Abi Spence

I work from Hallgarth Barn in Harome on Tuesdays and Thursdays 8am to 5pm, and 7pm.

Harome is a village 22 miles from York, set in the beautiful Howardian Hills. My consultation room is in what was a workshop and outbuilding, which has been converted to be a home office and therapy room. It is comfortable and quiet. The room we will meet in is accessed through a set of double gates, marked with a metal sign saying 'Hallgarth'. Come in through the gates and bear left to the first set of glass double doors. Parking is possible along the length of Main Street. There is no public transport to the village, which is close to Helmsley, and not far from Pickering and Malton. On your first visit, I will meet you and show you in. 

There are many reasons why you might decide to begin therapy; stuck-ness, anxiety, shame, burnout, self-loathing, depression, toxic cycles of behaviour, difficult childhood memories, relationship difficulties, minority stress and many more feelings which create crisis or dis-ease.

We are living in a time of great uncertainty, change and personal responsibility. Sometimes this too can feel overwhelming. Perhaps this is also affecting you.

I work with adults on a one-to-one basis to assist you to process, respond to or engage with whatever might be preventing you from living your life to its fullest and happiest.

My training and way of working is integrative. I have an Advanced Diploma (Level 7) from the Minster Centre in London, one of Europe's leading integrative training institutions, and I am currently completing an MA. I am a member of the BACP which means I work in accordance with professionally recognised standards. I hold DBS clearance to work with adults, and undertake regular continued professional development.

The way I work with each client is unique. I draw on various modalities, but in the main I am led by you. Instead of offering diagnosis or advice, I can provide a non- judgemental and confidential space separate from your family and social group, in which to explore whatever you wish to bring. For 50 minutes, one day a week, you can be present and alive to your thoughts, feelings and sensations in a way that life may prevent you from being.

My specialisms include:

Ex-boarders and boarding school survivors (burnout, imposter syndrome and relationship issues can often be symptomatic of boarding school attendance)

Gender, Sex and Relationship diversity (GSRD issues)

Minority stress

Fertility challenges (IVF treatments, involuntary childlessness, miscarriage and PPD)

Sibling relationships

I am a member of The Relational School, and I am a media volunteer for The Fertility Network. 

The most important aspect which ensures we will work together effectively is our relationship, and whether you feel I am someone you can visualise yourself meeting with once a week.

Its difficult to assess this from these brief words and a photo, so I offer an assessment session, which I explain below.

Initial contact

If you think I might be the right therapist for you, please contact me via any means that feels comfortable: phone, email or text are all fine. 

The next step is for us to have an initial 25 minute session. There is no fee for this and it can be online, in-person or on the phone. During this, we will discuss what has brought you to this point and I will answer any questions you may have regarding beginning therapy; expectations, concerns and how we might proceed. There is no obligation to make any commitment beyond this introductory conversation.

 Should you decide to continue, we fix a time and day if the week to meet.  In between this conversation and your first session, I will send you some information, a form to fill in with your contact details, and a client therapist agreement.

My online and in-person fee is £65.00 from our first 50 minute session (not including the introductory 25 minutes at which you decided to proceed with therapy). 

I offer short term (6-12 sessions) longer term (6 months to a year) or long term (over one year) work. 

I work from Hallgarth Barn on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8am-5pm and 7pm.

I work in Millers Yard on Mondays, where my hours are 8am-2pm. I am currently full at this location.

If you would like to be on my waiting list for in-person sessions in York, please get in touch. 

I have space for new clients at Hallgarth Barn on Tuesdays and Thursdays, online or in-person.

There are many reasons why you might decide to begin therapy; stuck-ness, anxiety, shame, burnout, self-loathing, depression, toxic cycles of behaviour, difficult childhood memories, relationship difficulties, minority stress and many more feelings which create crisis or dis-ease.

We are living in a time of great uncertainty, change and personal responsibility. Sometimes this too can feel overwhelming. Perhaps this is also affecting you.

I work with adults on a one-to-one basis to assist you to process, respond to or engage with whatever might be preventing you from living your life to its fullest and happiest.

My training and way of working is integrative. I have an Advanced Diploma (Level 7) from the Minster Centre in London, one of Europe's leading integrative training institutions, and I am currently completing an MA. I am a member of the BACP which means I work in accordance with professionally recognised standards. I hold DBS clearance to work with adults, and undertake regular continued professional development.

The way I work with each client is unique. I draw on various modalities, but in the main I am led by you. Instead of offering diagnosis or advice, I can provide a non- judgemental and confidential space separate from your family and social group, in which to explore whatever you wish to bring. For 50 minutes, one day a week, you can be present and alive to your thoughts, feelings and sensations in a way that life may prevent you from being.

My specialisms include: 

Ex-boarders and boarding school survivors (burnout, imposter syndrome and relationship issues can often be symptomatic of boarding school attendance) 

Gender, Sex and Relationship diversity (GSRD issues) 

Minority stress  

Fertility challenges (IVF treatments, involuntary childlessness, miscarriage and PPD) 

Sibling relationships

I am a member of The Relational School, and I am a media volunteer for The Fertility Network. 

The most important aspect which ensures we will work together effectively is our relationship, and whether you feel I am someone you can visualise yourself meeting with once a week.

Its difficult to assess this from these brief words and a photo, so I offer an assessment session, which I explain below.

Initial contact

If you think I might be the right therapist for you, please contact me via any means that feels comfortable: phone, email or text are all fine. 

The next step is for us to have an initial 25 minute session. There is no fee for this and it can be online, in-person or on the phone. During this, we will discuss what has brought you to this point and I will answer any questions you may have regarding beginning therapy; expectations, concerns and how we might proceed. There is no obligation to make any commitment beyond this session.

First meeting

If you would like to continue with therapy, we will pick a time each week to begin our meetings. My consultation room is light, airy and private, and is also from where my online sessions take place.

We meet on the first floor in a block of therapy rooms at Miller's Yard, just off Gillygate in York. There is a waiting room on the ground floor, and I will come and meet you there.

York station is a 10 minute walk. Union Terrace, Monks Bar and Bootham Row are all nearby car parks, and there is parking available on nearby streets.

My online and in-person fee is £65.00 from our first session (not including the introductory 25 minutes at which you decided to proceed with therapy). Previous to this session, I will ask for some contact details, and give you some bullet-point information about therapy and working with me, and a client/therapist agreement to read and sign.

I offer short term (6-12 sessions) longer term (6 months to a year) or long term (over one year) work.