Hello, I'm Abi

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I'm  a qualified and trauma informed Integrative Therapist, this means that I'm trained

in  several different types of therapy. My core approach is Person Centred because it

is my absolute belief that you are the expert on you. 

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I think of therapy as a walk which you have invited me to share. My job is not to tell you which route to take or which path to follow, it is to walk by your side, step by step, and to draw your attention to things you may usually not notice or not take time to really acknowledge.

 

Some clients are nervous or even fearful of therapy because often just the thought of talking about difficult issues can feel upsetting. I want you to know there is no requirement to talk about anything you are not ready to speak about.

 

You are invited to share anything you want without fear of judgement, but his doesn't mean you need to recount details that might be painful.  I find that the use of both metaphor and the felt sense allows the work we do together to feel transformative but also safely held.

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I believe that our experiences, particularly in childhood, lay the foundations for the way we live our lives.

Many of my clients have experienced severe or enduring trauma which is often replayed in their relationships and impacts their self worth, leading to anxiety, depression and distress. Many have complex coping strategies which may now become hard to manage so all sessions are  led by client needs, and move at the speed of trust. 

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Having volunteered at Cotswold Counselling Service in Gloucestershire for many years I started working with private clients in 2013. I have a special interest in trauma in relation to long term mental ill health including diagnosis of personality disorders and my work is informed by the model of Internal Family Systems.  

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Since qualifying I have continued professional training undertaking a range of additional courses and I am also a Clinical Supervisor for other therapists.

 

In March 2020 I completed additional training and professional development in Online and Telephone Counselling to work with clients in times when face to face therapy is not possible. This has opened up my client work to people across the country and now the majority of my work is online. 

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I am a member of and abide by the Ethical Framework of the BACP  - British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. I am also included on the BACP Register of Counsellors & Psychotherapists - the first psychological therapists' register to be accredited under a scheme set up by the Department of Health. 

Additionally, I am also a member of the NCPS  - National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society and ACTO - The Association for Counselling and Therapy Online.

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