Olivia Shaw
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This professional is accepting new clients but may have a waitlist. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.
This professional is accepting new clients but may have a waitlist. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.
About me
Are you struggling with anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, low self-esteem, work or relationship issues?
Perhaps you feel on the outside of family or social groups, maybe because you're part of the LGBT+ community, you're navigating life with autism or ADHD, or you're dealing with intense emotions like strong anger or deep lows.
From what I've seen and felt in my own life, the world is tough to navigate. Trying to balance the many areas of our lives takes a physical and emotional toll, especially in a world which doesn’t always get what it's like to walk in your shoes.
This can feel much more intense if you feel 'different', or have experienced abuse, neglect or other traumas and experiences which are difficult to talk about. Not being accepted for your full identity, experiencing the turmoil of family conflict or disconnection, or healing from abuse may have lead to you feeling confused, anxious, angry, ashamed or frustrated, or just completely fed up. You might wonder if you're good enough, or "normal", or may notice an deep-down feeling of inadequacy. You might find yourself wondering if you will ever move past things, or if life can ever be different to how it is now.
I’m deeply passionate about working with clients to experience the long term benefits of feeling understood and accepted, where difficult experiences, thoughts and feelings are given the space they need to heal.
As a qualified psychotherapeutic counsellor with both professional and personal insight, I offer a safe, understanding space to help you untangle these feelings, find your footing, and start feeling more like yourself again.
In complete confidence, I can support you in dealing with overwhelming emotions, exploring identity, or improving relationships. I am particularly passionate about supporting those who feel like an 'Other' in their families or social groups, and understand the profound effects of not being fully accepted.
I can help you to 'unfold' the parts of you that have become hidden and rejected, support you to express your full self and feel in control of your overwhelming emotions so that you can start to feel good enough, accept your 'normal', and alleviate that deep-down feeling of inadequacy.
My previous work with families and children has equipped me with creative and insightful ways to consider life's challenges, and my approach reflects this extensive experience. We'll focus on you as a whole person in creating a more peaceful and fulfilling life.
I am not sure ...
Reaching out for therapy can feel like a risk, and it’s completely normal to be unsure - we have a knack of minimising our own challenges, comparing our experiences to others, or feeling so overwhelmed by a situation we don’t believe anyone could help.
These completely ordinary, fear-based narratives are often successful in stopping us from getting the support we need and deserve, and keeping us stuck.
We can explore uncertainties like this, and any other questions you might have, in a free 20 minute initial conversation, which you can arrange by text, phone or email for a time that suits you.
I’m here to help when you feel ready.
Training, qualifications & experience
How can I help?
First and foremost, I offer an environment where you are welcomed to be unapologetically yourself, where your feelings are valid and understood with respect for the life experiences that have shaped you.
Although I work in the here-and-now with you, I am also trained to help you consider how your earlier years may be influencing how you feel, think, act and respond today. Drawing on multiple models of therapy in our work, following what you need and your preferences, we can work to:
- Increase self-awareness
- Learn new strategies to manage difficult feelings
- Untie relationship knots
- Consider communication challenges
- Strengthen boundaries.
- Gain perspectives on behaviours, emotions and relationships
- Express and identify patterns of thinking and feeling
- Find peace with who you are
As well as my therapy training and experience, which includes supporting people to overcome issues such as anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, life changes, and the emotional trauma caused by abuse, I have over a decade of experience working in mental health, safeguarding, and supporting young people and adults with ASD, ADHD, complex relational challenges, family issues such as breakdowns, abuse, imprisonment, co-dependency and more.
I have professional and lived experience and understanding of the LGBT+ community, individuals with ADHD and Autism, and survivors of parental abuse and neglect. This includes working with survivors of recent and childhood sexual abuse.
How do I work?
You are the expert on you, and I am here to hear and understand you, but I will also offer insights and curiosity about what might be going on for you in a compassionate way. I see our work as a partnership where together we ‘connect the dots’ about how you're feeling and experiencing, and how to move forward in a way that genuinely feels right.
My clients say they feel comfortable opening up to me as I have an honest, warm and approachable energy. I bring myself to our relationship too – I have a sense of humour and am a real person just like you.
I believe everyone deserves a fulfilling life and that we are never too young or old to build a better relationship with ourselves. Needing help to talk through or break down obstacles to finding peace and wellbeing is completely ordinary, and I believe reaching out for that help is something very courageous.
"I don’t know if therapy is right for me"
Perhaps you are worried you will find it hard to know where to start, or to find the ‘right’ words to express what you are feeling, or you may be worried it will all come flooding out and will feel like a jumble.
All the thoughts, feelings and memories that seem unspeakable, messy or too confusing to explain to others, can be spoken here, and if that feels difficult, we can work creatively together to find a way through.
Together we will rediscover who you are under all the weight of your experiences, trauma, life's expectations and other peoples' opinions.
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 work with a range of difficulties in addition to the areas listed here, and the ones set out in my profile. I have experience working with individuals experiencing a very wide range of mental health difficulties and life experiences.
Therapies offered
Fees
From £65.00
Concessions offered for
Additional information
Sessions are 60 minutes long
Further information
I’m still not sure...
I understand the daunting nature of taking the leap into therapy, especially if you've felt different or misunderstood throughout your life. I have navigated this personally, and appreciate the courage it takes to seek help. Whether you're ready to take the next step or are still contemplating, your pace and process are respected. If and when you feel ready, email me or call to arrange an initial consultation session.
