You
Maybe a recent life event is changing how you are in the world. Maybe a past event needs to be worked on and understood. Maybe you do not feel yourself and are suffering with a change in mood and outlook.
If you are experiencing difficult and overwhelming feelings, we can work through them together. You will have a space to find some understanding and relief from what is happening to you, without being judged.
Family and friends often try and give advice and make us feel better, but sometimes this can make things more confusing, and a more open non-judgemental approach is needed. Counselling and Psychotherapy can offer a different approach.
You can choose from face to face, zoom or telephone counselling. I offer a safe space from where you can feel at ease to express yourself and voice what is troubling you. Together we can work on the process of coping with emotions, thoughts and understanding what is going on for you. Enabling you to live a more satisfying life.
How it works
We sit together and you explain what is happening for you. We will unpick how things are for you, what adds to it and why that might be. We might look at family, past events and make sense of where you are at presently. When you are ready, we will shine a light on the things that seem the most unmanageable and we will face this together, safely. Sometimes people experience reoccurring feelings they do not want and cannot seem to move away from. This is something Psychotherapy can offer relief from.
Friends and family will give advice and try to make you feel better but sometimes this is not enough, and we need a deeper understanding to work through our feelings and thought processes that seem to have become entrenched.
I work with longstanding issues or new life events which occur. My training is in a wide range of areas, and I am therefore able to draw on this to tailor it to you. I do not claim to hold all the answers for your problems, but I can help you to unpick where you are at and help you work toward new perspectives and understanding. If you are experiencing difficult and frightening feelings, you will have a space to explore these with me and find some understanding and relief from what is happening to you. It is not easy, but it does works.
Therapy is a healing process.
About Me
I am made up of many different parts. I am a mum, wife, daughter, friend, therapist, music and mountain lover. I laugh, cry and all the bits in-between! In my life there have been brilliant times but also terribly sad and crushing life events. I am just another human making my own sense of this world and my passion is learning how to do this and ultimately helping others to find their own path.
My Approach
This process is centred around the relationship between you and your therapist. I work relationally and have a range of expertise, so I tailor this to your needs. It is really important you find someone you are comfortable with, and I urge you to contact a few practitioners to see who feels right. Do not hesitate to contact me for an initial 15-minute chat to see if you think we could work together. For successful therapy you need to invest yourself, time and money so it needs to be with the right person. I will adapt my knowledge of modalities and theories and weave them into our interactions enabling you to process what is happening in your life. It will also give you various options so you can choose what works for you.
The sessions are confidential. I work within the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy’s Ethical Framework. This binds me to work within the law. Additionally, I am DBS checked and am fully insured.
If you are someone who would like more comprehensive and academic information about my training and approach, please refer to the section below.
Qualifications and Areas of Interest
I have a Post Graduate Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy from Leeds Beckett University. I am an integrative relational therapist and work primarily from a person-centred approach but blend modalities from various fields including the Psychodynamic and Gestalt fields and tailor techniques to each individual.
Having worked in helping roles for over 20 years I draw on a wide range of experience including teaching; as a Director of a community interest group for improving mental health and working with individuals, and groups, around mental wellbeing. I also have a Post Graduate Certificate in Education for secondary pupils and a BA Hons Degree. I have a qualification in Mindfulness (MISP) and use some techniques, if suitable with clients. I can incorporate elements of CBT in my work and TA (Transactional Analysis), where appropriate.
I am especially interested in working with trauma and somatics, exploring how the mind and body respond separately and as a whole.
Below are examples of what issues I work with, but it is not an exhaustive list.
Abuse, Addictions, Anger management, Anxiety, Bereavement and sudden loss, child related issues, Covid related issues, Cultural issues, Depression, Flashbacks, Identity issues, Loss, Menopause and Peri-menopause, Phobias, Post-traumatic stress, Redundancy, Relationships, Self-esteem, Self-harm, Sexual identity, Sexuality, Spirituality, Stress, Trauma, Work related issues
Fees
Each session is 50 minutes, and I charge £50 per session.
I recommend at least 6 sessions. Each individual is different, and I have worked with people for anything between 6 session and for over a year. Some people get what they need quickly. For others it takes longer. Some take a break when feeling they are able to cope again and return when other life events happen, if they need extra support and time for themselves, to process what is happening. Every person is different.
I kindly request our sessions must be paid for in advance, or on the day. Sessions must be cancelled or rescheduled at least 24 hours in advance, or you will be responsible for the full session fee.
Feedback I’ve Received
“I felt like I was carrying chains around before I came to see Vicky. They now feel like balloons, still attached to me but lighter and a part of me that does not drag me down”.
“Vicky has helped me through the most horrendous and difficult time of my life, if I hadn’t found Vicky goodness knows where I would be right now”.
“Vicky is a couple of cuts above what I would expect. Vicky has a lot of compassion for others, she has the ability to listen and put others at ease, a natural warmth and friendliness; a strong set of interpersonal skills which help her establish rapport quickly with clients, developing strong therapeutic relationships”.