Frances Hampton

I am currently working remotely via video or telephone. I offer an initial, free 15 minute telephone call to discuss what you are looking for and whether I can help you. I offer weekly daytime sessions between 9am-3pm; please contact me for up to date availability. 

I am a qualified Integrative Counsellor (Person Centred/ Psychodynamic) which means I use different therapeutic approaches to work with you as an individual.  Additionally, I am accredited with the BACP which confirms I have met the BACP higher standard as a competent, ethical and independent practitioner.  

I offer a warm, empathic space for you to share your emotions and explore areas of your life which are not working for you, so you can develop a capacity to learn about yourself and make changes to help you through your life.  I hope that in a safe space, we can work to help you find your inner strength, recognise  patterns of behaviour and learn about relationships in your life that may be impacting how you make and maintain relationships today. Together we can explore links between past experiences and present behaviours, to help you understand what is 'stuck', heal, make choices for change and move towards hope. 

My own experience is that it is possible to develop resilience to and acceptance of random life events which cannot be altered. I have worked with people who have experienced abuse, anxiety, bereavement, chronic health conditions, childhood trauma, depression, low self-esteem, relationship difficulties and substance misuse. If you would like to work with me, I will be with you as you work towards hope, growth and self-healing.

It can be hard to ask for help and trust that you will be heard. My Integrative approach means you can expect our sessions to be non-judgemental and focussed on your agenda as a unique individual. I will offer you the opportunity to trust me with your difficult feelings and issues and to notice together how this might alter your perspective on them.  You may come to therapy to look at one particular issue or you may want to use the space to develop a greater understanding of who you are and where you want to be in the future. 

Prior to training as a counsellor I worked in the voluntary sector for charities supporting mental health service users, single parents and people with sensory disabilities. Part of my training as a counsellor was within an NHS Drug and Alcohol Addictions Service, working with people wanting to change their relationship with the use of substances. I bring this experience of working with a wide range of people and needs to my work now. My time is spent working in private practice, as well as with a Holistic Therapy Centre in North London. 

Our first session will be an assessment and a chance for us both to get a sense of each other. This will give me the opportunity to ask you some questions to understand why you want to come to counselling at this time. I will also invite you to tell me a bit about your history and significant life experiences. My aim is to understand something  of who you are and how you see yourself. We can talk about whether you would like short or long term counselling and what your aims are. After the session you can have time to decide if you feel you would like to work with me.