Gemma Holden

I currently have some availability during the daytime and evenings.

When you’ve finally had enough and decided it’s time to look for some help or support, it can be hard to know exactly what it is you’re looking for; other than somebody to help you feel better than you do right now. Maybe feeling constantly on edge with anxiety has exhausted you, or is stopping you from doing things you used to enjoy or find easy. Perhaps you’ve had enough of feeling numb or very low. It might even be that you’re struggling with the effects of trauma, such as flashbacks, or that you’ve just had enough of being a people-pleaser and putting others before yourself. Whatever it is that’s making your life feel tough for you right now, the fact you’ve started looking into some support is a big step in itself.

The unknown can be another source of anxiety, so what can you expect from counselling with me?

I work in a very human way, and although offering safety can feel very cliché as a counsellor, it's such an important foundation of the work we do. So much of our suffering is as a result of not feeling safe, either directly such as with anxiety and trauma, or through the behaviours we have developed to try and keep us safe that are no longer serving us, such as with people-pleasing.

Although I believe in the client leading the way, I strongly believe in the power of psychoeducation and offering possible explanations that may help things make more sense, for the client to consider. This is only ever offered when it feels appropriate and potentially beneficial, and always without any insistence that the client has to accept it.

My passion is in working in a way that makes you feel seen and heard and gives you the power you need to take back control over your life. Clients understandably often want quick and easy solutions, but by taking the time to work together on what is holding you back, and empowering you to challenge that, the effects can be life-changing, ongoing and permanent.

Within my practice the client is very much accepted as the expert in themselves; only you know what it's like to be you. Through exploring together what topics you bring to sessions, you will gain insight, clarity and acceptance of the things that have brought you to therapy in the first place. 

I've worked a lot with clients struggling with patterns in their lives that are holding them back or no longer working for them. These patterns may look like people-pleasing, struggling to put their own needs first, or even knowing what those needs are. They may have anxiety, or have issues that they find too uncomfortable to face which is having a negative impact on relationships.

Often clients say they don't know where to start because everything feels too big and messy, or that they're afraid to take the lid off a particular box that they've buried deep, because once it's open they're scared of what might happen.

Whatever your particular issues or fears may be, I'm there to be alongside you and help you find the courage to face them in a safe and supported way.

I work with most issues, but also have specific experience working with survivors of sexual abuse and sexual violence, and an understanding of trauma and its effects. 

As well as office-based face-to-face therapy, I also offer Walk & Talk Therapy in the local area.

I work as part of a team of therapists at Open Minds Therapy, to ensure that the therapist you see is the best fit for you. Online and Relationship Counselling are also available through our practice.

I would always aim to discuss referring you on to another therapist if I felt you would be more suited to the way they work or their specialisms.

To have a chat about how we might work together, fill in the contact form and I'll get back to you to arrange a convenient time to suit us both.

If you're comfortable with phone calls, I'll arrange a free, no obligation chat where we can about what led you to reach out for support, what your needs are and what you hope to gain from therapy to make sure that we're a good fit for one another. 

If you find phone calls too difficult then we can look at alternative ways to exchange that information.