Elaine Russell-Jarvie

Having practised in the voluntary sector for fifteen years with CRUSE Bereavement Care, I qualified with a P.G. Diploma at York St. John University, I have worked in Private Practise for the past eight years.

My therapeutic approach is based on the Person-Centred Model, but I combine this with a firm understanding and practise of other models, individually tailored to best support each client.

My practice is primarily based on first creating a relaxed, trusting and honest relationship, in a non-threatening environment where I hope clients feel they can experience a deep sense of empathy and lack of judgement. 

My approach then, is based firmly on trusted models though not prescriptive, so that the client feels very much empowered to set the pace and content.  This can include gentle challenge, but always with the client in control.  I do include elements of C.B.T. when appropriate as well as existential, transactional analysis, mindfulness and solution-focussed work. 

I have a broad spectrum of experience, but particularly with loss and change due to illness, bereavement, separation and divorce, loss or change of career and loss of self-esteem or self-worth.

So that I can maintain a fee that is accessible for most, I work from a private and secure office in my home.

I run a flexible diary aiming to take account of client's working hours, so appointments can be made up to 7.00 pm and for some Saturday mornings.

There is easy parking near the property and I can be reached within twenty minutes from Witney, fifteen from Chipping Norton, and ten from Burford.

The first session is mostly spent on a 'getting to know you' footing, with a view to beginning a trusting relationship.  There will be two forms to fill in, one for client details and one for GDPR purposes.  The terms of our therapeutic relationship will be discussed agreed and set.  These include an understanding of the confidentiality the client will expect, the time-frame of the sessions and the expectations the client may have from our work. I will also discuss what the client may expect from me, with reference to the B.A.C.P. ethical framework, and in turn what I might expect from them as we begin the work.

There will be ample time for the client to ask any questions they may have about my practice and what they can expect.

 We may then look at the issues brought and in the light of these, may agree the best place to begin our work. 

It will then be for the client to choose to make a further appointment, usually but not necessarily on a weekly basis.