Experience
I have 17 years’ counselling experience and 13 years’ supervision experience, gained in Private Practice and in a large voluntary counselling agency in Bristol.
As a person-centred / humanistic counsellor, I believe that we all have the desire and capacity to fulfil our true potential. I believe that you are the expert on your own life and that you know what is best for you, even if at the moment that doesn’t feel true.
As human beings, we all had “conditions of worth” imposed on us by others early in life, which have led us to believe that we are only acceptable if we think, feel and behave in particular ways. Because we have a deep need to feel valued, we may repress or distort aspects of our inner experience that we believe are not acceptable, so we don’t feel free to be fully ourselves.
My aim is to provide an environment in which you will feel safe to access and express the full range of your inner experience. My hope is that in this environment, you will come to accept and trust yourself more fully and make constructive changes from a much freer place. You will be challenged to reconsider some of your beliefs that once served a purpose, but which now hold you back.
Some situations may be unchangeable, but even in these cases it is often possible to achieve a greater sense of acceptance and peace in place of the turmoil you may currently be experiencing.
If you have experienced traumatic or distressing life events which still affect you today, you might want to talk to me about EMDR, a therapy which is very effective in resolving traumatic experiences. I have also studied Somatic Trauma Therapy training under Babette Rothschild, to further enhance my skills in working with clients who have experienced trauma. I am also trained in the Rewind Technique.
I offer supervision to qualified and student counsellors and other professionals on an individual or group basis.
Qualifications and Memberships
Education
BA (Hons) French Language and Literature (Uni. Leeds)
Due to complete an MSc Psychology Conversion course in Psychology (University of Roehampton) in September 2022
Professional qualifications
Dip HE Counselling (Uni. Gloucestershire)
PGDip Consultative Supervision (Uni. Wales, Newport)
EMDR Level 3
Certificate in Life Coaching
Focusing Level 2
Applied EFT Level 2
Professional memberships
Senior Accredited member of the National Counselling Society
Registered member of the BACP
Member of EMDR UK
I adhere to the National Counselling Society’s Code of Ethical Practice and am subject to its complaints procedure.
What clients say
“After attending counselling with Julia for two years, I have managed to regain personal power in a situation where I felt I had none. I feel it has made the difference and enabled me to cope and see things clearly. Thank you.”
“I saw Julia for several sessions having had trouble adapting to fatherhood and the knock-on effect it had on my relationship with my wife. She was very helpful in helping me not only understand my anger and guilt but find ways to deal with them and move forward. Having gone into the sessions initially skeptical about counselling I found it to be incredibly beneficial.”
“I really gained a lot from about six weeks of counselling with Julia. She helped me to listen to my thoughts, find a voice again and be empowered to implement change in my life and in my view of self. I have recommended Julia to friends and know of one individual who has made really positive changes in his life as a result of Julia’s help.”
“This was my first experience of counselling. I had no idea of how the process would evolve. To say that it has been a success is an understatement. It has taken a while, as Julia suggested it might, but I feel that my issues, which I felt at the time were unresolvable, have now been well and truly sorted through and put into their place. The changes I have gone through have been, for me, quite phenomenal. I started this journey expecting nothing and came out the other side as a better, stronger person than I was at the beginning. It has surpassed all my expectations and I now feel able to move on with my life with confidence. Thanks Julia.”
“It’s not easy to share your problems with someone you don’t know! Julia has a wonderful calm manner which is impartial and professional to help you with any issues that may be troubling you. Having been at a time in which stress and anxiety was a normal way of life, Julia has helped me change the way I think about things in a whole new way and has benefited me entirely. Thank you so much Julia.”
“Lovely lady offering a warm, open and non – judgemental environment in which you are able to talk about issues which may be troubling you. It was a lovely experience for me and thoroughly recommend Julia. If it is your first time having counselling, she is the very best to go to for an all round holistic experience.”
