Jane Ratford

NHS trained therapist and university lecturer. 

Therapy is for everyone who wants to explore an aspect of their life that is feeling difficult and stuck. A low mood or troubling feelings; unhappy personal relationships; a disappointing career - all of these life issues can benefit from taking time to explore and reflect on what's really going on with the help of counselling or psychotherapy in a confidential and supportive space.

My in-depth training at the NHS Tavistock and Portman clinic in psychodynamic psychotherapy and my academic work as a lecturer in counselling psychology at the University of Hertfordshire means I can offer clients professional and evidence based practice.

I offer both time-limited counselling and open ended psychotherapy according to your needs - individually tailored sessions to promote understanding and enable change. 

Psychotherapy

On-going therapy offers the opportunity to explore the issues that matter to you at your own pace. It may involve exploring your childhood or it may not - that is up to you. You'll be asked to speak about whatever is on your mind. Over time, working together, you will begin to develop the skill of self-reflection and the ability to recognise patterns of behaviour, and conflicts, in yourself which will then be open to the possibility of change. Therapy can be ended at any time that suits you.

Time-limited counselling

I also offer a time-limited piece of work where together we agreed on what is most troubling you and what will be our focus for attention over the next 10 sessions. Time-limited work can be very helpful where there is a clear focus - it may be a workplace issue or relationship problem with one person close to you. At the end of the 10 weeks clients usually have a much better understanding of the issue and capacity to change and deal with it.

First Consultation Meeting

This is a no obligations first meeting and an opportunity to freely talk about the issues affecting you. It's an opportunity to ask questions about the process of therapy and to see if the experience suits you and your needs. For some people this one session may be enough to gain a new understanding to tackle the issue from a different perspective. The first session lasts for up to 60 minutes. Subsequent sessions last for 50 minutes.