Rhonda Cleary

Hello and welcome my name is Rhonda (she/her) at present I work face to face and online from The Wooden Round House over looking the River Anton.
We also have Polly the beautiful therapy dog, it is your choice if Polly comes in with you, she has been in the room with many clients over the years. 

I offer short term focused counselling which works very well with a specific area to focus on and long term psychotherapy.

I have been a qualified psychotherapeutic counsellor for several years. There may be times in your life when you feel you may benefit from some professional listening support. 

Over the years I have worked with many areas within therapy such as anxiety, depression, low mood, self harm, suicidal ideation, addiction, eating disorders, gender identity, loss, trauma, relationship breakdown, body dysmorphia, exam pressure, abuse on all levels. Areas around school trauma, bullying and identification. 

I offer a confidential, non judgmental space, having worked within the area of wellbeing, people support, one to one work within education and within different therapeutic environments for over 30 years, counselling felt like a very natural progression for me.

Being under the neurodiverse umbrella, having been diagnosed with dyslexia and dyspraxia while at University along with living with close family members who are ASD and ADHD gives me great awareness of holding space for people whom may be neurodivergent along with neurotypical clients. 
Humanistic Gestalt works with the here and now, often things from the past emerge as unfinished business into the present, this can naturally happen within therapy. We can work together with this unfinished business in the present, if you choose to do so. 

Having covered modules within the areas of Mental Health, CBT, Psychodynamic, Play as Therapy, Drama as Therapy and Humanistic Gestalt all modalities will ebb and flow into each other. Gestalt works very closely with the whole being, I will connect with you within an embodied way.
Bringing your awareness to your internal self and external field by creating space for you to become aware of your whole self and environment. 

At times elements of  creativity using tools such as mindfulness, meditation, relaxation techniques,  art work, sea glass therapy,  stones, drumming, hitting a punch bag, colour therapy, two chair work, creative writing, exploring dreams, releasing  blocked energy and trauma through movement, two chair work amongst many other areas may naturally ebb and flow while working together.
Or you may prefer to talk without experimentation, I will always check in with you first before we use any explorative methods. 

A little bit about me, I have worked through many life challenges including mental health issues, co-addiction, abuse, trauma, low self esteem/self-worth and confidence issues. I have a lifetime genetic condition ( Marfan syndrome) which I manage on a daily basis, as well as being Neurodivese. These have all given me much self-insight and great awareness in working with others within therapy. 

*Retreat style therapy. Over the years it has come to my awareness that some clients prefer longer one off sessions.

*Releasing Trauma 

* I work in the "here and now" and follow what becomes figural within the counselling room, sometimes this will stay in the present or take us back to unfinished business.

*Gestalt is a creative therapy, some clients may like to explore creatively and others may prefer to talk

*I work with both Neurotypical and clients under the Neurodiverse Umbrella 

*Having a life time genetic condition of Marfan syndrome has presented me with a natural understanding of long term health conditions. 

*Anxiety and Depression, I have had my own challenges with these which gives me a greater awareness of holding space for others, 

*I have counselled many young people around A-levels and University

*Blocks to Creativity and Self-Awareness

*Adults over 18

*Women empowerment and the menopause 

*Areas around Gender Identity 

*Confidence/Self- Esteem

*Awareness/Mindfulness/Affirmations/Relaxation Releasing and Becoming present

*I have professional and personal experience around areas of recovery and addiction, alcohol, sex, co-addiction, food, drugs, internet.

*Mental Health 

*Creativity, Colour, Sea Glass Therapy, Many areas of Psychotherapeutic Creative Exploring to release deep blocks. 

Pricing  from April 2023: I offer a free 20 to 30 minute telephone/online consultation.

Young people age 13 to  22: £40 for 30 minutes online and face to face talking therapy. For a block of 6 there is a reduction of £10 making the total £230 

Adults: Age 23 and up: £50 for 50 minutes online and face to face talking therapy. For a block of 6 there is a £10 reduction, total  £290

I offer 1 off therapy sessions for all clients.
I do recommend at least 6 continues sessions if this is your first step into counselling to support you in your processing and progress. 

Online counselling consists of Zoom or FaceTime it is a similar experience to working within the therapy room.
The client and therapist can see and hear each other, just as face to face therapy this form of counselling also works very closely with the therapeutic relationship. 

I hold full Balen's Medical Insurance.

I hold a recent Uk Disclosure Certificate

Registered Member of The British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP) and abide/follow there code of Ethics and Moral qualities.

I have regular Supervision with a qualified Psychotherapist/Counselling Supervisor.

2000 to 2007 Worked within a college as a Student Learner support Assistant for 7 years, with young people and adults (both mainstream and specific learning difficulties)

2013 to 2014 Worked as a Volunteer Counsellor at Basingstoke College of Technology with young people and adults (students and staff)

2013 to 2014 Worked with adults as a Volunteer Counsellor at MIND/ Covering many areas of mental health

Present date I work as an independent Psychotherapeutic Counsellor with adults and young people online and within The Wooden Round House Charlton.

The Olive branch Winchester

2019: Creative Explorative experiments in Gestalt psychotherapy

2020: Workshop of different attachment styles