Jessica Whitehead

I have some immediate availability on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday daytime, online anywhere, or face to face in Stroud.

I’m a qualified Integrative Counsellor, available during the day online anywhere, or in person in Stroud.

You may be facing any combination of relationship problems, anxiety, depression, stress, trauma and loss. Managing these inevitable parts of life can be alarming and frightening. Compassionate and open-minded therapeutic support, beyond friends or family, can help you to see your way through. When we work together, your well-being and experiences are the most important things to me. I listen to, respect and cherish your uniqueness, explore what is contributing to your discomfort and how you would like to live.

Whatever challenges you are facing, I offer an empathic, non-judgmental and supportive space. Being person-centred and trauma-informed, I value your whole self and what you choose to bring to our sessions, working at your pace. I also believe our childhood  relationships and experiences can shape our ongoing understanding of ourselves and the world, so I draw on psychodynamic and attachment therapy approaches.

The therapeutic relationship we create is crucial in working together to understand what’s challenging you, what relational patterns you may have outgrown and wish to change, and explore how to take steps towards a fuller life. I trust deeply that you have the knowledge within you and I would be honoured to help navigate the ups and downs alongside you.

I have experience working with relationship difficulties, relational trauma, anxiety, depression, stress, low self-worth, abuse and loss.

I hold a BACP-accredited Diploma in Integrative Counselling from the Minster Centre (September 2020), a leading integrative therapy training institute. My training and experience enables me to draw on a range of therapeutic approaches (relational, humanistic, psychodynamic, attachment) and adapt my approach to your particular needs.

Alongside my private practice, I provide low-cost counselling services at The Listening Post in Stroud, and previously at Help Counselling and the Minster Centre’s Psychotherapy and Counselling Service in London. I have earlier career experience advocating for refugees, asylum seekers and people in need of support from public services.

As a registered member of BACP, I adhere to its Ethical Framework and Professional Occupational Standards, including continuing my professional development and undertaking regular supervision and training.

Making the decision to find the right therapist for you can be both daunting and exciting. 

After you email me, we can arrange an initial assessment session at a time that works for us both. If you would like a short phone call we can arrange this, to give you an initial sense of whether you are comfortable to go ahead.  

At the assessment session we would get a feel for whether we would like to carry on working together, and to understand what brings you to therapy. We can discuss your hopes, fears, expectations and any other questions you might have. You would also have space to consider whether I am the right therapist for you. This session is a reduced rate of £50.