Gabriella Benson

I am available for private sessions on Thursdays and sundays . I offer evening sessions on both those days. 

I am an integrative Counsellor and Psychotherapist. My main model is Person Centred therapy which is great for helping someone accept and learn to love themselves for all they are . What this means is, that I have not just one therapeutic theory or skill that I work by. My day job is working for the NHS doing assessments and treatments of common mental health problems and providing low intensity CBT. 

I incorporate skills in Mindfullness, Method of Levels, Transactional Analysis, Motivational Interviewing and some other theories and skills in have gained over my years of practice. 

I tend to work well in helping those with self esteem issues, anxiety and depression. I offer assessment session to help people understand what type of therapist would be best to support them with their issues. 

I have special interest in working with those accepting  and exploring their sexuality and race and culture . 

I have had training and have special interest in working with people who are in the perinatal period , so technically this is pregnancy or within 2 years of having a baby . But I also support those trying to get pregnant or having suffered pregnancy loss . 

I work with a lot of teenagers and young people at the moment , assisting them with accepting and forming the people they become . 

I’m my work my clients are the expert of their experience , not me , I sit with them , exploring their world together with them . 

When appropriate I share skills and metaphors to help my client manage challenges they face, or just unpick them. 

I offer unconditional positive regard , empathy and honesty in presence. 

In my work I always aim to be warm and accepting of my clients . 

I keep an eye on the safety of my clients , often reviewing safeguarding and self harm concerns .

I am focussed on building the confidence and resilience of my clients , helping them feel more able to cope with the stresses in their lives . 

I our first session, I will do some questionnaires with you and ask you about the issues you face . We will create a ‘contract’ together, and this ensures good boundaries and safety for both of us within our work . The contract is something we produce together to make the conditions of our therapy specific to our joint needs . 

I check in with safety of yourself and others around you , and ask you questions about your goals for therapy. 

If a person chooses to have the first session as an assessment , I suggest as I would for the NHS, what NICE guidelines would recommend as a treatment model for the issues you face , so I could suggest particular types of therapy that would be helpful. 

Overall , I just try to be kind and accepting of the world that person brings with them , their views and personality is the truth in the room with me , and I just want to build a trustworthy therapeutic relationship .