Judith Starkey
Every professional displayed on Counselling Directory has been independently verified by our team to ensure they have suitable credentials to practise.
This professional is accepting new clients but may have a waitlist. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.
This professional is accepting new clients but may have a waitlist. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.
About me
Warm, Integrative Support
I offer full 60-minute counselling sessions at £65.
Many therapy appointments are 50 minutes; I prefer to offer the full hour because it gives us more time to settle, explore what matters, and end the session feeling grounded rather than rushed.
I want to start by saying welcome, my name is Jude, and I’m here to offer you a warm, safe space where we can untangle life’s challenges together.
I consider it a genuine privilege to walk alongside someone through their therapeutic journey. People often come to therapy at tender, difficult or transitional points in life, and I never take lightly the trust involved in being allowed into that space. My aim is to offer a calm, compassionate relationship where you feel heard, respected and gently supported as you begin to understand yourself more fully.
My approach is centered on kindness, care, and deep listening - and sometimes there is laughter too. I believe warmth, humour and humanity can all have a place in therapeutic work.
How we can work together
I work integratively, which means I draw from a few angles of insight to find what feels right for you:
Understanding the Present (CBT): We can look at how your thoughts and behaviours interact and find practical, gentle ways to cope day-to-day.
Honouring the Past (Psychodynamic): If you wish, we can explore how your earlier experiences and learned beliefs might be shaping how you feel today.
Empowering You (Person-Centred): Above all, I believe you are the expert on your own life. I am here to walk alongside you as an equal partner in your healing. Getting to know yourself, your values and personality can really be powerful. It strengthens self esteem and brings inspiration for the you that’s there beneath to emerge and blossom.
A Little About Me
Before finding my path in counselling, I spent many years in healthcare and alongside this, in a voluntary role in secondary state education. These experiences gave me a rich plethora of life lessons, but more importantly, they taught me the value of treating every individual with dignity and compassion. My priority is always the relationship we build together.
If you'd like to reach out and feel ready to talk please feel free to message me with any questions or to arrange a quiet, friendly introductory chat.
Warmly, Jude
(Judith Starkey)
Training, qualifications & experience
- Professional Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling
- Additional training in the ethical use and interpretation of a personality framework, supporting personality-informed therapeutic work where appropriate (NEO PI-3 Personality Assessment )
- Diploma in Hypnotherapy
- Meditation Teacher Training
- Qualified Yoga Teacher with additional training in restorative yoga and breathwork
- ILM recognised qualification in Wellness Coaching
Alongside my counselling training, I bring extensive life experience from professional and leadership roles.
Other Qualifications relating to my previous professional experience:
- Bachelor of Dental Surgery
- CMI qualification in Leadership and Management
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.
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
Other areas of counselling I deal with
I work with adults. You are a unique individual and will be warmly welcomed into my therapy space. I have particular experience in:
- grief
- loss
- Work related Stress, especially for those in Healthcare and Education settings
- Understanding professional challenges arising from leadership and management roles
- Anxiety
- Panic attacks
- Depression
- Burn Out
- Neurodiversity
- Parenting SEND children
- Parenting children with eating disorders
- Recovering from traumatic experiences
- Navigating the IVF journey
- Recovering from betrayal and injustice
- Recovering from abuse of all kinds
- Drug and Alcohol Dependancy (I was a volunteer counsellor at The Swan Project in Bristol)
Therapies offered
Fees
£65.00 per session
Additional information
I offer counselling sessions with the following fee structure:
- Standard Adult counselling sessions (weekly or fortnightly as you prefer) £65 for 60 mins
- Counselling with Hypnotherapy session - talking therapy followed immediately by hypnotherapy £75 (usually fortnightly)
Next steps:
I offer a free 15 minute phone call
If you'd like to meet me, our first session is an introductory 60 min session at 50% of the fee £32.50
It’s really important you find the right counsellor for you
You can begin with weekly sessions and later move to fortnightly if this helps to fit in with your life and work commitments. Or, you can start fortnightly from the beginning. I am client-led with these arrangements - but we will have a standard time slot on a certain day to maintain a rhythm and consistency. If you have any questions just ask.
When I work
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early morning | |||||||
| Morning | |||||||
| Early afternoon | |||||||
| Late afternoon | |||||||
| Evening |
Further information
I offer face-to-face or online appointments from my garden studio right on the edge of Winsley. There is plenty of free on-road parking.
A professional testimonial:
“Jude brings a rare combination of warmth, kindness and professional insight. Her understanding of workplace pressures allows her to offer thoughtful, well-boundaried mental health support, and our occupational health clinicians make referrals to her with confidence. Feedback is consistently positive, reflecting her empathy, practical guidance and dependable approach.”
— Jackie Parker, Managing Director & Occupational Health Nurse Manager, Workplace Wellness