About Me

My own therapy journey

For you to trust me with your difficulties, you may want to know a little about me.

My name is Jenny and my counselling story started in adolescence. This is me as a teenager with big hair (it was the 80s).

A wide smile and yet, I was crying inside.

I experienced two devastating bereavements as an adolescent. These traumatic losses put me on a treacherous life path, not knowing which way to turn.

Afterwards, I found unhealthy ways of coping and was plunged into the depths of anxiety and depression.

Fortunately, I attended young persons counselling in Leamington Spa during my early twenties. Genuinely, I believe this therapist helped me to survive.

She gave me a slight glimmer of hope that I could be OK. Her blanket of empathy was so welcome after living in my unsafe world.

Seeing her set me on a journey towards becoming a counsellor.

Returned to counselling

Later, in my mid-thirties, work-placed stress caused my anxiety and low mood to return. I had more therapy where, again, I was lucky enough to connect to the therapist. He was patient and he accepted me in my darkest moments.

Above all, I felt fully cared for and understood. At the end of our time together, I talked about possibly becoming a counsellor and he encouraged me.

It was life-changing.

Helping others after I was helped

I now run a local counselling practice in Snitterfield, Stratford-Upon-Avon and Leamington Spa. My loss and trauma have turned into a story for good.

I am passionate about my work as I know from personal experience what it is like to be vulnerable.

Life can change for the better when you are heard. Your experiences need to be validated by another human being, in the same way mine were.

I understand first-hand how difficult it can be to take that initial step to contact a therapist.

I hope I can make it easier for you.

Call to Book a Session

Counselling Experience

Since qualifying as a counsellor, my organisational work experience has included loss and grief, addiction, mental health issues, trauma and working with survivors of sexual violence, amongst others.

For over two years, I volunteered as a Bereavement Counsellor at the Shakespeare Hospice in Stratford-Upon-Avon. Counselling was provided for clients and their family facing a life-limiting disease or terminal diagnosis, along with bereaved family members.

Explore more about grief and loss

In the past, I experienced my counselling placement within a Birmingham therapy agency seeing clients with a wide range of issues and from diverse cultural backgrounds.

Furthermore, I worked on a local charity helpline, based in Warwick, providing emotional support for male and female survivors of sexual abuse and rape.

In addition, I have worked at a private addiction and mental health residential rehabilitation unit as a one to one and group psychotherapist.

Alongside my private practice, I have been employed as a Lecturer in Counselling at a local college in Evesham.

Some of my areas of specialism include:

• • • Abuse
    • Addiction
    • Anxiety
    • Anger Management
    • Creative Therapy Methods
    • Couples Therapy
    • Depression
    • Hearing Voices
    • Loss and Bereavement
    • Relationship Issues
    • Self Esteem
    • Stress
    • Telephone or Online Counselling
    • Trauma

FAQs including fees

Working Ethically

I’m an Accredited Professional Registrant of the National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society (NCPS). So, I abide by their ethical standards from the NCPS Code of Ethics.

Furthermore, I have a monthly supervision meeting, with a qualified supervisor. This is to ensure I practice safely, therefore keeping my clients’ well-being as my priority.

For example, in these sessions, I present my caseload anonymously. In addition, I discuss the personal impact of the work. This helps ensure the ongoing safety of both you and me.

Counselling Qualifications

After my own positive experience of therapy, I started my training to be a counsellor in 2012. This involved in-depth personal development alongside further therapy.

I enjoyed my course immensely, so, I knew I had found my calling.

• 2017: OCN Level 3 Working with Survivors of Sexual Abuse
• 2016 – 2017: BA (Hons) Degree in Person-Centred Counselling & Psychotherapy – University of Warwick (BACP Accredited Course)
  • Research Project – Adolescent Bereavement
  • Research Ethics and Appraisal
  • Psychopathology and Mental Illness
  • Abuse and Trauma
  • Creative Approaches
  • Drugs and Alcohol
• 2013 – 2016: Foundation Degree Person-Centred Counselling & Psychotherapy – University of Warwick (BACP Accredited Course)
• 2012: ABC Level 2 Award in Counselling Skills – Warwickshire College

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) in Psychotherapy

I continue to develop my practice by keeping up to date with the latest psychological research.

For example, this includes attending regular CPD events such as those highlighted below.

Addiction CPD

• The Addictions Therapist’s Tool Kit – Online Events
• Older People, Loss and Substance Abuse – Richard Allsup
• Prof. David Nutt – Drink? Why Alcohol Is The Most Damaging Drug In The World

Adolescents CPD

• Becoming Independent – Counselling MindEd
• Developing Relationships – Counselling MindEd

Attachment Theory

• Personal Aspects of Attachment Theory – Sir Richard Bowlby
• Attachment Issues in Grief Therapy – Dr Phyliss Kosminsky and Dr John R Jordan

Bereavement Training

• When did Grief get so complicated? – Dr Susan Delaney
• Grieving in a Different Gear (Sibling Loss – Elderly Parental Loss – Adult Child Loss) – Dodie Graves
• When a Child Dies – Gillian James
• Patients and their Carers – Gillian James
• Recent Developments in the Psychology of Bereavement – Julian Bond

Couples Therapy Training

• Advanced Post-Diploma Certificate in Person-Centred Couples Counselling
• Integrative Sex and Couples Certification Course with Tammy Nelson

Existential Therapy CPD

• Existential Courage – Emmy van Deurzen

Internal Family Systems CPD

• Internal Family Systems Therapy – Essentials in Understanding Trauma Related Parts Work
• IFS Immersion: Integrating Internal Family Systems (IFS) Across Clinical Applications
• Internal Family Systems: A Step-by-Step Guide Through Clinical Applications of the IFS Model

Group Therapy CPD

• Encounter Groups: A Place to Experience the Magic
• Facilitating Groups: Questions & Reflections

Psychopathology

• Exploring the Culture of Psychiatric Diagnosis, Creating Change

Relationships

• Esther Perel – Sex & Infidelity
• Online Events – Relational Depth in Counselling and Psychotherapy – Mick Cooper

Safeguarding and Child Protection CPD

• Child Protection Awareness
• Adults and Children Safeguarding Induction eLearning
• Care Certificate 11 Safeguarding Children eLearning
• Identifying Indicators of Child Sexual Exploitation Indicators
• Safeguarding Children and Young People Universal eLearning
• Early Years Safeguarding

Social Justice & Cultural Importance in Counselling

• Counselling for Social Justice – Courtland Lee
• Working with multilingual clients with or without an interpreter – Beverley Costa
• Facing up to race, power and privilege – Dare Conf UK

Trauma and Abuse CPD

• Trauma Matters with Gabor Maté
• The Web of Shame in the Therapeutic Space – Christiane Sanderson
• Trauma-related Complex Dissociation – First Person Plural
• Domestic Violence and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder – Dr Roxanne Agnew-Davies
• Living in a Fog: Complex Trauma, PTSD and Dissociation – Christiane Sanderson
• Applying Polyvagal Theory during the COVID-19 pandemic: creating safety and connection through online technology – Deb Dana
• A Polyvagal Perspective on the Pandemic workshop – Maggi MacGregor

Telephone & Online Counselling

• Telephone counselling skills and helpline working – Safeline
• Moving your practice online – Online Therapy Institute

Transactional Analysis

• Working with the Ego States – Geoff Hopping

If you have any questions about me or my practice, feel free to call. It would be great to hear from you.

We’ll be able to discuss how my therapeutic approach can help you.

Alternatively, I offer a free brief introductory phone call where you can sense how we may be able to work together. Let me know if you would like this. 

Jenny’s Mobile: 07886082333