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I currently have daytime availability to take on new clients.

Hi, I'm Jess, and I would like to take a moment to welcome you to my practice The Counselling and Psychotherapy Harbour. 

I offer counselling that is tailored to each person that I work with. Each client I see has an individual story. I respect that you are the only person who knows what it is like to be you, living inside your body and managing your life. I take the time to get to know you and understand your hopes both for counselling and your future.Life can be messy and complicated. We all go through times of challenge.

Counselling and Psychotherapy is an opportunity to explore these matters with a professional who can assist you to gain insights into what is happening for you. Therapy is often the first step towards understanding the root cause of our distress, the function behind the patterns of our behaviour

It may be that our work looks at exploring what has happened in your life up untill this point and what keeps you stuck. You may need support processing traumatic experiences. You may struggle with people pleasing, relationships or avoiding conflict. We may examine patterns of behaviour you want to change, talk through strategies to enhance communication or build skills to manage emotional regulation.

It may be that you don't know how you feel... let alone how to begin talking about your feelings. That's okay too. I support clients using psychoeducation to identify feelings and understand the impact they can have on our thoughts and bodily sensations. I work with clients to increase their emotional vocabulary so that they are confident to express acurately what they are feeling and also what they need as a result of their feelings.

During times of distress, it can be difficult to know where to turn. While accessing therapy can feel anxiety provoking, I want to assure you that seeking support is the first step. Therapy can support you to identify and develop your inner resources, increase wellbeing and improve relationships. 

I am a trauma informed counsellor who trained and qualified as an integrative therapist. This means that I utilise a variety of therapeutic models to support our work together. I draw from person-centred, psychodynamic, gestalt, polyvagal and creative methodologies. The most important thing is that you get what you need from our sessions together. This can look like

Taking time to build the therapeutic relationship

Talking 1:1

examining trauma responses

creating narrative timelines

using artwork/music/poetry/photographs

using grounding techniques

empty chair

paying attention to our body responses.

Whatever your counselling looks like, it will be set at a pace that works for you. It can change and adapt to meet your needs as they change within the process. My Practice is neuro and LGBTQ+ affirming.

Throughout my personal experience of training I have seen the stigma associated with mental health and help seeking. While reaching out can be anxiety provoking, I believe that there should not be any shame in seeking counselling. I am passionate about destigmatising mental health and the impact of trauma. I have sat in both the client and therapist chair and so understand and respect the vulnerability and bravery it takes to engage in the process of counselling.

Short or Long term counselling?

I offer time limited, short and long term counselling. Telephone, online and Drawing and Talking Therapy.

If you have any other questions or feel that working this way would be a good fit for you, I would welcome hearing from you. Alternatively, you can visit my website directly for more information.

Training, qualifications & experience

I provide therapy both in person and remotely to adults from a range of background and ages. I offer time-limited, short and long term-counselling. This enables us to work at a pace that suits you. If you have any further questions or this way of working seems like a good fit for you, I would welcome hearing from you.

If you feel that now is the right time for you to access therapy, the first step is to make contact with me. Contact can be made confidentially by emailing me directly or via the telephone. You can find my contact details by visiting Book a Session. Once you have made contact, I will strive to respond to your enquiry within the next 48hrs. If you have not received a response in this time, please check your junk email.

Initially I will offer a consultation session at a discounted rate of £25. This consultation will be an opportunity for us meet and get a sense whether we may be a good fit to work together. Additionally, it will be a chance for you to ask any questions you may have and for me to gather some background information around the issues you wish to work through. During the consultation we will discuss your therapeutic goals, potential ways of working and the type of time of span you would like therapy to take (time-limited, short term or long term).

If we are in agreement to proceed working together, we will usually meet on a weekly basis for our therapy sessions at a pre agreed time and date. I can work flexibly to allow for work/life commitments. A booking will be made at the end of each session for the following week