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It’s a beautiful, but very complicated thing, to be a human. There are many difficulties we encounter throughout our lives that can leave us feeling overwhelmed or in distress – and yet so often, we feel as though we must push these feelings down. It takes a lot of courage to reach out and ask for help, to commit the time and energy to your own self-care and healing. Whatever has brought you to this space today, taking these first steps is a huge achievement.
About me
Welcome! My name is Becky and I am a fully qualified BACP registered counsellor based in the Bristol area. I have many years experience supporting clients to explore all manner of challenging life experiences, including (but not limited to) addiction, neurodiversity, chronic illness, bereavement/grief, relationship difficulties, depression, anxiety and impacts of trauma. I completed my training at the University of the West of England, studying a Masters in Counselling & Psychotherapy, where I developed my own integrative model for therapy and gained the skills and knowledge required to create a safe theraputic space. I have spent the last few years working at The Swan Project providing long term counselling for individuals struggling to manage their alcohol/substance use and I bring to this work my own experience of recovery. I am a trauma informed practitioner and committed to providing an LGBTQ+ affirming space that honours each individuals unique experience.
"Maybe the journey isn't so much about becoming anything. Maybe it's about un-becoming everything that isn't really you, so you can be who you were meant to be in the first place." - Paulo Coelho
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What exactly is counselling?
Counselling is a dedicated & safe space for you to be able to bring all parts of yourself, without fear of judgement, so that you can gain insight and clarity into any present day struggles you may have. This self-awareness can be a key component of personal growth and positive change. Working with a counsellor means building an open and honest relationship together, in which thoughts, feelings and emotions can be explored freely, and your needs identified.
My approach
I offer a relational style of therapy that is founded in humanistic ideas and values, such as the belief that we have an innate desire for growth and an internal sense of judgement that can be accessed. Sessions are therefore predominantly self lead, allowing you to decide what you wish to explore.
I have developed an integrative model that is rooted in a person-centred approach, using the core conditions of empathy, unconditional positive regard and congruence, to create a space in which you can come to know and accept yourself.
I also make use of knowledge and skills from other relational models, allowing me to take a holistic approach to therapy. I have studied many models of therapy, such as Gestalt and Psychodynamic and also have a personal interest in transpersonal approaches such as Psychosynthesis. I have found Robert Assagioli’s ‘Egg of Being’ to be a helpful visual representation of all the aspects of self that can be explored in therapy, including the spiritual.
I believe therapy is a space to explore all of who you are, not just the parts that hurt - this means that whilst of course looking to understand those areas of pain, we may also take some time to consider your strengths, passions and aspirations for the future.
"The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change." ~ Carl Rogers
What to expect
Image: One of the available therapy rooms I work from at The Practice Rooms, 34 Upper York St, St Paul's, Bristol BS2 8QR
I will at times ask questions that may help you to consider situations from a different angle or encourage you to look deeper at an emerging truth. I will also at times share my own honest responses to what you have shared, or what I have observed of you, in order to provide further information that may be useful in your growth.
I adhere to the BACP's ethical guidance and therefore have total respect for autonomy and take great care to ensure no harm occurs from our work together. This may mean discussing safeguarding strategies when working with trauma and other risk factors. It also means I will never force you to work at a pace or depth you are not yet comfortable with.
Sessions are held either online via google meet or in person at The Practice Rooms on Stokes Croft and last for a duration of 50 mins.
During our initial session I will invite you to outline what has brought you to therapy and what you might like to use the sessions for, as well as touching on practical considerations such as contracting and building/online best practices.
From here on the space will be yours to bring what feels most important to look at each week. I will be alongside you as you explore your experiences and the thoughts and feelings that have accompanied them. My role will be to provide an empathic and non judgemental environment in which it feels comfortable for you to be honest and courageous in that exploration.
Pricing
Sessions are charged at a rate of £55 per session.
I offer a small number of concessionary spaces for students and those on no/low income. Please enquire via email if you would like to discuss.
Contact Me
If you would like to take the next step to begin counselling, I provide a free 15 min phone call to answer any questions, discuss what you are hoping to gain from therapy and to confirm I am the right fit for you to go forwards.
Tel:
07557334379
"There is hope, even when your brain tells you there isn't."
- John Green
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