Relational Counselling in Swanscombe

Are you experiencing negative thoughts, unpleasant emotions, feeling stressed, anxious, or low? Perhaps you are going through a difficult time in your life and in need of support? Are confused, struggling to find meaning, purpose and direction or find a way through? Having problems with work or relationships? If so, my training in mindfulness, self-compassion, integrative psychotherapeutic counselling and 15 years experience, enables me to weave together an approach that can best help you meet difficulties with more clarity, kindness and resourcefulness, while empowering you to make the choices and changes you are looking to make.

I am an experienced, humanistic, relational counsellor . I trained and work integratively. This means I use several different models of counselling intertwined, leaning more to one than the others as required by the individual. These include Person Centred, CBT, Psychodynamic and Existential . Post qualifying, I have trained extensively in working with trauma. I believe the quality of the relationship between client and counsellor is very important. I see my clients in private, quiet and comfortable rooms in Gillingham town centre with public car parks available nearby and easy access to public transport link.

Are you wondering how much longer you can endure things and know that something needs to change? Whether your difficulties are more recent or of a more long-standing nature, I believe we all have the inherent capacity to change. My approach is warm and collaborative. I offer a confidential, non-judgemental, and supportive space, through which in the context of a safe and validating relationship, you can explore and gain insight into whatever is troubling you. It is my aim to empower and support you to overcome difficulties so that you feel able to live the life you want to live.

You may be looking to understand yourself better to live a fulfilled life, process difficult emotions and deal with stress and issues affecting your mental health. The coping mechanisms you've adopted may no longer serve you, so it's time to explore the root causes, understand yourself better, and develop your true self. I work primarily from a psychodynamic perspective, which explores early childhood experiences, patterns, and emotions and how these are impacting your life. I also integrate other approaches to therapy, for example, CBT and Somatic/Embodiment, depending on what you might need.

Hi! I'm Jonathan. Together we can look at and work through what's bothering you - this might include feelings of depression, anxiety and/or panic, or issues with how you're thinking and what you're doing. Maybe you're struggling with other aspects of your life, past or present (or worrying about the future). 'Big stuff' or 'small stuff', it's all ok to bring up and may also include include feeling overwhelmed or lost, self-esteem issues, guilt, relationship problems, trauma, sexual abuse, loss and grief, heath concerns and existential worries.

I am an experienced counsellor working with people of all ages, to help them towards finding a more fulfilling way of life. I know it is a big step to reach out and seek support. Sometimes even the strongest people need help to work through life’s more challenging problems. You may feel stuck. Like you are swimming through a sea of treacle, and not getting anywhere fast! Whether you struggle with, anxiety, depression, self-esteem or any other issues, therapy can help - it is an opportunity to learn more about yourself and get support in living a life that aligns more closely with what is important to you.

I am an Accredited member of the BACP (this means that my 'practice has been deemed to meet the higher standard as a competent, ethical and independent practitioner'.) I have over 20 years experience of working with different client groups, working with clients to address a range of different issues and difficulties. I am experienced at working with men, women and young people. My counselling practice is based from a quiet and calming space (see photos) with free & accessible parking.

I treat a broad range of mental health conditions and worked as a senior psychotherapist in the NHS for many years. I have worked extensively with sexual and domestic abuse, anxiety and borderline personality issues as well as depression and Post-traumatic Stress conditions. I am experienced interculturally in helping people with racial and discrimination issues. I work in both English and Spanish. Hablo Espanol y Ingles y ofrezco terapia en los dos idomas.

Everyone's life experience is unique and important and often this can create questions in our minds on how these influence our life and choices now. These may be questions from childhood, trauma based, gender or sexuality questioning, anxiety, loss or a neurodiversity. You may feel that the day-to-day is simply overwhelming or tainted by those life experiences. Sometimes, when those hard times flow into our every day life it may feel that you are unable to be happy, think clearly or feel able to cope. In the safety of your own home (or a space that works for you) we can explore and process this together.

Maybe you are in crisis right now, or you've been feeling low and overwhelmed. Or is your life becoming self destructive and you'd like to make changes? Are you overweight and want that to be different? I believe we are all vulnerable when life throws its obstacles at us and we all need a safe space to unravel what has been going on and help gain the strength to choose how to move forward. I can offer you an impartial and friendly place to help you through this difficult time and help support you to move forward.

Are you looking for someone to help you ride the wave of life and make sense of the storms? I offer a tailored approach to counselling and will support you through whatever difficulties you are facing. If you are seeking support for anxiety, depression, stress, loss, relationship worries, family struggles, work stress and anything else in between, I can help you make sense of the storms and find a way to ride the wave. I can work short-term (6, 12 or 20 sessions) or long-term - whatever works best for you. I offer weekly or fortnightly sessions, and can be flexible to suit what works best for you. I work with adults aged 17+.

The reality is that we all encounter things in our lives which cause us suffering and pain. Many of us will reach a point where we feel a sense of impass or something which challenges our sense of who we are, particularly as we develop outside of the families we grew up in. The human brain is able to develop ingenious ways of coping, but our coping mechanisms can end up causing us more distress than they fix. We then end up in a pattern of beliefs and behaviours which negatively affect us and leave us feeling hopeless and stuck. I belive that it's possible for everyone to lead a fulfilling life. We sometimes just need a little help.

Psychoanalytic psychotherapy is a talking therapy based on saying whatever is going through your mind. It can help you with issues related to trauma, relationships, grief, depression, anxiety, or major life changes. It helps you become aware of hidden meanings or patterns in what you do or say that may contribute to your problems. Many people come into therapy because they feel they are trapped by their past & want to talk it through with someone & work through things on a deeper level. I aim to provide a safe, personal space where you can talk about yourself & what troubles you, to try to understand the connections & patterns.

Every individual is unique and we all respond to our environment in different and unique ways. We all deserve to be heard and within each one of us is the ability to change, transform and evolve. One of the most insightful things I’ve learnt as a mental health practitioner is that we are products of our thoughts, experiences and environment. How we think affects our worldview and determines our success in life. Our thoughts affect our physical and mental health and this may have significant impact on our present and future. We will work together to explore your feelings and how to manage your thoughts and relationships.

Searching online for a therapist might not be easy, but finding a good fit is essential to feel safe and get the most out of your effort, time, and money. If you are reading this... ...then the chances are, something is troubling you, something is not right, something is not working for you right now in your life. So, something needs to be addressed, acknowledged, processed, changed and healed in order for you to move forward with your life. You have the opportunity in therapy to learn how to reassert control over your heart, mind, body and soul. ...and that's where I can help!