-life cycle.
Training, qualifications & experience
I trained with Cambridge Body Psychotherapy Centre, in Cambridge, UK, have a Diploma in Body Psychotherapy and am UKCP Registered. I have been seeing clients for over 4 years and am experienced in working with a many issues. I work with adults.
I also have qualifications in:
Dietetics (BSc Hons) - (I have worked in both mental health and physical health areas).
Diploma Biodynamic Massage - this form of conscious touch is used within body psychotherapy as a way of accessing non-verbal information, and can be at different times soothing/vitalising/used to help redistribute energy where necessary/to help a client learn to ground and centre, become in contact with aspects of themselves which are not normally able to be easily contacted via talking alone.
Member organisations
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 UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) is a leading professional body for the education, training and regulation of psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors. Its register is accredited by the government's Professional Standards Authority.
As part of its commitment to protect the public, it works to improve access to psychotherapy, to support and disseminate research, to improve standards and to respond effectively to complaints against its members.
UKCP standards cover the range of different psychotherapies. Registration is obtained by training or accrediting with one of its member organisations, or by holding a European Certificate in Psychotherapy. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
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
Fees
£50.00 per session
Additional information
I prefer payment to be weekly via BACs or via cash. I do not have a payment machine for card payments.
Please note: my website currently shows £45.00 but this is in the process of being updated as I have needed to increase my price due to inflation. I will amend this entry here once this has been completed.
Further information
I currently see people at the Wellbeing Centre, Bank Street, Chepstow, NP16 5EL.
I see people for short, mid-term and longer therapy. E.g. some clients have come for 3-6 months, some for a year, some for 1-2 years, and some for 3 years or longer. The time therapy takes is very individual, and we will go at your own pace.
What to expect:
Body psychotherapy works with the innate rhythms of the body, which is why it is recommended that you have the same 1 hour appointment time each week. Somehow, the body, mind, emotions, psyche become aware of this regular space for it to bring whatever needs to be brought to therapy. This regularity helps the body to process issues.
I usually like to speak via telephone initially, to have a brief conversation to see if body psychotherapy is right for you, and to see if the times I have available would suit you. To enable this send an email to jennifer@mybodybrain.com along with your telephone number and a brief message with best times to contact you, or alternatively send a text with the same information.
If body psychotherapy is right for you, we would set up a first in-person appointment, to see if we can both work together. This is especially important in any therapy, but especially so in body psychotherapy, which works at a much deeper level than most therapies. If you wish to proceed, we would then set up a regular appointment time just for you. This time would then be protected (reserved) as 'your time', and we would meet weekly in person.
Body psychotherapy, involves talking in chairs plus may involve any of the following access methods:
Gentle movement
Using art/dreams/poetry to access information useful to bring to therapy
Walking and talking (e.g. around the room)
Gestalt exercises
Biodynamic massage (a type of massage used within body psychotherapy), which can enable access to non-verbal information often held in muscles, tissues, fascia, nerves, sinews, bones), and which can help to soothe or stimulate (as needed), re-distribute energy, ground, centre, calm and regulate the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system). This may be suitable for some clients and not others, depending on personal history. It enables a deepening of awareness of how the issue or multiple issues you have have impacted you at a physical, emotional, and even spiritual or soul level.
Bioenergetic exercises
Please see my website at www.mybodybrain.com for further information.
