Elaine Ward

Availability

I have space on:

• Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and limited availability at weekends.
  

Early morning and late evening appointments may be possible.

Irregular appointment times for shift workers and carers (limited).

Where our counselling sessions will take place

• Online on Zoom
  
• By phone
  
• In person in Basingstoke
  
• Home, care home or hospital visits may be available
  
• Walk and Talk therapy coming soon. Spaces will be limited, so please register your interest.
  

First 30-minute session, free of charge

• Zoom or phone
  
• Tell me as much or as little as you like; ask me anything.
  
• See how it feels to talk to me.
  

Counselling sessions

• 50 minutes each week, on the same day and at the same time. I may be able to accommodate changes.
  
• £60 per 50 minutes. Appointments after 8pm, if available, carry an additional charge; please enquire.
  
• I work with clients long-term and short-term.
  
• I offer single 90-minute sessions.
  

Counselling Approach

Our relationship is the most important part of my approach. Trust and openness can help you feel safe and genuinely supported.

My core training is in Transactional Analysis. This approach looks at our beliefs, thoughts, feelings and behaviour. We can explore when they first appeared, often when you were younger, and whether they are still helpful to you. We can work to challenge negative, self-limiting views to bring about positive change.

I offer creative therapeutic approaches, as some clients like to work through their difficulties in ways that can open up memories and bring new realisations. This might involve a favourite piece of music and what it means to you, a poem, drawing, diagrams or atmospheric decks of cards.

Please enquire about Walk and Talk counselling in Basingstoke, is coming soon and spaces will be limited.

If you are wondering how I can accommodate your needs, do get in touch.

Elaine

Coping on the outside, but not so sure on the inside?

Are worries keeping you awake at night, or are you oversleeping to block life out?

Feeling low or depressed, and it has been going on for too long? Anxiety getting worse and beginning to affect your relationships, work or the things you used to enjoy?

Maybe you cannot face going outside, to work or meet friends. Joy can disappear from our lives sometimes and if that is happening for you, I hope you will get in touch.

Sometimes we realise that we no longer feel like ourselves. You might not want to be who you once were, but want to feel happier or more comfortable with yourself, but not clear about how to get there.

You could be the person everyone relies upon, but you cannot remember the last time anyone did anything for you. Do you notice 'shoulds' in your thoughts and your words? Perhaps you are caring for a loved one, only to realise that it has become too much.

Hi, I am Elaine.

My clients come to me for many different reasons. If what you are experiencing is not mentioned here, please do contact me; I have worked with clients experiencing a wide range of difficulties.

Clients return to me at different times in their lives, and I am always pleased when they feel comfortable getting back in touch. They have told me that they value my warmth, interest and non-judgemental approach, and that they find our time together useful.

Here are some of the other areas I work with:

• Employment pressures and issues
  
• Separation or divorce
  
• A death in your family, a lost friendship or pet.
  
• Menopause, hormonal changes and pregnancy
  
• Long-term or life-limiting illness.
  
• Relationship difficulties and family estrangement
  
• How you feel about your body and yourself.
• Exploring your gender identity or 'coming out' to family, friends, place of work
• Loneliness
  
• Seasonal changes in mood (SAD).?

Why not take the first step and contact me for your free 30-minute session. There is no obligation to continue.

Elaine

I am an Integrative Counsellor in Basingstoke. My core training was in Transactional Analysis (TA), and I draw on other approaches.

Do you think “I should”, “I must” or “I have to be perfect”? Perhaps you put others first or hide how you feel. TA helps us explore where these messages came from, how they affect you and how you might give yourself permission to do things differently.

I listen carefully and take an interest in what matters to you. I may ask questions or share something I notice, and we can decide together what feels helpful. We can try creative activities if you would like to, or just talk.

Our relationship is at the heart of my work. You are welcome as you are.

Qualifications and Training

• BA in Humanistic and Integrative Counselling (due to complete in June 2027)
  
• Level 5 - Foundation Degree in Humanistic Counselling based on Transactional Analysis
  
• Level 3 - Person-Centred Counselling
  
• Cruse Bereavement Training
  
• Counselling in Nature
  
• Safeguarding

Memberships

• Registered Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP)
  
• Member of the Hampshire Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (HACP)
  

Ethical Counselling Practice

• This ensures that you are safe when you are with me.
  
• Monthly Clinical Supervision
  
• Peer Supervision
  
• Personal therapy
  
• Continuing Professional Development - mental health, neurodivergence, self-harm, domestic abuse, anxiety, trauma, creative activities
  
• Enhanced DBS
  
• Counselling Practice Insurance
  
• Registered with the ICO (Information Commissioner's Office)
  

Current Research Project

How comfortable do women feel talking about perimenopause, menopause and post-menopause symptoms?

Basingstoke College of Technology (BCOT)

• Pegasus Men's Wellbeing
  
• Anaphylaxis UK
  
• St Michael's Hospice, Basingstoke
  
• Basingstoke Mencap
  
• Basingstoke Neighbourcare
• Breast Cancer Charity
  

Do contact me if you have any questions, I will do my best to accommodate you.

Elaine

Step 1 - Get in touch

Is for your to contact me by email, phone or WhatsApp. If you would prefer me to call you back, please let me know a convenient day and time.

We can then arrange your free 30-minute introductory session by Zoom or phone. It is a chance for us to get to know each other and for you to see whether counselling with me feels right for you.

Step 2 - Your 30 minute free of charge introductory session

In our call, I will explain what working with me might be like, and you can ask anything you would like to know. You can share as much or as little as feels right. You do not need to tell me your whole story or know where to start.

If you decide to go ahead, we can agree a weekly appointment on the same day and at the same time, and agree how you would like to pay. 

You can be assured that I work in complete privacy so everything you tell me will remain confidential.

Step 3 - The paperwork

I will email you a welcome pack, including my terms and conditions, for you to read, sign and return by email together with your payment.

If we are meeting online, I will send you a Zoom link. If we are meeting in person, I will send you the venue details.

If you need time to think, that is absolutely fine too. There is no obligation to book.

Step 4 - Our first counselling session

We will go through the welcome pack together, including practical arrangements, confidentiality and its limits, and you can ask me any questions. Then we can begin to look at what has brought you to counselling and what you might like to get from our time together.

You may have something specific you want to talk about, or perhaps you just know that things do not feel quite right. Either is a good place to start.

If you have a preference about how we work together, perhaps you would find direct questions helpful or would like to try a creative approach, we can talk about that too.

There is no pressure to talk about anything before you are ready. We will work at a pace that feels comfortable for you.