Mike Jackson MNCS (Accred) counsellor

Training, qualifications & experience

I am a qualified Counsellor to Diploma Level 5, accredited with National Counselling Society and have been working supporting and counselling people in the charity sector and in private practice for a number of years.

My varied Experience: I have a varied and experienced career in emotional support for people in different circumstances through mental health services, charities and private practice. Having worked for Mind in Taunton & West Somerset, Marie Curie in their emotional support service and St Margaret's Hospice counselling relatives in bereavement. I have also gained experience supporting carers at Carer's Trust Phoenix in Weston-Super-Mare and also supporting young people in a school environment in Somerset. My career has also involved working with and support young people on the autistic spectrum.

What I can work with: Throughout my career I have worked with men, women and young people for a range of different reasons that they wanted to come to talk about. I work with people and treat people as individuals and would work with you in a compassionate and caring way to allow you to resolve what is going on for you. I believe you have the key for the solution you just need someone to walk by your side to hear what is going on and for you to share your stuff safely. People look after their physical health by going to the gym or exercising so they can improve their physical fitness for their goals in life and I believe if we look after our mental health and wellbeing by going to talk to someone and processing it we can also improve and support ourselves to a healthier way of being which can make life more what we want it to be, also making us more resilient in future.

Counselling for Men: I find that different people come to see me on the whole but men do approach me and feel I can relate to them with what is going on with them. Including an extensive background and knowledge in mental health I have a background around careers in catering and also working for construction companies. This gives me a perspective of how it may be working in an environment that has pressures in different ways to other industries. It maybe hard to think that some people don't get the way of being in an industry and may not understand you.

Stressful Life: Life can feel like a challenge with everyday or extraordinary circumstances that may affect you, life may become stressful and in some cases overwhelming that we can't cope with those things that others are able to cope with. This maybe due to a job, no job, life circumstances and we can talk about those things and try to come to some sort of resolution.

Bereavement & Loss: I have experience counselling people around bereavement and loss. This can be for a number of reasons through loss of a loved one or relationship breakups and losing friendships. Maybe you are finding it hard to come to terms with what has happened and you need some space to talk about your process around the situation. Having a place to talk in confidence with me can help you through the feelings you might be facing in this situation.

Sexuality & Orientation: Other areas that people may find comfortable in approaching to talk to me about is their sexuality or maybe confusion with who they are right now or in the past. People feel they are able to talk about those subjects that they feel they can't talk to others or another professional about regarding their orientation or their curiosities which might be affecting their way of being. This may include feelings of being gay, bisexual or identifying in other ways in terms of someone’s orientation or gender. This can be a really hard subject to approach when you haven't spoken about it to anyone else but if you have the trust in a counselling relationship you may find talking about it in confidence can be that first step of processing what is going on for you.

Terminal Illness or long term conditions: I have worked supporting people with a terminal illness, those caring for people who have a terminal illness and supporting those family and friends after someone has died from a terminal/life limiting illness. You may be finding it hard to deal with the news of a family member, friend or yourself having a condition of this nature. The loss of someone close to you can be extremely hard to cope with but when it is right to talk to someone you may find it helps you talk about how it was and how it is now.

Adolesents and Autism: I have background in working with the adolescents. I have provided counselling for young people for a few years regarding a range of subjects and reasons that they might need counselling. I have alsoworked with young people that have an Autistic Spectrum Condition. I have worked supporting young people with this condition and have training around the Autistic Spectrum so have some understanding of how it can be for people that are diagnosed or are close to someone who is on the spectrum.

Physical Symptoms: I believe that our physical symptoms can also be something that affects us in life and talking around this subject and what the physical symptoms do to us can be a part of the work we talk about. It is sometimes hard for others to accept we are feeling those symptoms and what they may represent, but having someone listen about what is going on for you can help. The physical symptoms can stop us from doing the things we used to be able to do and this can make life hard to carry out day to day tasks. Talking to someone about this and looking at what these physical symptoms do or feel like can help us manage them better sometimes.

Other areas of training I have carried out include:

• Mental health
• Trauma
• Borderline Personality Disorder
• Suicide Prevention Skills
• Therapy for men
• Obsessional Compulsive Disorder – Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
• Counselling Children and Young People
• Cutting edge Connections between Spirituality & Psychotherapy
• Vicarious Trauma
• Mindfulness Therapy
• Working with people who Self-injure

Further information

Feel free to contact me by phone or email and we can discuss further what you would like to do.

We can have a chat on the phone and if appropriate we can arrange for our first session to see if you feel it is right for you and then look at a weekly session slot that is suitable for both of us.