Julia Bennett
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Hi. I'm an experienced counsellor working in Sussex and after over a decade of seeing clients, I continue to feel passionately about the work that I do.
Making the decision to ask for some help is the first step towards making changes and as a counsellor, that's what I'm here for, to help you make a positive change in your life or support you through a particularly stressful or emotional time.
Many of us experience moments when our problems feel overwhelming, when what we need most is to talk to someone confidentially, someone who will not judge us, who will listen, someone objective yet warm, empathic and accepting.
You may want a safe place to explore an issue that has been troubling you for years, a specific problem which is on-going or has happened recently (such as a divorce or bereavement), or indeed worries about the future. Perhaps you have a desire to change and sometimes you may not even know exactly what it is that you want to change, but you have a sense that you want more confidence or happiness or fulfillment.
Counselling can help with all of these issues, at any age, at any time. It can help you find clarity, peace of mind or understanding. It can be short term or long term and we can discuss what would work best for you.
The humanistic approach to therapy that I use means that I believe that you are the expert in yourself, and our work together is designed to help you uncover your own answers. We are all unique and consequently, I approach each client afresh.
One of the most important aspects of therapy is the relationship between the client and the counsellor, for many reasons, not least because you need to feel comfortable opening up to this person. So please contact me either for an informal chat or to arrange an initial session, as this will allow us to decide whether we can work together. There is no obligation to continue after this, but it will give us a chance to discuss what your needs are, whether you require short or long term therapy (I offer both) and how I might be able to help you.
I work with adults and can help with many issues including:
- Anxiety
- Stress
- Burnout
- Perfectionism
- Fear of failure
- Creativity
- Depression
- Low Self-esteem and Self-confidence
- Sexuality
- Loss and Bereavement – Grief work
- Relationship and Family Issues
- Loneliness
- Self Harm
- Work Related Issues
- Health problems
- Life Stage Issues such as Mid Life Crisis and Aging
Training, qualifications & experience
My interest in counselling, personal development and therapy started over 30 years ago.
I initially trained in body therapies such as holistic massage and some years later, I started studying counselling, culminating in a BACP Accredited Diploma in Humanistic Integrative Counselling. The course gave me a solid grounding in client led counselling and covered Person Centred Counselling, Gestalt and Transactional Analysis. If you would like to know more about these and other models of counselling, please do not hesitate to contact me.
I continue to develop professionally and regularly attend trainings in specific areas (please visit my website for further details). I am a qualified mindfulness teacher and have started training in Mindful Self Compassion. I have also trained in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which combines behavioural therapy with mindfulness and I find mindfulness and self compassion particularly helpful for anxiety, stress, depression and self-esteem.
My initial interest in the connection between mind and body continues and after several years working as a counsellor, I have become particularly interested in the impact that our nervous system can have on our day to day living when it becomes dysregulated, resulting in, for example, increased anxiety, high stress levels, increased levels of anger, or depression and a sense of flatness or numbness. With clients who are open to this approach, part of our work may be to help build awareness of how the nervous system is affecting you and how to regulate it, to either calm and soothe, or lift and energise you (depending on what you're experiencing).
For many years, I worked for New Romney Counselling Services and have experience of working with a variety of issues and age groups.
Qualifications
- Diploma in Humanistic Integrative Counselling
- Certificate in Progressive Personal Awareness
- Certificate in Couples Counselling
- Certificate in Groupwork
- MBSR (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction) Teacher Training Course TTR1 & TTR2
- Basic Certificate in Counselling Skills
- Further Certificate in Counselling Skills
Professional Body
I am a fully registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and I abide by their Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions.
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
Other areas of counselling I deal with
I also work with co-dependency and life stage issues such as mid life crisis.
For those who are interested, I can incorporate mindfulness into how I work, either by introducing you to aspects of how mindfulness can help or by incorporating aspects of MBSR for those who have completed an 8 week course.
Therapies offered
Fees
£60.00 per session
Free initial telephone or online session
Additional information
I offer a free 30 minute initial phone or Zoom consultation to all clients.
Individuals
My standard rate is £60 per weekly 60 minute session.
Couples
I have no availability for couples at the moment.
When I work
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I work daytimes weekdays.
Further information
I am currently offering online and face to face counselling. For more information, please either contact me directly by phone or email or visit my website at www.touchstonetherapy.co.uk
Testimonials from past clients
"You have helped me through a very dark time and I have always felt safe and supported during our sessions. You have helped me to address ongoing issues from my past whilst showing me how to find time in the present to embrace myself. My life now has a sense of purpose again which you have helped me reconnect to."
E
"Quite simple really - it's helped a lot."
S
"I've never felt so ready for life! Julia was fantastic and made me more aware of myself and my feelings. I would recommend therapy to anyone who asked me now."
N
"I have felt very and safe and comfortable in my sessions with Julia. I was very nervous at the start, but soon really looked forward to my weekly sessions. The clouds have lifted and I feel the best I have done for a long time."
C