Welcome
Are you thinking about counselling and wondering if I can help you?
Counselling offers an opportunity to explore and talk about your difficulties in a safe, non-judgemental and empathetic space.
My name is Wendy and I am a fully qualified Integrative counsellor with a BA (Hons) in counselling. I offer online counselling from the comfort of your own home via Zoom.
What is counselling?
Counselling is a journey of exploration with the counsellor facilitating the client's awareness and understanding of what is causing and maintaining their problems and helping the client tap into their unique talents and abilities that will help them better navigate life's challenges.
What I can offer
Together we will explore your unique story, increasing your awareness of self and your relationships, providing the opportunity to learn, grow and develop.
Counselling sessions are client-led in that I empower you to make your own decisions and act upon them. My role is to help guide your exploration through helping to notice unconscious connections and patterns that have developed over time that may be unhelpful and help you discover new perspectives or ways of thinking that equip you to work through your difficulties.
Areas of Counselling I can support you with:
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Depression
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Anxiety
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Trauma
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Loss of purpose and/or meaning of life
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Guilt and/or shame
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Bereavement and loss
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Low self-esteem and confidence
About Me
Whilst raising a family I worked in a variety of auxiliary roles such as retail, hospitals, property management, nursery settings and a public library. Later and before becoming a counsellor I worked for 26 years in schools in a variety of roles, ranging from classroom teaching to leadership, where I gained first-hand experience of the difficulties and challenges of maintaining a work/life balance alongside managing the impact of stress and anxiety on mental well-being.
My heart for helping others alleviate mental distress was born out of witnessing my own family member's struggles with chronic mental health alongside trying to support colleagues and young people navigate the emotional burdens in my professional life.
My Approach
I have a gentle, calm, caring and respectful approach that aims to offer you, the client, a warm, safe, supportive and non-judgmental environment where you can explore your inner thoughts and feelings.
I am an Integrative Counsellor which means I tailor the way I work depending on the needs of each person
I draw upon different ideas and techniques which may include, but is not restricted to:
Person-Centred Therapy
Gestalt Therapy
Internal Family Systems
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
Solution Focused Brief Therapy
I look for the best ways for each client to gain insight into their problem or difficulty
As my training includes the use of creativity, such as drawing and using images, these may be included in therapy sessions depending on what works best for you, the client, and what you may prefer.
The Counselling Journey
Like all worthwhile journeys the destination takes some work. Counsellor and client work together to negotiate the path.
The journey begins the moment you, the client, get in touch.
Initial Assessment
When a client initially contacts me, I will provide some information outlining the service I offer along with a little information about what online counselling is and how it works. The information includes a section outlining a working agreement as well as a few questions to help me better understand your difficulties.
If clients feel the information fits with what they are looking for they are invited to complete the form and return it to me. This enables me to assess if my skills match the clients requirements thus ensuring I work within my own competencies as expressed in the Association of Christian Counsellors (ACC) and the British Association of Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP) Ethical Frameworks.
Assuming a sufficient match I will email the client to arrange a mutually convenient time for our first online session along with emailing a copy of the counselling contract which details the terms and conditions.
The beginning of the counselling journey
In our first session online I will gather some information from you about your personal history such as your family background, what difficulties you are experiencing that have bought you to counselling and medical history where relevant. We will also discuss what you would like to get from counselling, working together to set relevant goals. We will go through the counselling contract, which details the terms and conditions.
Sessions
Counselling sessions last between 50 mins to an hour. Most of the time we make an initial agreement to meet 10-12 times, reviewing how things are going after 6 sessions.
Some people find a few sessions will have addressed things enough for them and others stay for 4 months or longer.
I usually see clients on a weekly basis for one hour, at the same time each week.
The end of the counselling journey
Endings are an important part of the counselling journey
We will be constantly reviewing our work together and discussing when it would be appropriate to end.
During our final sessions together we will reflect on the progress you, the client has made towards your goals, what you have discovered about yourself and what you will take-away from our time together to equip you to continue making the changes you want to make.
How much do I charge?
I charge £40 per session, payable within 24 hours of the counselling session taking place via a bank transfer.
(I offer a limited number of concessions for those who might find it difficult to afford this fee, such as students and long term clients).
Contact
For more information or to arrange an initial appointment please email me on:
