Julia Perkins

Are you a Couple in crisis or an Individual struggling with your relationship/s? Want to talk? I'm a Relationship Specialist and would like to help. My name is Julia and I have a Relate L5 CPCAB Accredited Professional Practitioner Diploma Qualification in Relationship Counselling.

I currently work for Relate as well as running my own private practice. (For anyone not familiar with Relate, they are the UK’s largest Counselling organisation, and recognised specialists in Relationship Counselling.) I have a strong client service record of helping with relational issues experienced by couples, siblings, parent-child, friends, step/blended families, etc.

In Relationship therapy it is important to recognise that we all evolve as people and that relationships are fluid and change over time. Resentments can build and counselling opens up a supportive space in which to explore unresolved issues before they become any bigger. So, think about taking that step today to seek help from a trained professional as you may find it very beneficial.

And if things have gone further and you need help to negotiate your way through family/friend conflict or a couple 'break', separation or divorce, please also get in touch. I am experienced too with helping process the emotions of grief and loss due to bereavement.

I offer individual sessions for Adults and Teens/Young Adults as well as Couples Counselling. I am friendly, genuine, conscientious and approachable, kind, won’t judge or interrupt, will REALLY listen, be empathetic, respectful and try and help you find a way to cope better with whatever may be challenging or troubling you.

My own life journey thus far has included living on 3 continents during various life stages and experiencing a diverse variety of people and situations which have led me to where I am now. I fully appreciate how daunting it can be to seek counselling but sometimes in life we all need a little help.  My aim is to demystify the counselling process and create a supportive, reassuring and calm space that feels like having a ‘caring conversation’ with you.

Maybe you as an individual, or a couple, are feeling a little ‘lost’, unheard, worried, upset, frustrated, angry, confused, sad, lonely, misunderstood, anxious, depressed, isolated, or just not like your old self/the way you used to be, or the person/couple you would ideally like to be?

Or perhaps you just feel like talking with someone in confidence; exploring thoughts and feelings in a safe and comfortable space, or would like help to work towards specific behaviour change or a resolution of a situation? 

If seeking help with Relationships, it can be considered especially beneficial to work with someone specifically trained in relationship therapy as the focus and process are different. With individual work, the concentration is very much on personal in-depth reflection and possibly on behaviour change too. Whereas with Relationships, individual life experiences and backgrounds are considered too; but it is more about the influence and impact of this on the Relationship and working on the way each communicate, behave and relate to the other.

It is not about placing blame but about working towards acknowledging and exploring both perspectives, helping to identify negative behaviour patterns, gain insight and understanding and find a more positive way forward. Usually the work is more goal-orientated, solution-focused and shorter term than individual therapy. However, sometimes additional issues will present during the counselling process and then these can be explored too.

And don’t worry if you don’t have a specific goal in mind or aren’t able to explain why you feel like you do, that’s okay. Often just having a regular time to talk to someone outside the circle of your family, friends, G.P. or place of work or study can help situations to feel less overwhelming and more manageable. 

Possibly you've been managing to hold it together and present to the world that you're coping when really you feel like crying or screaming inside?  It might feel like an enormous relief to finally be able to share with someone what you're really feeling. No judgement, just kindness and being heard.

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with just feeling like you want to talk to someone, without necessarily being able to articulate exactly why. I am here to listen, sit with you in difficult moments, and provide a space for you to bring whatever you want to. You don't have to carry on feeling so alone.

Please get in touch. Let today be the moment you start to make positive changes in your relationships and your life.

I am aware that there are hundreds of websites out there offering counselling services and it may be overwhelming at times to choose, but my firm belief is that, for the therapeutic experience to be positive, it is of utmost importance that the Counsellor be able to combine competence, knowledge and professionalism with warmth. Finding the right Counsellor is often the key to successful therapy.

HOW I WORK

Sessions are usually weekly, especially in short term therapy or in the initial stages of long-term work. However, fortnightly is sometimes considered appropriate too depending on need, so please feel free to discuss this with me. I also offer sessions at flexible times/days for those of you who work irregular shift patterns and may not be able to commit to the 'same time each week' model generally offered by most counsellors.

Going forward, I also offer less frequent catch-up/refresher sessions for some Clients once an initial course of therapy has been undertaken. This can be helpful for those that feel they would benefit from being able to still ‘touch base’ again on a regular, but more occasional basis.

I believe in adopting a flexible approach that puts the needs of the Client uppermost. And I am fully aware too that the cost of living crisis is impacting some people's ability to be able to afford weekly counselling and that the option of accessing less frequent sessions may therefore suit them better.

I invite you to click on the link above to get in touch and I will definitely get back to you within 24 hours.

Initial Contact - No obligation free 15 min. online Zoom or phone call to assess your needs.

Couples-  £85 per session

Individuals- £70 per session

Students/Low earners- £50 per session. (I have a certain number of these sessions available- please enquire.)

I offer in-person as well as online sessions via the Zoom platform or via phone. This means that I am now able to offer my services across a wider area. I am a Remote Counselling Specialist having undertaken additional training in working 'via Zoom and phone, and have much experience of counselling this way.

​Research shows that online counselling is as likely to result in positive outcome as 'in person' sessions, and sometimes more so. Furthermore, access is increased and many find they feel more comfortable engaging in home-based counselling as they are more at ease talking in a familiar environment. Sessions can be more conveniently fitted around family, study and work commitments without needing to involve additional time/cost of 'commuting' to a room elsewhere.

​Other examples of when 'remote' counselling can be preferable are numerous. These include situations like fitting sessions into lunch breaks from work/study, once children are at school/nursery/after school activities or have been put to bed, whilst breast-feeding a baby, joint sessions for couples who may be in different locations, or to make access easier for those that have mobility, health or anxiety issues that impact their ability to leave their homes.

If an online approach interests you, but you're not sure if it will work for you, I'm very happy to have an initial free Zoom conversation to discuss your needs and you can assess how the format feels.

​And if you can find that space in your life for counselling, it could provide the help you have been needing and be the start of big changes. Please take the step and get in touch.