Olivia Seddon
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Hi, I’m Olivia.
I am a BACP registered therapist with over 10 years’ experience in helping people through their challenging circumstances. I offer a welcoming and confidential environment where you can talk openly without fear of judgement about the issues that are important to you.
A lot of my practice involves supporting people through life transitions such as a bereavement, the end of a relationship (or contemplating one), becoming a parent, trying to conceive, children leaving home, making the decision to change or stop work, and ageing - often losses that aren’t always recognised as such. I am also experienced in supporting people with their anxiety, depression, relationship and family difficulties, feelings of low self-esteem and recovery from childhood trauma to name a few.
Everyone’s therapeutic journey is different, but common themes that my clients have said they have gained from our work together are more clarity, better connections with others, a relief from the intensity of what they were feeling and a desire and ability to live more authentically. A therapeutic relationship at a time of need can also help you to feel less lonely. Whatever you are going through, I will support you to feel and process your emotions safely. By ‘process’, I mean to reduce the intensity of what you are feeling to help you feel more comfortable in your body
Our relationship will be at the centre of our work. As your therapist, I’m concerned with deeply understanding you to help you to understand yourself and your situation better. I work to create a space just for you that is safe and non-judgemental and I will value your uniqueness. I’m also myself; I try not to hide behind a clinical façade and I’ll be open with my thoughts and feelings when appropriate. If it would be helpful, I can also offer feedback so that you have insight into how others may experience you.
I know that contacting a counsellor can feel like a big step. From our first contact, my priority is to help you to feel safe and many clients have commented that they feel able to talk about what most concerns them from early on in our sessions. You will always be treated with respect and kindness and we will always go at your own pace.
It’s important that you find a therapist who is right for you and with this in mind I offer a free 15 minute introductory call and also a free initial session, where we can explore your situation, how I can help you, and get a feel for whether we are a good fit for working together. If we decide not to continue, then I will try and point you in the right direction of someone who may be able to help. I welcome all enquiries and I will respond to you within twenty four hours.
I became a therapist because of some of my own life experiences. I enjoy making connections with people and I value what makes us complex and unique. As a child I was, and still am, an avid reader; I love hearing people’s stories and being a therapist feels like a natural continuation of this as I support you to tell, process and continue yours.
Best wishes,
Olivia
email: enquiries@oliviaseddoncounselling.co.uk
Testimonials (published with consent):
“Your kind nature and gentleness shone through from the start, which allowed me to quickly establish trust in our engagement...” - AW
“I worked with Olivia during a year of personal and work upheaval. She helped me to understand how I was reacting to the stresses in my life and get in touch with my emotions. This helped me understand myself better and find a more appropriate way to respond when under pressure. I'd highly recommend Olivia to anyone looking for an effective counsellor.” - TM
"I knew something was not quite right but I did not know what. I did not think therapy was for me but felt the need to talk. Olivia’s warmth made my first steps comfortable. This journey opened my eyes to many aspects of myself, allowing me to know myself better and accept myself more. I felt much lighter at the end of our time together. Thank you.” - NC
“When I came to you I was definitely a bit broken, and ready to put myself back together - with a bit of guidance. I remember before these sessions that I was depressed and unmotivated and lost, a bit stuck overall - and I can’t remember how that feels, I just know I don’t feel that way anymore. I feel in tune, I have clarity and feel like I have my compass back.” - MG
Training, qualifications & experience
I hold a BA (Hons) degree in Person Centred Counselling from the University of Middlesex and a Diploma in Person Centred Counselling from the Metanoia Institute in London.
In addition to my initial training, I have completed courses in the neuroscience of anxiety, attachment and trauma (currently completing).
I volunteered for two years with the Wandsworth Bereavement Service supporting people with loss, complicated grief and traumatic bereavement. I then went on to further training in baby loss, including miscarriage and stillbirth.
After my own struggles, I am passionate about supporting parents who may be having difficulty adapting to the often overwhelming demands that new and young parenthood can bring, and helping you to find a way to parent that feels right for you and your family.
I am a mother of two: one neurodivergent and one neurotypical. I understand the broad and often intense challenges that raising a neurodivergent child can bring us and I welcome working with parents who may be struggling with this.
Before becoming a therapist, I worked in the charity sector in the UK, Germany and Asia.
I am registered member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy and I adhere to their Ethical Framework for Good Practice.
I receive regular counselling and supervision myself.
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.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Therapies offered
Fees
£70.00 per session
Free initial in-person or telephone session
Further information
Confidentiality
Counselling is fully confidential. However, if I had serious concern for your safety or the safety of another person, then statutory law and the BACP ethical framework would require me to breach confidentiality. I will always seek to discuss this with you first directly. We can talk about this more when contracting our work together in the initial session.