Amanda Wanless

I am available Monday - Thursday, 7.30am-7pm. 

Occasionally I will hold Relationship Workshops outside of these hours.

Sessions are held either face to face or via Zoom.

After spending over 20 years in the corporate world, I decided to get off the hamster wheel and re-train as a counsellor. My experience now includes working with Couples and individuals in private practice.

(Please see my separate page regarding my work with individuals and young adults).

As well as holding a FdA Degree in Counselling and a BACP accredited Advanced Diploma in Counselling, I hold a Certificate in Couples Counselling. I am a registered member of the BACP, DBS-checked and fully insured.

Based in High Barnet but also available nationally via Zoom, my work includes everyone whether they are married, single, in a long term relationship, in an open relationship or something else! All types of relationships are welcome including all sexual, gender and relationship diversities. 

Ultimately my client is your relationship and to this end neutrality is key. I won’t take sides, and it isn’t a blame game of who said what but instead it’s about working collaboratively for the benefit of the relationship to help you both move forward.

Specific areas I can help you with:

-  Learning to communicate effectively to reach decisions about important issues such as money, work, parenting, roles and health matters

-  Drifting apart and feeling disconnected

-  Continually arguing or fighting

-  Betrayal including affairs or jealousy issues 

-  Problems with sexual intimacy and emotional closeness

-  Coping with infertility or loss

-  Living with physical or mental health problems

-  Managing difference and diversity, especially with wider family members or in blended families.

-  Helping couples separate more amicably

Our work will enable you to press pause. To remind you of what brought you together and explore what happened; where the relationship began to falter but importantly how to move forward. It can help you to find each other again, move on from the past and focus on the future. 

My practice is in a quiet, private, comfortable room. It is located a five minute walk from Barnet town centre and free parking is available.

My aim is to provide a safe place to understand the emotional and behaviour patterns at play in your relationship, improve communication especially regarding contentious issues, accept differences between you, and learn to how to give and receive love in the ways you both need. It can help you be more empathic, discover healing and learn how to forgive so you can meet future challenges together.

I work open ended and the number of sessions will depend on how deep rooted the issues are and how able you are to change behaviour patterns in your relationship. 

However if you wish to limit your sessions to a specific number, I can structure our work accordingly. 

Typically sessions are either held weekly for 60 minutes or fortnightly for 90 minutes. I also offer one-off 3 hour private workshops for an intensive relationship deep dive.

If you are considering Couples Counselling, I offer a 15 minute free consultation to answer any queries you may have, so please contact me to arrange this.

In our first meeting we can talk about what has brought you both to counselling and what you hope to get from our work together. It’s also an opportunity for you to ask any questions that you may have. 

 I will also ask you some questions about your relationship and current situation.

From this conversation you can decide if you think you will be comfortable in meeting with me going forward and I can confirm how I can help you. However there is no pressure to decide in the meeting if you wish to continue.

Sessions can be held face to face or via Zoom.

My working hours are 7.30am-7pm, Monday - Thursday.

Struggling with anxiety, depression or stress? Questioning yourself regarding a relationship - or how to manage boundaries in one? Or coming to terms with past events or a bereavement? Whatever the reason, as an experienced and compassionate counsellor, I can help you explore and make sense of things in a private, supportive and non-judgemental environment. 

(If you are looking for Couples Counselling, please see my separate listing.)

My Background

After spending over 20 years in the corporate world, I decided to get off the hamster wheel, re-train and began mentoring young people and providing help to families in crisis. Subsequently I qualified as a counsellor working with adults and young people in both private practice and a counselling organisation.

I hold a Foundation Degree and BACP accredited Advanced Diploma in Counselling and am a BACP registered member. In my commitment to Continuous Personal Development I have also had specific training in ADHD, Autism, Trauma, Bereavement, Anxiety & Depression, Young People, Relationships, Women’s Health, Solution Focused Counselling, Dialectic Behaviour Therapy and Polyvagal Therapy.

At my core I'm a person-centred counsellor. My aim is to focus on how you see yourself rather than me telling you how you should feel! Essentially, I want to help you get back in tune with your inner values and help you to develop your self-esteem and resilience, so you can overcome the obstacles in life which may be holding you back. By feeling more empowered you can then find the way forward which is right for you as an individual.

In our work I will always be open and genuine with you, which at times can include challenging your thoughts and feelings.

In meeting your needs, I may, if relevant, integrate other approaches such as psychodynamic therapy. I strongly believe that we are shaped by everything that happens in our past. So, as well as concentrating on what is happening now, we may also explore your childhood or any early trauma.

My practice is in a quiet, private and comfortable room. It is near Barnet town centre and free parking is available.

I am DBS-checked and fully insured. 

In our first meeting we can talk about what has brought you to counselling and I will carry out an informal assessment. The purpose is to find out what you wish to get from our work together. It’s also an opportunity for you to ask any questions that you may have. I will also ask you some questions about your personal history and current situation, as well as your family background.

From this conversation, I will be able to decide whether I can help you and even more importantly, you can decide if you think you will be comfortable talking to me. However there is no pressure to make this decision in the meeting. 

Going forward we will then work together, typically weekly, exploring your thoughts and feelings, their cause and how best to move forward from them. The sessions will go at your pace and we will focus on what you wish to bring to each session.