About me
Hello and welcome to my page. I'm Jess and I'm an experienced BACP registered counsellor. My practice Harbour Counselling and Psychotherapy currently offers in person and online counselling to adults.
How can counselling help me?
I offer counselling that is tailored to each person that I work with. Each client I see has an individual story and needs to meet. I respect that you are the only person who knows what it is like to be you, living inside your body and managing your life. I take the time to get to know you and understand your hopes both for counselling and your future.
It may be that our work looks at exploring what has happened in your life up untill this point and what keeps you stuck. You may need support processing traumatic experiences. You may struggle with people pleasing, relationships or avoiding conflict. We may examine patterns of behaviour you want to change, talk through strategies to enhance communication or build skills to manage emotional regulation.
It may be that you don't know how you feel... let alone how to begin talking about your feelings. That's okay too. I support clients using psychoeducation to identify feelings and understand the impact they can have on our thoughts and bodily sensations. I work with clients to increase their emotional vocabulary so that they are confident to express acurately what they are feeling and also what they need as a result of their feelings.
How I work:
I am a trauma informed counsellor who trained and qualified as an integrative therapist. This means that I utilise a variety of therapeutic models to support our work together. I draw from person-centred, psychodynamic, gestalt, polyvagal and creative methodologies. The most important thing is that you get what you need from our sessions together. This can look like
- Taking time to build the therapeutic relationship
- Talking 1:1
- examining trauma responses
- creating narrative timelines
- using artwork/music/poetry/photographs
- using grounding techniques
- empty chair
- paying attention to our body responses.
Whatever your counselling looks like, it will be set at a pace that works for you. It can change and adapt to meet your needs as they change within the process. My Practice is neuro and LGBTQ+ affirming.
Throughout my personal experience of training I have seen the stigma associated with mental health and help seeking. While reaching out can be anxiety provoking, I believe that there should not be any shame in seeking counselling. I am passionate about destigmatising mental health and the impact of trauma. I have sat in both the client and therapist chair and so understand and respect the vulnerability and bravery it takes to engage in the process of counselling.
Short or Long term counselling?
I offer time limited, short and long term counselling. Telephone, online and Drawing and Talking Therapy.
If you have any other questions or feel that working this way would be a good fit for you, I would welcome hearing from you. Alternatively, you can visit my website directly for more information.
Training, qualifications & experience
Foundation in Drawing and Talking Therapy
MSc Psychotherapeutic Counselling (Distinction)
University Certificate in Psychotherapeutic Counselling
BSc Psychology and Life Challenges (2:1)
Level 2 Certificate in Awareness of Mental Health Problems
I am a BACP registered therapist and as such comply with their ethics and standards of practice. I undertake additional training and professional development to ensure that my knowledge and training remains up to date. I have spent the last four years working with clients of a variety of ages and backgrounds within the charitable sector. My work specialised in providing counselling to clients who have experienced trauma through all forms of sexual violence.
Prior to this I spent 10 years working in the health and social care sector. I am experienced with supporting neurodiverse individuals and individuals living with a variety of mental health conditions.
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
£50.00 per session
Additional information
I offer an discounted rate for the initial consultation appointment of £25
When I work
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Further information
I offer face to face counselling from a purpose built counselling room within my garden.
