Offerings from Julie-Anne
Counselling
Counselling is a type of talking therapy which aims to provide a safe and confidential space for you to share and explore your concerns and issues you are currently facing
Open-ended and flexible contracts (long and short-term)
I work with open-ended contracts and trained to provide both short and long term support. This means we could contract to work within 4-12 sessions and review if extensions are required or contract for a longer time period and/or an open contract with frequent reviews. We may decide to work together on a weekly or bi-weekly schedule.
Alternatively, after the therapeutic relationship has developed you may only want sessions once a month on an open-ended contract. Having this flexibility means the support can be tailored to you. However, short-term contracts are usually for specific issues/goals and lean into goal-based, skill based and behavioural techniques, whereas long-term/open-ended contracts may explore multiple issues and deeper exploratory work.
12 session contracts for organisations
I currently offer charities and organisations short-term counselling contracts of 12 sessions per client plus the relevant policies and admin.
Pluralism
As previously mentioned pluralistic counsellors work from the belief that each client is unique, and that different therapeutic methods and approaches will help different individuals at different points in their journey.
Pluralistic therapy values clients preferences and collaborative work, viewing the client and counsellor as equals both bringing valuable knowledge and expertise.
Person-Centred Therapy
Person-centred therapy is a humanistic approach to therapy which forms part of the foundations of my practice. It was founded by Carl Rogers and believes all individuals can engage in the process of self-actulisation, or in other words reach their full potential. This approach values unconditional positive regard (unconditional acceptance of you), being congruent (honest and transparent), and empathetic.
Within this approach I may work more gently with you and this space is less directive as you will be leading the session.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
CBT approaches explore your thoughts, feelings and behaviours and works from the belief that when we change, explore or improve one of these factors the others will improve. CBT is more directive but still collaborative and focuses on exploring and challenging negative thinking patterns and beliefs whilst learning more helpful skills, tools and thinking patterns to improve your wellbeing.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
ACT is a therapy I am passionate about and often integrate into my practice. It explores the avoidance of uncomfortable experiences and moves to a position of acceptance specifically acceptance of what is outside your control and to act in ways which enrich your life.
ACT often combines the use of metaphors and mindfulness into practice to help you develop skills to enrich your life.
Transactional Analysis (TA)
TA has often been found helpful by my clients whilst exploring their relationships with themselves, others and the world. TA theory works with the understanding that all human interactions are transactions (these can be conversations, gestures, facial expressions, reactions etc) which can help individuals to understand the dynamics of their relationships and gameplay (such as the well-known drama triangle).
TA also works with the belief of a three ego-state system made up of the child, adult and parent. The child state is behaviours, thoughts and feelings replayed from childhood; the parent state is behaviours, thoughts and feelings copied from our parents (or influential figures); the adult state is thoughts, feelings and behaviours responding to the here and now, utilising all available knowledge and resources.
Creative work
I am passionate about working creatively within talking therapy when suitable and wanted by clients. Now before you say ‘I’m not good at art’, creative work isn’t focused on something looking ‘good’ nor does it have to be considered art. Creative work may include using materials such as pens, paint and clay to expressively draw, create or replicate what you are feeling and experiencing. But it can also be used as a sensory or mindfulness-based activity.
Working creatively can be using a sand-tray or involving movement in sessions. It can be mindfulness and/or imagery-based activities. It can be the creative use of words e.g. through journaling, free-writing, poetry or metaphors. In some ways creativity is using our initiatives, its problem-solving and exploring, it can be considered part of the foundations of counselling and research has shown it to help enhance the counselling process, specifically with trauma work.
Clients I have a specialist interest in working with
I have an impassioned interest in working with individuals under the umbrella of disability (something that has a substantial and long-term impact on your health and day-to-day life e.g. a physical condition, metal illness, neurodivergence, chronic conditions etc), specifically individuals with clinical neurodivergence (e.g. ADHD and autism) and/or unpaid and young carers. This is part of the reason as to why I take a pluralistic and flexible approach to therapy and aim to work with you to adapt the services to your specific needs.