Anita Dunford

I currently have some limited  in-person availability on Tuesdays or Wednesdays from my premises in central Ilkley.

Do you feel overwhelmed with the stressors of modern day living and would like to explore options for a more fulfilling life? Are you feeling exhausted at meeting the needs of others and find it difficult to find time for your own needs or unable to say “no” to the needs of others without feeling guilty?

Perhaps you need support to develop better ways of coping in times of stress or explore your own ways of behaving and relating with other people. It maybe that you are feeling a sense of emptiness and fulfilment and feel depressed or anxious and are looking for clearer direction and life meaning.

All of us experience difficult times in our lives. It maybe that you are struggling with a specific issue such as relationship or family issues. Maybe you are considering separation or divorce and need to talk through the difficulties. Or are experiencing grief due to bereavement and need someone to talk to but worry about burdening your family or friends.

Sometimes we don’t understand why we feel the way we do, why we think the way we do, and why we behave the way we do. The most important relationship we have is the relationship with ourselves but for many of us this can be the most difficult. Whatever your reasons, counselling can help provide the opportunity to explore, make sense of, and work through difficult and painful processes which can help us live a happier more fulfilling life with ourselves and in our relationships with ourselves and others.

I am a fully qualified, experienced, counsellor and psychotherapist. I am a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) which means I provide a high level of professional competence and care.

I aim to provide a safe, non-judgmental, confidential environment from where you can talk about anything you want, however difficult. I will listen carefully and non-judgmentally, with respect, in complete confidence. Together we may explore what is troubling you, and begin to find a way for you to reach your own decisions and make your own choices.

I provide both short and long-term counselling, working over a few weeks or several months, depending on your individual needs and wishes.

I am a qualified counsellor (Accredited) and Clinical Supervisor, and I work within the ethical guidelines of the BACP.

My training and work style are based on the Relational Model, which is grounded in the premise that many of our problems take root in troubled interpersonal relationships both in the past and present. I am very much informed by attachment theory and work from a trauma-informed practice.

My experience includes work with common mental health problems, grief and loss, anxiety, relationship issues, self-esteem, and trauma.

I am particularly interested in early life trauma and the impact of this on individuals. I enjoy working with clients and approaching their issues as something that's “happened to them” rather than something that's "wrong with them", and I take pride in helping clients learn about the psycho-educational model and regain their power.

Way of working

My supervision training is based on the Seven-Eyed Supervision model, developed by Peter Hawkins and Robin Shohet in 1985, who integrated supervision's relational and systemic aspects into a single theoretical model. The model is a relational model as its focus is on the relationship between the Client, Therapist, and Supervisor and the relational interplay between the relationships and their context in the wider system.

My aim is to provide you with a safe, supported environment that is formative, normative, and restorative. Formative supervision focuses on the educational aspects of supervision, helping with the development of skills and knowledge, to learn and grow as a counsellor, and the development of knowledge, skills, and attitudes. Normative supervision focuses on the managerial aspects of working with clients, addressing professional standards, legal and ethical practice, and safeguarding. Finally, restorative supervision supports you by exploring and reflecting on areas you find challenging. In this safe, supported environment, the focus will be on your well-being which is an essential component of working ethically.

I am available for both in-person and online sessions. If this is of interest to you, please get in touch. I offer a free consultation to all potential supervisees. This allows us to meet, discuss ways of working, training and qualifications, etc and see if we would work well together. We can discuss affordability in this meeting if you are a newly qualified counsellor or a counsellor who is starting in private practice.

Please note that I am not trained in working with children and young people and, therefore, cannot provide supervision for supervises who require supervision for this client group.

If this is of interest to you, please get in touch. I offer a free consultation to all potential supervisees. This allows us to meet, discuss ways of working, training and qualifications, etc and see if we would work well together. We can discuss affordability in this meeting if you are a newly qualified counsellor or a counsellor who is starting in private practice.

Please note that I am not trained in working with children and young people and, therefore, cannot provide supervision for supervises who require supervision for this client group.

Cost and Availability

Fees

Qualified counsellors—I offer one-hour sessions at £60 (once or twice a month, as you prefer, to make sure your overall supervision is in line with your membership body requirements) or 1.5 hours, charged at £90.

Newly qualified counsellors and counsellors just staring in private practice — I offer one-hour sessions at £50 (once or twice a month, as you prefer, to make sure your overall supervision is in line with your membership body requirements) or 1.5 hours, charged at £75.