Julie Webb, MA; MBACP (Acc'd) Counsellor, Therapist, Supervisor, & Coach

In response to Coronavirus...

Please note ALL sessions will now take place remotely via Zoom US and FaceTime telephone until further notice. Fifty-minute sessions are available and I also work with the following insurance companies: Vitality, Aviva, Aetna, WPA, and AXA.

It’s an understatement to say that we are all living in uncertain times, and whilst in a very important sense, we were always living with uncertainty, it is glaringly obvious at this time. It is natural that our worries and anxieties would be raised and on top of other issues that being human creates, we can find ourselves feeling very unsettled about life.

The response to Covid19 and lockdown has changed the landscape of counselling and psychotherapy. I don’t feel that’s necessarily a completely bad thing and have found that clients and therapists alike, have found using online platforms not only adequate, but in some cases more productive, than the usual face to face encounter in the same room.

I have found that in some cases clients have reported a removal of the intensity of the meeting that can sometimes get in the way of the work. Of course, the intensity is always good to work with, but adding pressure to a client’s already anxious state may not be as beneficial as is sometimes proclaimed, and meeting with a complete stranger to discuss our inner most fear and dilemma is perhaps intense enough.

So, I want to say to you, don’t be put off by working online. I am finding that counselling, psychotherapy and coaching work extremely well online. Sessions are boundaried, issues addressed, dilemmas explored, and a therapeutic relationship still develops. This way of working also takes out the hassle of having to travel to appointments, sometimes rushing or having to wait around, and no expensive parking to find either!

If you are feeling that you would like to make contact please do, and don’t wait in the hope that therapists will be back in the consulting room any time soon. I for one feel it completely inappropriate and detrimental to this very personal work, to greet you wearing a mask and visor, cleaning down surfaces, and washing hands every 50 minutes. This can only add to anxieties and stresses. Therefore, I will be working online for a while yet.

Further details about the services that I offer are below, and I wish you well in finding whatever support you feel you need at this time, even if that is not with me. In the meantime, I hope you stay well and do please be in touch if you have any queries.

About the work:

Engaging in any kind of therapy or change work is an opportunity for you to be critically reflective within an atmosphere of warmth, compassion and understanding - a trusting safe space where the focus is upon you, your dilemma, distress, whatever you have sought to explore - a space in which you can be heard.

You are here, and that means that you're already stepping into a fertile environment for clarity, psychological healing and change. You may be experiencing generalised anxiety or panic attacks; depression or feeling sad, perhaps you are going through separation or divorce. I am BACP registered and accredited counsellor and psychotherapist with over 10 years experience working in NHS, University and Private Practice settings. Bringing together my training and research as a Counsellor and Psychotherapist, experience as a personal development trainer, and studies in Philosophy, my style of therapy is like a one-to-one personal therapeutic consultancy, exploring your feelings, thoughts, needs, dilemmas and challenges that you may experiencing right now.

I provide a confidential space for you to:

- explore the issues and difficulties that life, relationships, and some patterns of behaviour create.
- gain greater understanding, emotional clarity and increased self-awareness.
- create an opportunity to make changes in your life with confidence and support.

My work is open to anyone over the age of 18years who is struggling with life at the moment. I also work with groups and couples.

Here are just some of the issues that I work with:

- relationship difficulties (inc romantic, friendship, family, work-related, present & historical)
- anxiety, panic & stress
- depression
- divorce and separation
- bereavement
- decision making & life choices
- gender and sexuality
- identity
- self-esteem and confidence issues
- trauma
- abuse - present & historical
- health anxieties & illness

Choosing a counsellor or therapist can be a daunting task and I believe that you have the capacity to dig deep, explore and investigate your distress/dilemma. Counselling and psychotherapy offers you the opportunity to do just that in a confidential space with an educated, trained, registered and ethically grounded professional.

Couples Therapy:
Couples therapy can provide invaluable insight into the workings of your relationship, whether familial, friendship, romantic, marriage. How we relate to one another has a profound impact on our wellbeing and function in the world and choosing the option to look at it more deeply is a courageous step. Couples counselling is offered to any couple wishing to take a deep look at their relationship and its workings. Whilst the past necessarily influences the present, my approach with couples is to work in the here and now and explore the intricate dynamic between you such as:

• What habits of relating do you have individually and together?
• What patterns have you fallen into? What matters to you most?
• How do you hear one another? Where are you not hearing?
• What do you want from each other?
• What are you experiencing in your body as you relate to each other.

Meditation & Creative Visualisation: I also offer various types of meditation and creative visualisation to aid your change process. Visit the website for more details: www.theexperientialtherapist.com

Lecturer/Trainer: I have trained counsellors to degree level at Shrewsbury College and the University of Suffolk over the last ten years. I am currently a registered tutor at Cambridge University's Institute of Continuing Education and offer a variety of workshops in counselling and philosophy.

Writer: I am also a writer and have published articles and reviews about therapy in professional journals, co-edited a book and written chapters in others. I have a new book coming out in June 2020. More details can be found on my website www.theexperientialtherapist.com