Amanda Burridge

My working days are Monday to Friday.

I offer early appointments from 6.00 am and evening appointments until 10.00 pm.

Appointments can be booked weekly or fortnightly.

NEURODIVERGENT CLIENTS WELCOME

LGBTQIA+ CLIENTS WELCOME

ANXIETY / DEPRESSION / RELATIONSHIP ISSUES/ LIFE TRANSITIONS

BEREAVEMENT / ANTICIPATORY GRIEF / COMPLICATED GRIEF - Before qualifying as a counsellor, I was volunteering for Cruse Bereavement.  This is where I really learned how to keep any interactions to a human level when speaking to people about bereavement.  Having gone through bereavement without any support myself, I wanted to help make sure that didn't happen for others.  

LOSS, ILLNESS CANCER AND THERAPY - I will walk alongside you as you navigate the meaning of your diagnosis and illness.  I worked for the NHS in the cancer department.  Speaking to each cancer patient, they each had their own version of the impact it had on them - the shock, the grief and how if affects their loved ones.  I've learned not to make any assumptions about people in light of their diagnosis.  The safest and most respectable thing I could do for them is tend to them as a fellow human.

OUTDOOR AND NATURE THERAPY - Did you know you don't have to be in the same room looking at each other one to one?  We can meet outdoors at a mutual venue, a place to encourage us being fully immersed in and around nature - it offers a nature connection and may enhance the therapeutic experience for you.

HOME VISITS - If travel or access is an issue, due to illness or disability, it is not a block to therapy.

Qualifications -

BA (Hons) Therapeutic Counselling and Psychotherapy 2022.

Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling 2019.

Level 3 Counselling Skills 2017.

I’m calm, easy to talk to and a good listener.  A fully trained counsellor but more importantly, a human. Together we will build a healing and supportive therapeutic relationship. In bereavement, illness or for your own mental health concerns, my gentle, curious, caring approach, sometimes with humour too, will help you notice your capacity for change and a feeling of positive potential from entering into the therapeutic connection as humans, not only as my client.

There is a free 15 minute conversation to follow up your enquiry. In order to best find out if I am the right person for you, I respectfully suggest an initial hour’s session together.

You need to meet me in person (and online), try out the venue and feel what our presence is like together. When humans connect it is magical but equally if we don’t connect, that is okay too. Therapy research highlights the importance of the joint relationship in therapy as a key factor to the success of support.

At all times, we work together with your best interests as a priority. I will regularly check in with you that the work is helping, and ask you to summarise how it feels for you.

I can work short-term or long-term. This is spoken about when you come for therapy. You may have a goal for therapy or you may wish to just feel better and learn to live after a loss for example.

My training was integrative which means I am core person centred but have studied other therapeutic theories. My Degree was with a CBT base, as used by the NHS. My degree also recognised the pluralistic approach which in its basic terms means asking you what you want and how you would like to work. I will endeavour to find ways to meet your needs. Together we will explore if you have a goal or focus for therapy.

FREE 15 MINUTE CALL BEFORE THE FIRST SESSION.

During our first meeting, we will discuss your needs, explore what help you are looking for and why you have taken the courageous steps towards therapy.  

We'll safely explore how you wish to work; are you happy talking or would you like to use visual prompts such as pebbles or drawing?  

Would you rather be in nature and able to breathe in fresh air and move rather than sit still?

We may or may not set a goal for your therapy.  

We will talk about how many sessions you may need.  

I will formally offer you a contract of the work which supports you in formalising the relationship.