Hello and welcome to my page.
My name is Gemma and I am a qualified Integrative Psychotherapeutic Counsellor.
For some, starting therapy can feel like a daunting task and I recognise that coming to therapy can require a bold step into the unknown. Even the act of asking for help or acknowledging that we are struggling can bring up difficult emotions. My job is to hold and facilitate a safe, non-judgmental and confidential space for you to explore whatever it is that brings you to therapy.
My Approach:
Having trained integratively means that I draw on theories and practices from several schools of psychotherapy. For me, those are existential, psychodynamic, somatic, relational, attachment and trauma-informed. In my experience therapy offers different things to different people and my approach allows me to move with a client’s individual needs but I believe that the practice of showing up for ourselves on a regular basis, whether that’s to slow down, be witnessed, contained, validated, listened to, supported or challenged can be transformative.
As a mixed-heritage therapist I work hard to remain aware, curious and open to the way that a client’s social, political or cultural background shows up in their lives and I am committed to an anti-oppressive practice. I offer an LGBTQIA+ affirmative space.
In my practice I have experience of working with:
anxiety
depression
difficult family relationships
relationship difficulties
heartbreak
creative blocks
childhood sexual abuse
infertility
eating disorders
early-menopause diagnosis
identity
sexuality
low-self esteem
bereavement
racial identity
experiences of racism
loss of sense of purpose/meaning
trauma
Sessions:
My therapeutic style is warm, engaged and appropriately challenging. I think that the relationship between client and therapist is tantamount to the process working so I offer a free 15 minute phone call and/or an initial session at a reduced fee of £50. Both of these are designed for you to get a sense of how I work and for me to assess whether I will be able to support you appropriately with whatever brings you to therapy.
Should we decide to work together, sessions are offered weekly, on the hour and last 50 minutes.
My session fee is £80.
I offer sessions online and in-person on Tuesday mornings and Thursday afternoons.
Qualifications:
I have a Level 7 Diploma in Integrative Counselling from The Minster Centre, where I am also completing a MA in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy.
I am a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP) and work in accordance with their Ethical Framework
