Elanor Gibson

No current availability

Hi, I'm Elanor. 

I am an experienced, BACP registered, integrative and psychotherapeutic counsellor. I have completed integrative, relational counselling training and further specialist therapy training (please see below). I have been a therapist for 10 years, offering time-limited or long-term counselling. This includes supporting people with stress, low mood, burn-out, trauma recovery, complex relationships, neurodiversity, parenting/carer challenges, loss and bereavement, addiction recovery, self-discovery, life’s transitions, adjustment to diagnosis and long-term illness.

I have 15+ years experience working within psychology and healthcare teams in the NHS; with adults and older adults from all walks of life, many of whom were living with long-term neurological conditions – particularly dementia, and I also supported their carers/partners. I have worked within charities and agencies specialising in end of life and bereavement support/therapy, and also addiction recovery (mainly alcohol); supporting those in recovery and family members/partners affected by someone else’s substance use (past or present).

My Work Experience

These therapeutic, health and charitable settings I have worked with are mostly Bristol-based and include the Bristol Dementia Wellbeing Service, the SWAN Project, The Harbour, Forest of Avon Trust (‘Woodland Wellbeing’ groups) and community gardens around Bristol (co-facilitating therapeutic nature or art groups). Previously I worked for the UK Young Autism Project in Swansea, and as a healthcare assistant in various mental-health care and neurological-health care settings in Wales and the Bristol area (NHS and private sector).

My Qualifications

Starting with the most recent: IFS (Internal Family Systems) Level 1, Diploma in Professional Studies Counselling from University of West of England (UWE), Counselling Certificate from UWE, MSc in Neuropsychology from Bristol University and a BSc in Psychology from Swansea University.

Whatever has brought you to this point, you have taken a big step already. Asking for help is not easy and takes courage! Sometimes we feel very clear about the sort of support we need or want, and other times this is murky and complicated. This might be your first time accessing counselling, which can feel full of unknowns, and I can give you information about what to expect from beginning counselling.

My Approach

I draw mainly from Person-Centred, Psychodynamic, Gestalt and Trauma-informed approaches including IFS, whilst bringing a neuropsychological perspective to understanding the brain-mind-body relationship and incorporating somatic and sensorimotor approaches, if agreed between us. I am a registered member of the British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP), abide by its Code of Ethics and attend regular supervision with a qualified supervisor to ensure my counselling work is both ethical and effective.

I work relationally and creatively.  I value the relationship and accept that each person is unique. I draw from a number of therapeutic tools that are available, in order to find the most appropriate to the individual for their own personal growth. I love creativity! At your request, I would be happy to integrate elements of creative approaches to our work together.

I am also passionate about working therapeutically with nature and the outdoors, such as ‘walk and talk’, or bringing natural items or found objects which are meaningful to you, into an indoor space to work with creatively. 

- I offer face-to-face counselling from 2 different therapy spaces; in Old Market and Redcliffe.  Both are in Bristol.

- I can also offer face-to-face outdoor or 'walk and talk' counselling in South and East Bristol. Please enquire to find out more.

- I am available for online sessions.

The first session is what’s known as a consultation, where the purpose is to get a feel for whether we might work well together. For me that involves assessing whether I can offer you effective support and if my approach is going to be useful to you. For you, you’ll be looking for a gut feeling about whether you feel comfortable enough with me to bring up whatever you need or want to.

I also offer a free 20-minute introductory chat online or over the phone.

I’ll send you a written contract called a ‘Counselling Agreement’ prior to the first session – this includes things like how I keep your information confidential, how we arrange time off or cancellations, and how you would pay. This gives us clear expectations and I welcome any questions about anything to do with the contract or my approach.

How many sessions?

Our work may be short-term (anywhere from 8 – 16 sessions), medium-term (up to 6 months) or long-term, which would finish whenever you feel it is the right time for you. This all depends on what you’d prefer and what the issue is that you’re tackling, and is not always clear to begin with.

~

More information about therapy

Aspects of Integrative Counselling are described here: https://www.bacp.co.uk/about-therapy/types-of-therapy/integrative-counselling/  

My core approaches are Person-Centred, Psychodynamic, Gestalt and Trauma-Informed including IFS (Internal Family Systems). Further reading about the latter two can be found here: https://www.bacp.co.uk/about-therapy/types-of-therapy/gestalt/ and here: https://www.goodtotalktherapy.co.uk/blog/what-is-ifs-therapy-guide

Please get in touch, leave a message and we can then arrange a telephone call if you wish. Thank you.

