Emma Thompson

My usual office hours are:

Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday: 10am - 7pm

Friday: 10am - 4pm

Closed weekends and bank holidays.

I know it can be difficult and confusing trying to choose a counsellor to talk to about your deepest concerns, but I am glad you are here. Counselling is about you - knowing who you are, where you are, how you got to where you are now and the choices that might be available to you.

Are you anxious, stressed, upset, depressed, overwhelmed? Or perhaps you just have a vague sense that something isn't right? Struggling along alone? Maybe you have been bullied, bereaved, hurt? You might be feeling angry, isolated, sad, anxious or even completely numb.

I am a qualified counsellor and an Accredited Member of the BACP, working face to face in person in Sittingbourne and online. I offer a warm, safe, accepting space to process your thoughts and feelings. I provide a calm, confidential environment to help you identify the changes you want to make and develop the skills you need to maintain those changes.

I offer counselling for a range of issues, and have a particular interest in helping people who are anxious (or have anxiety) and/or think poorly of themselves. Poor self-image, low self-esteem and Imposter Syndrome are really challenging to live with. I want to help you get out of that stuckness to become the person you want to be.

I also specialise in helping people with chronic pain and chronic illnesses - particularly CFS/ME, fibromyalgia and hypermobility syndromes. These are real physical illnesses with numerous debilitating symptoms, but the mental and emotional impacts of living with these conditions can be eased with counselling. You might have been offered counselling before and been told that your condition is “all in your head”, or that it is somehow your fault. I won’t tell you that - because I have lived experience as well as my training informing our work.  I want to help you manage your condition as best you can with your limitations, and have the fulfilling life you deserve.

We will review our work at regular intervals to make sure you are getting what you need. I will not give advice, tell you how to live your life or judge you. Instead, I will help you to process your experiences and support you as you choose how to move forward.

Relevant qualifications:

Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills from CPCAB

D171 Introduction to Counselling (equivalent to CPCAB CST-L3, via the Open University)

L4 Diploma in Integrative Counselling (a BACP-accredited course, via InterPsyche - part of the Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust)

Certificate in Online and Telephone Counselling (recognised by ACTO, via Counselling Tutor)

QLS Level 6 Diploma in Supervision (via Community Counsellor Training (Canterbury))


A sample of my CPD training / professional experience:

Anxiety (particularly general anxiety disorder and social anxiety)

Lack of confidence

Depression

Bereavement

Stress

Family breakdown / family issues

Work issues

Bullying

Self image and body image

Self esteem

Self harm

Suicidal thoughts & feelings

Working with people on the autistic spectrum

Anger and rage

Living with chronic illness and pain

Disability

Resilience

Imposter Syndrome

Trauma

Compassion Focused Therapy

Neurodiversity & Neurodivergence

I can be reached by email or phone. Unfortunately, I have found that some email providers (e.g. Hotmail, Outlook, Yahoo, Gmail) tend to send my emails to spam folders. I have so far been unable to resolve this, and of course never send unsolicited emails. If you use one of these email providers and have not received a reply from me within one business day, please check your spam folder.

If you phone, I may not be able to answer your call immediately - so please leave a voicemail message if you would like me to call you back. Out of consideration for your privacy, I will only call back if you leave a voicemail or text message asking me to. Please ensure you have said your phone number when leaving a voicemail if you would like me to call you.

To begin, we would speak via phone or email about what you want from counselling (please see my Privacy Policy on my website for more information). If you then are happy to do so, we will arrange an appointment. If we are unable to work together, for whatever reason, I may be able to recommend someone else who can help you.

At the first appointment, we will discuss what has happened previously in your life and what is happening now. We will talk more about your hopes and goals for counselling, and discuss how many appointments you want and how often (either weekly sessions, or fortnightly). I usually offer 6 sessions to start with, but you can choose a different number or change it later - either to have more or fewer sessions if needed - as you wish.

My usual office hours are:

Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday: 10am - 7pm

Friday: 10am - 4pm

Closed weekends and bank holidays.

I am fortunate to have received excellent supervision myself over the years, so I am excited to be able offer this service to other professionals.  I want to build a great working relationship that helps you become the best practitioner you can be, and to learn from you as well.  I have a special interest in helping counsellors who are setting up their own private practices.  I use the Seven-Eyed Model and also work creatively.  My style is collaborative and collegial.

I hold a QLS Level 6 Diploma in Supervision from Community Counsellor Training (Canterbury).

If you are interested in supervision with me I offer a free half hour initial meeting or Zoom call beforehand to answer your questions, discuss your needs, and so we can decide if we think we can work well together.

We can work in person at my therapy space in Sittingbourne, or online.

I have worked in private practice since 2015 as a counsellor, and as a supervisor since 2020 (I completed my supervision training course in 2021).  I currently work from my home therapy space in Sittingbourne as well as online.

My supervisory style is supportive, collaborative and guiding, using appropriate affirming as well as challenging to help you to be the best practitioner you can be.  My role is to hold the space for you to grow and develop both in your work and as a person.

I offer a free half-hour telephone or Zoom call to answer your questions, discuss your work context and needs, and explore how we might work together.  If we agree to go ahead, I will provide you with my paperwork to read through and complete before we begin - Contract, Privacy Agreement, Contact Details form and information sheets about supervision.