Jennifer Upson
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About me
Whatever brings you to therapy, you don't have to work through it alone.
Together, we can explore what's happening in your life, how you're feeling and what you're experiencing, making sense of things and discovering new possibilities.
Therapy with me is a lively and deeply human experience, full of emotion, curiosity, insight and genuine engagement. My style is relaxed, authentic and collaborative. I'll be actively involved in our sessions, bringing warmth, honesty and thoughtful challenge, while keeping the focus on what matters to you.
What might bring you to counselling?
People come to counselling for many different reasons. Sometimes familiar ways of coping are no longer working, relationships have become difficult, or life has changed in ways that leave us feeling uncertain or overwhelmed.
I've worked extensively with people experiencing anxiety, depression, bereavement, trauma, relationship difficulties, domestic abuse and coercive control, addiction, work-related stress and burnout.
But our experiences rarely fit into neat categories. Difficulties with relationships, identity, self-worth or emotional wellbeing are often interconnected with our histories and the environments in which we live.
I'm interested in understanding you as a whole person, rather than focusing solely on a particular problem or diagnosis. That includes recognising your strengths, resources and the possibilities that may not yet feel available to you.
My therapeutic approach is intuitive and flexible, underpinned by over 20 years of experience. This allows me to work confidently with complexity, respond to your individual needs and recognise when to explore more deeply and when to slow down.
My core training is in person-centred counselling, which places the therapeutic relationship at the heart of the work. Over the years, I've developed an integrative, trauma-informed approach, informed by ongoing professional development and a broad range of clinical experience.
I'm particularly drawn to parts-based approaches and the connection between mind and body. I recognise that we can experience conflicting thoughts, feelings and needs, and that our bodies can hold responses to experiences we may struggle to put into words. I bring curiosity and compassion to all aspects of your experience, including the parts of yourself you may find difficult to understand, accept or even acknowledge.
My work is grounded in an understanding of how childhood experiences, relationships, neurodivergence and our wider circumstances can shape our lives.
What happens in our sessions?
You don't need to arrive knowing what to say or where to begin. We can start with whatever is happening in your life, whether that's something immediate, a longstanding difficulty or simply a sense that things aren't quite right.
As we talk, I'll listen closely, ask questions, share observations and sometimes draw your attention to connections or patterns you may not have noticed before. We might explore how past experiences influence your present life, how you've learned to respond to difficult situations, or the different parts of yourself that can sometimes feel at odds with one another.
Our conversations can be thoughtful, lively, emotional and occasionally humorous. There may be moments of real insight, times when we challenge familiar ways of thinking, and times when we need to slow down and make room for something difficult.
There's no particular formula to follow. We'll work together, making space for whatever emerges, helping you understand yourself more fully and find ways forward that feel right for you. I'm invested in what you hope to achieve through counselling, and mindful of helping you recognise your progress, consolidate what you've gained and work towards a meaningful ending when the time is right.
Working hours
I offer appointments Monday to Friday, including two evenings each week. Saturday morning appointments are also available by arrangement.
I am a Registered Individual Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and as such, I abide by its Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions. I am also an Accredited Member of the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society.
Training, qualifications & experience
- Registered Member of BACP
- Accredited Member of NCPS
- Bachelor of Science (BSc) Behavioural Science
- Post Grad Diploma (PG Dip) Person Centred Counselling
- Certificate in Supervising Individuals and Groups
- BA Fine Art
- Various training courses including family systems theory, polyvagal theory, somatic work, mental health first aid, working with suicide and self-harm, working with couples, trauma-informed practice, working therapeutically with young people, CBT approaches, working with alcohol and substance misuse problems, working online and via telephone.
- Counselling young people 14 + and adults experiencing a wide range of issues including depression, anxiety, childhood trauma, neurodiversity, suicidal thoughts and self harm, alcohol and drug problems, low self esteem, loss and grief, relationship problems, gender dysphoria. This list is not exhaustive.
Member organisations
school Registered / Accredited
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 National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society This Not For Profit association of counsellors and psychotherapists aim to support the counselling profession, members and training organisations. In 2013 the NCS register was accredited by the Professional Standards Authority under the Accredited Voluntary Register Scheme. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
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.
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
Photos & videos
Fees
£60.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
I offer a free initial telephone consultation so we can get a sense of whether working together feels right. I aim to keep therapy as accessible as possible and can be flexible with session frequency where appropriate. Many clients opt to come fortnightly for sessions once the relationship is established.
When I work
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Further information
I use the Psychology Today platform for online counselling which is easy to navigate and secure. I am experienced in using both telephone and video methods and can discuss this with you during an initial telephone call.