No current availability

Hi, I'm Elanor.

I am an experienced, BACP registered, integrative and psychotherapeutic counsellor. I have completed integrative, relational counselling training and further specialist therapy training (please see below). I have been a therapist for 10 years, offering time-limited or long-term counselling. This includes supporting people with stress, low mood, burn-out, trauma recovery, complex relationships, neurodiversity, parenting/carer challenges, loss and bereavement, addiction recovery, self-discovery, life’s transitions, adjustment to diagnosis and long-term illness.

I have 15+ years experience working within psychology and healthcare teams in the NHS; with adults and older adults from all walks of life, many of whom were living with long-term neurological conditions – particularly dementia, and I also supported their carers/partners. I have worked within charities and agencies specialising in end of life and bereavement support/therapy, and also addiction recovery (mainly alcohol); supporting those in recovery and family members/partners affected by someone else’s substance use (past or present).

My Work Experience

These therapeutic, health and charitable settings I have worked with are mostly Bristol-based and include the Bristol Dementia Wellbeing Service, the SWAN Project, The Harbour, Forest of Avon Trust (‘Woodland Wellbeing’ groups) and community gardens around Bristol (co-facilitating therapeutic nature or art groups). Previously I worked for the UK Young Autism Project in Swansea, and as a healthcare assistant in various mental-health care and neurological-health care settings in Wales and the Bristol area (NHS and private sector).

My Qualifications

Starting with the most recent: IFS (Internal Family Systems) Level 1, Diploma in Professional Studies Counselling from University of West of England (UWE), Counselling Certificate from UWE, MSc in Neuropsychology from Bristol University and a BSc in Psychology from Swansea University.

Whatever has brought you to this point, you have taken a big step already. Seeking help is not easy! You may feel very clear about the sort of help you need or want, or this might be your first time accessing counselling, which can feel very daunting and unknown, and I can give you information about what to expect from beginning counselling. Maybe you feel overwhelmed or stuck and would like to make changes in your life. A safe space to talk, think, feel, can often be enough to find clarity and a way through life's challenges.

I work relationally and creatively. 'Some therapists combine creative activities with talking therapy as part of their sessions.' (www.bacp.co.uk/about-therapy/types-of-therapy/creative-therapy). I am experienced in integrating various therapeutic approaches to best suit each person, which can include working therapeutically outdoors, such as 'walk and talk', or bringing natural items or found objects into an indoor space to work with creatively. My experience also includes therapeutic drawing, writing, use of metaphors and imagery. There are many options for working creatively to gain awareness about yourself and your relationship patterns. 

I also believe in the effectiveness of the therapeutic relationship itself. I aim to offer you a calm, curious and connected presence, and a chance to be yourself, find yourself, understand your relationships and life circumstances (past and present) and even heal old wounds.  This is all possible.

- I offer face-to-face counselling from 2 different therapy spaces, in Old Market and in Redcliffe, Bristol. 

- I can also offer face-to-face outdoor or 'walk and talk' counselling in South and East Bristol. Please enquire to find out more.

- I am available for online sessions when it is more feasible.

The first session is what’s known as a consultation, where the purpose is to get a feel for whether we might work well together. For me that involves assessing whether I can offer you effective support and if my approach is going to be useful to you. For you, you’ll be looking for a gut feeling about whether you feel comfortable enough with me to bring up whatever you need or want to.

I also offer a free 20-minute introductory chat online or over the phone.

I’ll send you a written contract called a ‘Counselling Agreement’ prior to the first session – this includes things like how I keep your information confidential, how we arrange time off or cancellations, and how you would pay. This gives us clear expectations and I welcome any questions about anything to do with the contract or my approach.

How many sessions?

Our work may be short-term (anywhere from 8 – 16 sessions), medium-term (up to 6 months) or long-term, which would finish whenever you feel it is the right time for you. This all depends on what you’d prefer and what the issue is that you’re tackling, and is not always clear to begin with.

~

More information about therapy

Aspects of Integrative Counselling are described here: https://www.bacp.co.uk/about-therapy/types-of-therapy/integrative-counselling/  

My core approaches are Person-Centred, Psychodynamic, Gestalt and Trauma-Informed including IFS (Internal Family Systems). Further reading about the latter two can be found here: https://www.bacp.co.uk/about-therapy/types-of-therapy/gestalt/ and here: https://www.goodtotalktherapy.co.uk/blog/what-is-ifs-therapy-guide

Please get in touch and we can then arrange a telephone call if you wish.  Thank you.