Jonathan Holmes

I currently have some availability for new clients and offer counselling sessions in central Harrogate on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, including some after-school and early evening appointments, subject to availability.

Sessions are usually 50 minutes and cost from £75.00, with longer sessions available where appropriate and agreed in advance.

Hello, I'm Jonathan, a UKCP accredited, BACP and UKCP trained Integrative Psychotherapeutic Counsellor. I offer face-to-face counselling from my practice in central Harrogate, as well as online sessions and outdoor counselling.

I work with adults, couples, young people and children as well as organisations and trainee therapists. I offer both short and long-term therapy, depending on your needs and what feels right for you.

I have experience working with and supporting clients presenting with a range of issues, including anxiety/OCD/stress, low mood/depression, relationship difficulties, self-esteem/confidence, identity, bereavement/loss, neurodiversity, trauma, abuse, anger, childhood-related experiences, work-related difficulties and health-related issues.

I offer a professional, confidential, compassionate and non-judgemental space where you can feel heard, understood and supported. I work at your pace and believe that therapy is a collaborative process, where together we can explore your thoughts, feelings, experiences and relationships, and make sense of whatever ever brings you to therapy.

I believe that no two people are the same. I work with openness, curiosity and acceptance, respecting differences relating to ability and disability, age, class, culture, education, ethnicity, gender, race, religion, sexuality and spirituality. My approach is informed by the Transactional Analysis principle of "I'm OK, You're OK", and by a belief in the inherent value, strengths and potential of people.

As an Integrative therapist, I draw upon a range of therapeutic approaches, selecting what feels most appropriate for your individual needs, circumstances and goals, which means our work can be tailored to you rather than following a one-size-fits-all approach. My work draws on a number of approaches including Humanistic, Person-Centred, Transactional Analysis, Relational, Psychodynamic, Systemic, Trauma-informed and Creative.

For some children, young people and adults, talking may not always be the easiest or most natural way to express difficult feelings. Creative approaches such as drawing, painting, clay, sand tray, music and other forms of creative expression can offer alternative ways of exploring and communicating experiences that may be difficult to put into words.

I also offer outdoor and walk-and-talk counselling for adult clients. For some people, being outdoors can provide a different environment in which to reflect, move and explore what is happening for them, and some prefer the familiarity and privacy of traditional face-to-face or online sessions.

Alongside my private practice, I have experience working in primary and secondary schools, charities, therapy centres and clinics. I have worked with people ranging in age from 5 to 92, giving me experience of supporting people at many different stages of life and with a wide range of life-experiences and circumstances.

People come to therapy for many different reasons. Sometimes there is a particular event or difficulty that may bring you to counselling,  you may feel overwhelmed, stuck, disconnected or unsure of what is happening for you. Together we may explore how experiences from the past can influence the present, how you relate to yourself and others, and to develop greater understanding, self-awareness, balance and a clearer sense of direction.

Whatever has brought you to therapy, we can begin with whatever feels most important to you and work from there, at a pace that feels manageable.

Taking the first step towards counselling can feel daunting. You may not know exactly what you need, what to expect, where to begin, or even how to put what you are experiencing into words. My aim is to make that first step as comfortable and straightforward as possible.

If you would like to talk things through before making a decision, I offer a free 15-minute telephone consultation. This gives you an opportunity to tell me a little about what is happening for you, ask questions and get a sense of how I work. It is also an opportunity for us to consider whether we might be a good fit to work together.

If you decide to proceed, I aim to offer an initial appointment within one to two weeks, subject to availability. This first session gives us time to talk about what has brought you to counselling, what you would like support with and what you hope to gain from therapy.

Sessions are usually weekly to begin with, as regularity can provide continuity and momentum. Fortnightly or monthly sessions can also be arranged where appropriate and we can review the frequency and focus of our work as your needs change.

There is no fixed length of time for therapy. For some people, a particular difficulty, event or period of life may be the focus of shorter-term work. For others, therapy may be more open-ended, particularly when long-standing patterns, relationships or experiences need more time to be processed and understood. Ultimately, the way we work together should reflect you, your circumstances and what you need from your therapy.

If you are seeking therapy for your child, we would initially arrange a parent consultation without your child present, so that you can talk about your concerns and what you feel your child may need support with. If appropriate the next step would be for your child to attend an initial session, giving them the opportunity to meet me, become familiar with the space and decide how they feel about working with me.