Anna Jones

I'm an integrative counsellor, which means I can draw on different therapeutic modalities, depending on your individual needs. My work is primarily person-centred, with a psychodynamic understanding. In real terms, this just means that alongside exploring what's happening for you now, we might gently look at how past experiences, relationships and patterns have shaped the way you think, feel and respond today.

I'm particularly interested in the patterns we develop throughout our lives. Perhaps you've always been the person who puts everyone else first, find it difficult to say no, or notice yourself experiencing the same feelings in different relationships. Sometimes these patterns have served a purpose, helping us navigate difficult experiences, but they may no longer be helpful.

Together, we can gently explore these layers, making connections between your past and present, and developing a deeper understanding of why you might think, feel or respond in certain ways.

I work in a trauma-informed and compassionate way, recognising that everyone brings their own experiences, challenges and strengths into the counselling room. I won't push you to talk about anything you're not ready to explore and I believe that building trust is an important part of our work together.

Our sessions will be conversational and collaborative. I may ask questions, offer reflections or gently challenge something you've said, always with curiosity rather than judgement. I don't see myself as the expert on your life. You are. My role is to help you explore it from different perspectives.

Above all, I believe counselling is about understanding yourself, not changing who you are, but perhaps changing how you relate to yourself and the world around you.

Counselling should be a space where you feel heard, understood and perhaps most importantly, not judged. Somewhere you can bring all the different parts of yourself, even the ones you might not fully understand yet.

My approach is warm, compassionate and down to earth. I don't believe counselling needs to feel clinical or intimidating. I'm a real person, sitting alongside you, helping you to make sense of whatever life has brought your way.

I have particular experience supporting people navigating difficult relationships, separation, domestic abuse, family challenges, adoption journeys, loss and significant life changes. I understand that sometimes it's not just one thing that brings us to counselling, but many layers that have built up over time.

My wider professional background includes many years supporting vulnerable individuals and families, and this has shaped my belief that everyone's story deserves to be heard with compassion and curiosity.

Our sessions are led by you. Sometimes we might explore something difficult, sometimes we might sit with feelings that are hard to put into words, and sometimes we might even find a little humour along the way.

I see our first session as an opportunity for us to get to know each other. I understand that starting counselling can feel a little daunting, particularly if you've never experienced it before, so there's no pressure to arrive knowing exactly what to say or where to begin. We will get through it, together.

We'll spend some time talking about what has brought you to counselling, what you might like to gain from our time together and any goals you may have. We'll also explore what counselling actually looks like, how I work and what you can expect from our sessions.

By this time, we will have had a telephone consultation where I have already asked a few questions as part of an initial assessment. This is a continuation of that - helping me to understand a little more about you and your circumstances. It's also an opportunity for you to ask questions and see whether you feel comfortable working with me.

The relationship between counsellor and client is an important part of the therapeutic process. There's no expectation to share everything in the first session. We can take things at a pace that feels right for you.

Ultimately, this is your space, and our first session is simply the beginning of understanding how we might work together.