Julie Tanner

It can be really hard to find someone you can share your story with - especially if you feel you haven’t yet managed to make clear sense of it yourself. 

I can help you untangle things, confidentially, with kindness and without judgement.

An initial session will help you decide whether our work might be shorter or longer term - we will agree that together and we will always work flexibly to meet your needs.

If you are struggling to cope and would simply like an initial chat about the possibility of one or two brief intervention sessions that can provide you with emotional first aid techniques, then please get in touch.  

When times get tough, it can really help to have a compassionate professional on your side. We can figure out where you are right now and where you'd like to be; and to help you get there by gaining clarity and perspective and by offering you easy, practical ways of coping better with difficult experiences, thoughts and emotions.

Your story is unique. The experience you bring to our counselling sessions is unique, and I welcome all kinds of people in my practice. Whatever your age, lifestyle, culture, sexuality or neurotype - and whatever may have happened to you in your life - my commitment is to see you for who you are and support you to flourish in the way you choose. I am neurodivergent-informed and also work in a trauma-informed way. I'll support you in making real and lasting change in your life - so that you feel more at peace with your past and more in control of your present and future.

I work with a broad range of difficult experiences, for example depression and anxiety; bereavement, grief and loss of all kinds; anger; low self esteem;  separation and divorce; childhood sexual abuse; work stress, bullying and burnout; excessive alcohol use and unexpected life events that may bring you into crisis, lostness, stuckness or depression. 

We'll work together to help you grow more resilient, confident and hopeful.  We will look to make change where you can and deal better with those situations where change may be out of your control and simply not possible.

You may be daunted by the thought of counselling, and that's natural. And if it would help to put your mind at ease, I'm available at short notice to have an introductory chat on the phone to allay any fears you may have.

I am currently working face to face, by video call and phone. 

Please also visit my website where you'll find more information www.onwithmylife.com

An important part of my offer to you is Acceptance and Commitment therapy (ACT). ACT is one of the world’s fastest growing CBT therapies with huge amounts of evidence proving its effectiveness. 

You may have heard of mindfulness - I prefer to call it watchfulness -  and this is an important part of our work together. It's not about meditation or positive thinking, but a range of techniques proven to help tame a busy mind prone to anxiety, stress and depression - and to make your mind work for you rather than against you.

We will always have time to make sense of your past and come to terms with whatever that may have held for you and be presenting in your present life - but I will also encourage you to keep your focus firmly on the doing of things that will be helpful for your present and future.

In our first session we will take a broad look at the issue(s) for which you are seeking counselling.  We'll explore what you hope therapy will do in relation to these issues and also things you may have tried already to improve matters. We'll also discuss your hopes for the future. If you are in emotional distress then I will be able to suggest some 'emotional first aid' techniques you may find instantly helpful.