Zoe Bartlett
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Welcome, I know that taking that first step in looking for counselling can bring up lots of feelings. Maybe this feels a bit daunting, or perhaps you’re excited to start focusing on yourself and having space to talk. However you’re feeling right now, I’d like to walk alongside you and find out more.
How I work:
Relationship is at the heart of my work, and I bring empathy and compassion, aiming to provide you with a space that feels safe so that you can be yourself and tell your story.
Sometimes when we experience trauma, difficulty or challenge in our lives, that feeling of safe connection, or attachment, to those around us can feel lost. Among other things, we might experience depression or anxiety, people please, have low self-esteem or low self-confidence, develop compulsive behaviours, or struggle with addiction. Often, we start to function in survival mode and this can show up in fight, flight or freeze responses in our mind and body, impacting your mental health and wellbeing.
I am an integrative counsellor, which means that I use a few different approaches and theories in my work and might use different approaches with different clients, working out what might best support you as a unique individual. I believe that counselling should be an exploration of ideas and an ongoing conversation between us. Some of the key approaches that I draw from are attachment theory (which informs a lot of how we relate to others and them to us), Polyvagal Theory (which gives us an understanding of how our mind and body responds to stress and trauma), and parts work; I work in an Internal Family Systems informed way looking at how parts of our system play different roles, often seeking to protect us from painful experience (this enables us to explore and understand the role of ‘parts’ that may seem destructive or damaging). I also use some Existential and Gestalt theory, the core conditions of the person centred approach, and some CBT techniques and motivational interviewing when appropriate.
What to expect from our sessions:
In the beginning, the focus will be on building our relationship - like any new connection, it takes time to establish trust and to get to know each other. We can start to explore what has brought you to counselling and focus on what you would like to be different, or to have more of in your life, and to look at how change might take place. A lot of my role is to be an ‘active listener’ which means that you will do most of the talking, but at times, I will ask questions to encourage perhaps a deeper consideration of a topic, or I might gently challenge something that you say. All of this is done with the goal of empowering you in the knowledge and understanding that you already have within you - you are the expert on you. Sometimes, where appropriate, I might suggest tools or resources that I think might be helpful to you.
I offer short or longer term work dependent on your requirements. I have experience of working with many different presenting issues including anxiety, depression, addiction and low self-esteem or self-worth. I have experience working with clients with neurodiversity, particularly ADHD and how this can interact with and impact on addictive behaviours and problematic substance use.
We will regularly review our work together to ensure your therapeutic goals and expectations are being met.
Training, qualifications & experience
I have a wide range of experience in working with clients bringing a range of problems, challenges and questions into therapy. I can offer you a space to explore anything that's going on for you, without fear of judgement or rejection.
I hold the following qualifications:
- Advanced Diploma in Integrative Counselling (Iron Mill College)
- The Swan Project internal training programme
- SMART Recovery Facilitator
- Certificate in Counselling (Bristol UWE)
- Children and Young People’s Mental Health- Level 2 (Bath College)
- Bristol Mind- Mindline Listener and Peer Support
- BACP Registered Membership
Additional training I have completed includes:
- Compassion Focused Therapy for Trauma with Chris Irons
- Working with Complex Trauma - Iron Mill College
- Transitioning to Internal Family Systems with Natasha Wilson
- Working with Relational Trauma by Carolyn Spring
- Dealing with Distress: Working with Suicide and Self Harm by Carolyn Spring
- Safeguarding Adults and Children
- Working with Addiction by Phil Harris
- An Audience with Susie Orbach - talking about body image and disordered eating
- Recognising and Responding to the Impact of Domestic Abuse on Women's Mental Health
- Applying IFS Processes for Addictive Processes
Problematic Substance Use and Addiction:
I have extensive experience of working with clients in active addiction, recovery and relapse prevention, as well as those who might be questioning or concerned about their substance use.
This experience has been gained through working for a small Bristol charity called Hawkspring as a Recovery Practitioner, as well as in my placement at the Swan Project in Bristol, and latterly working in private practice. This gives me a unique understanding of working with both the practical tools for reducing use or abstinence, alongside the deeper work of understanding and untangling the issues which led to the addiction in the first place.
I can help you to explore what’s at the core of your addictive behaviour, whilst also supporting you with practical tips and exercises to reduce or avoid your ‘substance’ (whatever that might be).
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
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£60.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
My fee is £60 for 50 minutes.
Please get in touch if you would like an initial, free, no obligation, 15 minute phone call so that you can ask any questions you may have, and to get an understanding of how we might work together.
I also offer some concessionary spaces for students and those on low incomes. Please get in touch for more info.
When I work
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I work from Vessel Spaces in Old Market, Bristol, on a Monday and Tuesday and on a Thursday morning at the Healing Rooms (BS7).
