Couples Counselling

People seek couples counselling for a variety of reasons. The most common issues are often related to communication problems which lead to arguments, feelings of resentment and lack of intimacy. This may result in one or both parties looking elsewhere to fulfil their emotional and/or physical needs. Children, work and everyday stress can all affect the relationship negatively and make us feel disconnected. If one partner is struggling but doesn’t communicate this and seek professional help it can also have a detrimental effect. It is possible that individual counselling is preferable to start with as past unresolved trauma and mental health problems can play a significant part in how we behave in intimate relationships.

I offer a specialised service for my individual clients with diagnosed or suspected Autism and/ or ADHD and couples counselling is a natural extension of that service. I can, if necessary, use my extensive experience in this field in couples work. As you may know, relationships and communication are areas neurodivergent clients often struggle with. I am also able to help and support couples who are raising children with special educational needs which can at times be very challenging.

I initially completed training in couples counselling using Systemic Family Therapy. The integrative method I use today is based on the research by American Psychologists Albert Ellis (founder of Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy), John Gottman (founder of the Gottman Relationship Institute), and Harville Hendrix (founder of Imago Couples Therapy).

My approach to relationship therapy is also heavily influenced by Terry Real, creator of Relational Life Therapy and the founder of the Relational Life Institute.

I work with issues such as poor communication, infidelity, conflicts with in-laws, disagreements over parenting, jealousy, financial problems, job stress, disillusionment with the relationship, emotional intimacy, frequent arguments & lack of sexual interactions, amongst other problems.

Please be aware that I am not a psychosexual therapist so if your issue is exclusively of a sexual nature I may not be able to help.

Also, couples therapy is not recommended in relationships where one or both partners have problems with addiction, or where there is abuse. In these instances it is advisable to seek help from a specialised counselling service to start with.

If you are interested in couples therapy and would like to know more please call or email me. I’m happy to schedule a phone call before booking you in for a first session.

Clinical Supervision

I am a fully qualified clinical supervisor (QLS level 6) with experience working in private practise as well as in educational settings. This includes counselling in colleges and in a special educational needs school. I am open to enquiries from counsellors & trainee counsellors but also from other professions where supervision is necessary.

I am able to adapt and work with different supervision models but my preference is Hawkins & Shohet’s Seven Eyed model. The reason for this is that it is very versatile and can be applied to any helping profession.

My theoretical background is in person centred counselling and humanistic therapies. However, I welcome supervisees from other modalities as I believe different perspectives can enrich the supervision experience. As a counsellor I work in an integrative way, drawing from whatever modality is needed to suit my clients’ needs.

I believe the supervision space is co-created and the process is collaborative. I aim to make my supervisees feel respected, safe and comfortable so that they are free to explore their client work as well as their personal experiences in the counselling room.

The supervision relationship is at the centre of my supervision practise the same way it also is in my counselling practise. It is essential to find a supervisor who is the right fit for you to get the most out of supervision. I offer a free 30 min telephone call/ Skype call/ in person meeting where you can ask me any questions you may have and get a feel for who I am as a supervisor.

My fees are £60 for 60 min and £80 for 90 min. Concessions available for trainee counsellors and professionals on low income.

A word from one of my previous supervisees:

“I worked with Jenny for nearly a year as a supervisee. She gave me the space to be comfortable with the work I brought in and I never felt judged which is what I had felt before with other supervisors. She reminded me that at times there are clients who you can’t work with for whatever reason and that it’s OK to feel like that without judgement or guilt. She was challenging and at the same time warm and empathic. Thanks Jenny.“

Counselling Young People

I have worked with children and young people for many years, both as a teacher and a counsellor. I have experience counselling in educational settings such as colleges and a specialist SEND secondary school as well as in private practise.

I offer counselling for a variety of issues such as low mood, depression, anxiety, panic attacks, exam stress, bullying, self harm, suicidal thoughts, anger management and relationship problems just to mention a few.

My counselling is person centred with elements of cognitive behavioural therapy and art therapy. The relationship I build with the young person is an essential part of the counselling process. I have found that CBT based strategies work well for depression, anxiety and anger management and art offers a different way to explore, express and communicate how we feel.

If you are a parent looking for a counsellor for your teenager, please get in touch to arrange a short phone call.

Counselling and Neurodiversity

I have both personal and professional experience with neurodiversity and can, if necessary tailor my service to meet my clients' needs.

I work with young people and adults with suspected or diagnosed ASC and / or ADHD. I have supported many clients through the assessment and diagnosis process.

Not all neurodivergent clients need a special approach or changes to be made in the counselling room but for those who do I work in a flexible way.

I often use elements of art therapy and encourage my clients to express themselves creatively through drawings, music, poetry and journaling. Sharing these in counselling can facilitates communication. Sometimes it’s easier to talk when our hands are busy and continuous eye contact is kept to a minimum so clients are welcome to bring toys, craft projects or art material to their sessions.

I also like to use cognitive behavioural therapy based strategies for depression, anxiety and anger management. They can be very effective and often suit clients who prefer a more structured approach which involves goal setting and work sheets.