Jackie Adams

I am an experienced BACP Accredited Counsellor working with adults and couples, and I would welcome the opportunity to work with you, and to support you as your therapist.

I also work with clients who wish to explore relationships with others they are close to e.g. siblings, parent & adult child, friends.

I work primarily online and also offer counselling outdoors in nature to clients in the Lichfield area. 

I work Tuesdays, Wednesdays (pm) and Thursdays and I am accepting new clients for a January start.

Please feel free to contact me by email if you wish to explore further or arrange an introductory call. Thank you.

When I first had counselling, I found that the nurturing, supportive relationship offered by my counsellor was key; it helped me feel safe to explore my problems.

It affirmed my belief that good relationships have the power to help build our own sense of self-acceptance and esteem and repair the hurts and traumas that affect our lives.

I understand that our relationship is key to helping you to feel safe, valued and listened to, and this is at the heart of my practice.

I offer a warm, empathic, non-judgemental space where I hope you will feel heard, understood and accepted. As a trained Person-Centred counsellor, I am client-led in my practice and open to working with the issues that you wish to bring to therapy.

In relationship counselling, I support the communication between you both as a couple. I believe it is important that you are both listened to and valued equally as individuals in our counselling sessions.

I have experience working with clients on a wide range of issues and have developed a special interest in: 

• relationships and couples counselling
• the impact of neurodivergence (notably Autistic Spectrum Condition and ADHD) on individual clients and couples and their relationship including late diagnosis (especially in women)
• existential exploration/major life change
• bereavement and loss and 
• eating distress.

Whatever difficulties you are facing, I am willing to work in depth to explore the emotional impact of significant life events on you and help you navigate your way through the changes they bring.

As counselling progresses, I will help you find more clarity and strength in yourself and a way forward that is right for you.

I offer flexible appointments on Tuesdays, Wednesdays (pm) and Thursdays. Please contact me to discuss the best support for you.

Thank you for reading my profile, I look forward to hearing from you.

I work Tuesdays, Wednesdays (pm) and Thursdays.  

Client focus:

• Individual adults (from 18+) and 
• Couples / Relationship Counselling - couples, or other combinations of relationship counselling e.g. mother/daughter, brother/sister etc.

For individual clients, I offer face to face counselling outdoors in local, natural settings, online sessions using Zoom or telephone appointments.  My fee is £60 for a full hour.

For couples and relationship counselling, I offer counselling support to couples online using Zoom.  My fee is £80 for a full hour.

I am insured and qualified to work nationally and internationally using Zoom and email counselling (trained to Professional level, ACTO - Association for Counselling and Therapy Online).

Background qualifications and experience

• Postgraduate Diploma in Person-Centred Counselling Psychology (Keele University)
• I have a Diploma in Person-Centred Couples Counselling
• Experience includes working with staff and students at three Universities, a bereavement and loss charity, and counselling for staff in the NHS
• I set up my own private practice in June 2018
• Qualified Online Counsellor to Professional level (ACTO), I’m experienced in offering counselling online via Zoom, telephone, email and instant messaging
• Trained in counselling outdoors in nature and I am insured to provide this service to clients
• I have experience of working with clients on a wide range of issues including anxiety, stress, depression, self-confidence, anger and relationship breakdown 
• I attend regular CPD training days keeping my skills and knowledge up-to-date so that I can help you in the best way I can. Recent training includes:
• Building an effective Neurodivergent Affirming Practice
• ADHD in Women, including the impact of late diagnosis
• Couples Counselling including the impact of Neurodivergence on relationships, dealing with affairs etc
• Relationships in families & emotional wounds

Before the first session

The relationship between client and therapist is an important one so with this in mind, as soon as you have made contact, I will invite you to have a brief introductory telephone conversation before we book any sessions. 

If you are part of a couple coming for counselling, I will offer this preliminary telephone conversation to each of you separately.

In my experience, this is a helpful part of the process to make sure that you feel comfortable talking to me, to check that what you are bringing to counselling is something I can support you with, and that we both feel that we can work together as therapist and client.

You may not have been to counselling before so this is an opportunity for you to ask questions or raise any concerns you have may have.

Once we have spoken and agreed that we would like to work together, we can arrange our first session.

First session

In our first session, we will begin to explore the issues you wish to bring to counselling and to get to know one another.  

By the end of the session, we should have more of a sense of whether we feel like "a good fit" and you are free to decide if you would like to book another session.

Flexible working pattern

I am happy to book weekly or fortnightly sessions, or to follow a more flexible appointment pattern if you prefer.  I will review this with you regularly to make sure the service I offer responds to your needs wherever possible within the parameters of my diary and availability.

All sessions last for up to 60 minutes.