Judith Sweetman
Every professional displayed on Counselling Directory has been independently verified by our team to ensure they have suitable credentials to practise.
This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
I am a qualified and experienced counsellor and CBT therapist working with adults and young people aged 16 and over. I offer face to face sessions in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, and online and phone sessions wherever you are based. I qualified over 10 years ago and have extensive experience working in the NHS, schools, organisations, charities, and private practice.
I offer three main services: open counselling, structured cognitive behavioural therapy, and running therapy. It doesn’t matter if you don’t know which would suit you, we can talk together to decide the most helpful approach for you.
My core way of working is ‘person centred’, meaning I work alongside you with respect and empathy. I know that you are the expert in yourself and your own experience. I actively bring my genuine self and my experience, skills and knowledge to support you to find your way through. The safe relationship we form together is the catalyst for positive change.
In addition to my degree in psychology and counselling training, I have a postgraduate diploma in cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) which offers a structured approach; a framework for understanding how our experience, thoughts, feelings and behaviour interact and strategies and techniques for making changes. CBT can be particularly effective for anxiety, generalised anxiety and anxiety based problems such as panic attacks, phobias, procrastination, compulsions, avoiding social situations and problems managing stress.
I am a certified running coach and also have experience of coaching in the commercial world where I have worked at a senior level, most recently as a head of people.
As a person I am warm, empathic, gentle and easy to talk to. I value and welcome all people, of any race, culture, religion, sexual orientation, gender or neurodiversity and strive to be accessible to all, making any possible physical or other adjustments you might need. I believe we are all doing our best in the life and circumstances we are in; I won't judge you or anyone around you. Integrity is important to me, and I give utmost care to my duty of confidentiality and working safely and ethically. I am a member of the BACP and abide by their ethical framework.
I suggest we have a phone conversation initially to explore if we might be a good fit together, chat about which way of working you are drawn to and so that you can ask me questions. There is no obligation or charge for this and I will be welcoming, warm and accepting. I am interested to help you find the right support and fully recognise that might not be me. In this case I would do my best to signpost you onto more relevant help.
Sessions are usually weekly and generally at the same time each week. I offer face to face sessions in Amersham during the working week. Online and phone sessions and running therapy can be booked during the work week, with some additional availability during evenings and early mornings.
My services are;
Counselling to explore what’s going on for you, giving space to support you through transitions or changes, problems or challenges. The work goes at your pace, paying attention to anything you want to bring and might be short or longer-term. My main areas of interest and expertise are
- Life transitions, particularly the anxiety, confusion and unease that can accompany them; navigating adolescence; transition into university, work or parenthood; relocation, particularly internationally; mid-life and older age.
- Bereavement and other loss including when life suddenly changes through redundancy, illness, accident or circumstance.
- The challenge of finding a way and a place to grow at work without burnout.
I review the work with you regularly, at least on a four-weekly cycle, to look at how we are working together, and if the sessions are meeting your needs.
Structured CBT with a specific target such as learning to cope with or navigate or overcome problems like (but not limited to) exam or work stress, social anxiety, panic attacks, perfectionism, low mood, or low self esteem. Research supports the effectiveness of CBT, particularly for anxiety, showing that it leads to significant and lasting reductions in symptoms. It usually takes 8 – 12 weeks with regular reviews to make sure the sessions are meeting your needs. Sessions are structured, there are exercises and experiments to complete between sessions, with a focus on learning and trying new skills and techniques to help you make the changes you seek.
Running therapy. Physical exercise is proven to help decrease anxiety and boost mood. Talking whilst moving in the outdoors can help us open up and can bring new awareness. I am a licensed UK Athletics Coach and offer bespoke running therapy for adults (aged 18 plus), a personally tailored programme to help lift you from low mood or anxiety with a combination of cognitive behavioural therapy and running. If you are already a runner this might be a great way to benefit from the therapeutic nature of movement in the outdoors. If you would like to become a runner we'll make a programme to get you started or re started on a great running habit. All running therapy begins with an initial face to face talking session to tailor the programme. We might start with walking; building a nourishing outdoor exercise habit is the focus rather than speed or athletic prowess. I am a passionate slow runner, I love the people at the back of the pack and salute all sizes and types of runners.
Training, qualifications & experience
Experience
In addition to helping a range of clients in private practice I have worked in the NHS as a clinical supervisor for a team of mental health practitioners, holding clinical responsibility for their work and for training, managing and supporting them, plus holding a caseload. I have been a school counsellor in a local grammar school and schools in London, Hertfordshire and Oxfordshire and was recruited to be a counsellor and assessor in a large trial into the effectiveness of counselling in schools, run by a group of London universities. I volunteered for Cruse for 8 years, supporting adult clients following bereavement, and as a clinical supervisor for other volunteers. I have lectured in counselling at Amersham and Wycombe College.
My background is in leadership in commercial organisations, including coaching, training and supporting teams and individuals, most recently as a Head of People in a digital transformation agency.
Qualifications
- BA (Hons) Psychology, University of Nottingham
- Diploma in Applied Psychology, University of Nottingham
- Diploma in Therapeutic counselling, Amersham and Wycombe College
- MBACP (Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy)
- Diploma in School and Adolescent Counselling, Metanoia Institute
- Postgraduate Diploma in IAPT (CBT) Therapy, Kings College, London
- Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, Oxford Mindfulness Centre and Kings College, London
- Awards in both 'Cruse Bereavement Care Supervision' and 'Awareness in Bereavement Care', Cruse
- UK Athletics certified running coach
- DBS checked
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
£65.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
Sessions are £65
A limited number sessions are available at a reduced rate; please ask.
When I work
I offer face to face sessions in Amersham during the work week with some additional availability for phone and online sessions and running therapy during evenings and early mornings.
