Florence Atkins

I currently have some availability and would welcome your enquiries. I do offer flexible times and completely understand the demands that come with busy work and family life.

I offer weekly sessions that last 60/90 minutes.

My service includes face to face meetings.

My name is Flo, I am dual trained as a psychodynamic counsellor and parent-infant relationship specialist. I have over 38 years of extensive experience having worked in an NHS setting for many years with a diverse, wide range of people presenting with different mental/physical health problems.

In my practice I use a combination of different therapeutic tools and approaches, depending on the focus of the work. The therapy draws on several therapeutic traditions these include psychoanalytical models and attachment theory. The parent infant therapy I offer, allows for the parent to work through unresolved issues from childhood, or the more recent past that is affecting their ability to form a healthy relationship with their baby. Alongside private practice I have worked in the NHS delivering direct and indirect psychological intervention’s ,providing specialist therapeutic work to parents, mums and mums to be (I have also worked with dads and partners) in the perinatal period, birth and the early years, to think about the impact of depression, birth trauma, infertility, loss and grief. 

I am also skilled at working with adults who have been affected by the impact of transgenerational trauma, historic abuse or recent traumatic experiences. I work predominantly with trauma, loss/bereavement, relationship struggles and depression/anxiety. 

I continue to undertake professional development and training in line with BACP guidelines, I receive regular supervision and am registered with a professional organisation. I also hold an up-to-date enhanced DBS certificate.

 The counselling process is client driven, meaning that you could be talking about anything from the events of the day, to moments from your family history or past trauma. I always offer a free 20 minute initial conversation for both of us to get some sense of whether I could be the right therapist for you. Initially I will try to understand why you are seeking therapy at this point, the issues you would like to address in our work together.

The decision to embark on the journey of therapy is a courageous one. It is a place to feel known and understood, a place to overcome painful experiences. I am committed to working deeply and very gently with your life story and issues that have made you seek out therapy.

 I am never offended if you think the fit isn’t quite right. I have a distinct counselling style that is empathic, intuitive, reflective, warm, friendly and approachable. I don’t tend to use lots of assessment tools, unless they are appropriate, as I prefer to listen deeply to you and to think things through together in a place, where you feel contained,safe and heard by me. 

I offer a dedicated and confidential space for sessions. The face to face appointment will give you time to talk about what brings you into therapy. This meeting will be an opportunity for you to ask questions, for us to talk about some of your history and if working with me will feel right for you. Following this time together we can think whether you will prefer to work in a longer-term way or alternatively in a much more time limited, or short-term way.

I will not make follow up calls/text to in any way influence your thoughts and feelings.

Education

Registered member MBACP(accred) psychodynamic counsellor 

Parent infant therapy diploma /baby observations 

RGN/RMN

I currently have availability on Mondays and Wednesdays but can be flexible

My name is Flo and I am a psychodynamic counsellor and parent infant relationship therapist, currently practising in Cheltenham and Swindon. I have a wealth of experience working over 38 years with dyads, couples, individuals and families. I have worked in an NHS setting for many years and in private practice, which has given me the valuable tools to provide therapy for a diverse range of clients. 

In my practice I use a combination of different therapeutic modalities, tools and approaches. The therapy draws on several therapeutic traditions these include psychoanalytical models and attachment theory. The parent infant therapy I offer, allows for the parent to work through unresolved issues from childhood, or more recent past that is affecting their ability to form a healthy relationship with their baby. I work with mothers and fathers in the perinatal period, birth and the early years , to think about the impact of depression, birth trauma, infertility, loss and grief.

I am also skilled at working with adults who have been affected by the impact of trauma, historic abuse or recent traumatic experiences. I work predominantly with loss/ bereavement, relationship struggles, depression and anxiety.

I continue to undertake professional development and training in line with the BACP guidelines. I receive regular supervision and am registered with a professional organisation.

EDUCATION

Registered Member MBACP(Accred) Psychodynamic Counsellor.

Parent Infant Therapy Diploma/baby observations

RGN/RMN

The decision to embark on the journey of therapy is a courageous one. It its a place to feel known and understood, a place to overcome painful experiences. I am committed to working very gently and deeply with your life story and issues that have made you seek out therapy.

The work is client driven. I always offer a free 20 minute initial conversation ,for both of us to get some sense, of whether I am the  right therapist for you.

I provide a safe, containing space, to explore your life, to find your voice and to discover the change you are seeking.

I am not offended if you think the fit isn't right. I have a distinct counselling style that is empathic, intuitive, reflective, warm, friendly and approachable.

I don't tend to use lots of assessment tools, unless they are appropriate, as I prefer to listen to you deeply and to think things through together in a place, where you feel safe and heard by me.

I offer a dedicated and confidential space for sessions. The face to face appointment will give you time to talk about what brings you into therapy. This meeting will be an opportunity for you to ask questions, for us to talk about some of your history and if working with me will feel right for you.

Following this time together we can think whether you will prefer to work in a longer-term way or alternatively in a much more time limited or short term way.