Zana Parker
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
I know, I remember, how daunting it can feel to meet a counsellor for the first time. I will make our meetings as easy as possible for you with my warm, approachable, down-to-earth nature. I will treat you as an equal, as another human. I aim to really hear you, to help you feel safe, validated and respected so you can grow, thrive and embrace your life with greater joy and confidence. I offer open-ended counselling, so there’s no restriction on number of sessions. We end when you're ready.
It can be hard to choose a counsellor; there are many of us, so how do you know who's right for you? I offer a low-cost initial session that’s long enough (approx 90 mins) to help you decide if you’d feel able to trust and work with me.
I work with adults of all ages who bring many different life-stories and challenges they’d like to explore. You might be feeling low, sad, stuck, anxious, overwhelmed, unsure, or perhaps you want to gain clarity about something? You might want to unlock aspects of your personality that have been hidden for too long. Perhaps you want to examine your role in relationship with others. There could be many things that lead you to seek counselling. Some people want to bring closure to events in the past. Whatever brings you to meet me, your sense of emotional safety is of utmost importance. This might mean spending time ensuring that you’re able to ‘apply the brakes’ so you can share your story calmly, without feeling overwhelmed.
In addition to being a counsellor, I’m also a professionally qualified antenatal educator and a hypnobirthing practitioner. This is why I specialise in pregnancy, birth and parenthood. Please get in touch if you’re suffering from the effects of postnatal depression, fear of birth (tokophobia), problems during pregnancy, difficulties bonding with your baby, miscarriage, termination, a difficult or traumatic birth experience, struggling with adjusting to life as a parent (or grandparent), or anything related. If appropriate, I can also help you plan for a next birth and/or blend counselling with antenatal education.
In regular, weekly counselling sessions, it’s likely that we’ll mostly talk, although sometimes we might take a more holistic approach. Mind, body and beliefs are completely interconnected, so it makes sense, if appropriate, to extend our work into these areas. Breathing, relaxation, or perhaps more creative approaches can help to highlight things that might otherwise remain out-of-awareness. Don’t worry – I’ll never insist on introducing a way of working that you are really resistant to. We’ll work with a blend of ‘going at your pace’ alongside gentle challenge so that change becomes possible.
Alongside counselling, I also offer Rewind Technique and EFT to help with the effects of difficult, upsetting memories or trauma.
You’ll find lots more information on my website. If you have any questions, concerns, or if you’d like to meet me for an initial, 90 mins, low-cost session, please do get in touch. I look forward to hearing from you.
Training, qualifications & experience
Qualifications
DipHE Counselling (Level 5) with Distinction, University of Winchester, 2010
Certificate in Rewind Technique (for processing trauma), 2018
Certificate in Applied EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique), 2022
NCT Antenatal Teacher Licensed Practitioner, 1998-2021
NCT Advanced ("Excellent") Practitioner, 2005-2012
DipHE Antenatal Education (Level 5), University of Bedfordshire, 2010
Hypnotherapy for Childbirth, 2012 (Course accredited by Royal College of Midwives)
Accredited Member of National Counselling Society, registered with Professional Standards Authority (PSA)
Additional experience, expertise and CPD training that I offer
Author of e-book(let) available from Amazon: https://amzn.eu/d/hIOyVJo "How Anxiety is like a Smoke Alarm (and how to reduce the volume)" A non-jargon, non-medicalised, straightforward approach to understanding and managing anxiety better.
CPD training days
1-day workshop: Breathing & Relaxation: an experiential and restorative workshop for therapists and students, to increase confidence and expand your repertoire when introducing breath-work to clients for self-regulation
1-day workshop: Exploring Creative Approaches in Counselling
Additional professional expertise
Antenatal classes: I have extensive experience designing, creating and providing effective antenatal education in a variety of settings, for groups and 1-1, for pregnant women and birth partners.
Hypnobirthing courses: I am an independent practitioner and have devised my own course and have my own audio downloads.
Breathing & Relaxation workshops for all (not just pregnancy!) for self-calming and managing stress and anxiety
Training for student midwives
Training for student hypnobirthing practitioners
Previous counselling experience
Private practice since 2010, 2 years at a local University counselling students and staff, counselling within the NHS.
Member organisations
school Registered / Accredited
Being registered/accredited with a professional body means an individual must have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by their member organisation.
The National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society
This Not For Profit association of counsellors and psychotherapists aim to support the counselling profession, members and training organisations.
In 2013 the NCS register was accredited by the Professional Standards Authority under the Accredited Voluntary Register Scheme. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
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
Birth trauma
Fear of giving birth (Tokophobia/Tocophobia)
Therapies offered
Fees
£45.00 per session
Additional information
Initial 'assessment' session £20 (90 mins)
Ongoing sessions £45 (1 hour)
When I work
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Wednesday to Friday with appointments starting between 10.30am and 7.30pm