Julia Appleton

Because you're here, I imagine that things are feeling difficult. You may be struggling with depression or anxiety. Perhaps you have been affected by a loss or have experienced trauma. Your relationships with family, friends or colleagues might feel complicated. Patterns keep repeating and you don't know how to change them. Or maybe you have a sense that something isn't quite right, even if you are not sure what that is. There are many reasons why we seek support from counselling.

In emotionally stressful times, it can be hard to make sense of how talking can help. But being with a counsellor who is trained to listen and respond in a certain way can have a profound effect on how we deal with confusing and overwhelming emotions. Counselling is a way of thinking carefully about the roots of your problems, how they may have developed and how things can change, so that you can live your life differently. 

I work in an Integrative way and take the view that there is no single approach that can treat all people in all situations. Rather, each person is considered as a whole and we work together to meet your specific needs. 

I am a fully qualified and experienced counsellor, working from a comfortable therapy room in the Buckinghamshire town of Princes Risborough, close to Aylesbury, High Wycombe, Thame, Chinnor and the surrounding areas. There is easy access from J4 of the M40. Currently, I am working remotely via Zoom and Skype in line with Public Health England recommendations. I intend to return to face-to-face work in  Autumn 2021, COVID-restrictions allowing, but will continue to offer on-line sessions as well as in-person sessions. I work with adults (18+) from all cultures, orientations and backgrounds and have experience of working with people who are struggling with a broad range of emotional issues. 

Having worked clinically in the NHS for many years in the fields of neurology and cancer care, I have a particular understanding and interest in the links between our emotional and physical health. I continue to update my skills and learning through regular attendance at workshops, conferences and courses. I adhere to the BACP Ethical Framework, receive regular supervision in order to maintain the highest standards of practice, am fully insured and hold an enhanced DBS check. All work between us is confidential.

I offer a free, 20-minute phone consultation and you are welcome to contact me by phone or email to arrange this. Both are completely confidential. It gives me the opportunity to hear something of what has brought you in to counselling and it also gives you the chance to get an idea of how I work and whether this might be right for you. 

If we decide to continue the conversation, we can meet for a face-to-face discussion in my consulting room (or on-line) for 50 minutes. This will give us more time to think about how your problems developed and how those experiences may be influencing your life today. If you decide to continue with counselling, we would then arrange to meet once weekly, on the same day at the same time. We can work to an agreed number of sessions (short-term) or we can work for longer (long-term). This can be reviewed at any time.