Jessica Girling

I currently have daytime availability to take on new clients.

Hi, I'm Jess, and I would like to take a moment to welcome you to my practice The Counselling and Psychotherapy Harbour.

Life can be messy and complicated. We all go through times of challenge. This may be a situation that has unexpectedly arose, an ongoing difficulty preventing you from living the life you choose or unresolved trauma that is influencing you in the present.

Counselling and Psychotherapy is an opportunity to explore these matters with a professional who can assist you to gain insights into what is happening for you. Therapy is often the first step towards understanding the root cause of our distress, the function and patterns of our behaviour. These and the way we relate to both the world and the people around us. 

Therefore, I work alongside you to help you to discover what you need in order to heal. This may be gently exploring the past. It could be identifying barriers that are preventing you from living the life you choose in the present. This could be developing skills around implementing boundaries and coping with emotional distress. It could be building self-esteem, processing traumatic experiences or improving relationships. 

During times of distress, it can be difficult to know where to turn. While accessing therapy can feel anxiety provoking, I want to assure you that seeking support is the first step. Therapy can support you to identify and develop your inner resources, increase wellbeing and improve relationships. 

Throughout my personal experience of training I have seen the stigma associated with mental health and help seeking. While reaching out can be anxiety provoking, I believe that there should not be any shame in seeking counselling. I am passionate about destigmatising mental health conditions and the impact of trauma. I have sat in both the client and therapist chair and so understand and respect the vulnerability and bravery it takes to engage in the process of counselling.

Counselling is a unique and personal experience, so it’s important to find a therapist that is right for you and your needs at this time. I respect that you are the only person who knows what it's truly like to be you; living your life. Therefore, as your therapist I will not tell you what to do. I will listen empathically to your concerns and experiences.  I will work in collaboration with you to explore your story, empower you to find your own solutions and build coping skills that work for you. 

I believe that the therapeutic relationship is at the core of feeling safe and trusting your counsellor, so that you are able freely talk about your life without fearing judgement. To do this I work from a trauma informed perspective. I understand that trust can take time to build and we will work at your pace. 

I trained and qualified as an integrative therapist which enables me to draw from a variety of therapeutic models to support our work together. I draw from person-centred, psychodynamic, gestalt and creative methodologies. As an integrative therapist I value each client as an individual with unique life experiences. I offer therapy that is tailored for you and the issues you wish to work through.

I provide therapy both in person and remotely to adults from a range of background and ages. I offer time-limited, short and long term-counselling. This enables us to work at a pace that suits you. If you have any further questions or this way of working seems like a good fit for you, I would welcome hearing from you.

If you feel that now is the right time for you to access therapy, the first step is to make contact with me. Contact can be made confidentially by emailing me directly or via the telephone. You can find my contact details by visiting Book a Session. Once you have made contact, I will strive to respond to your enquiry within the next 48hrs. If you have not received a response in this time, please check your junk email.

Initially I will offer a consultation session at a discounted rate of £25. This consultation will be an opportunity for us meet and get a sense whether we may be a good fit to work together. Additionally, it will be a chance for you to ask any questions you may have and for me to gather some background information around the issues you wish to work through. During the consultation we will discuss your therapeutic goals, potential ways of working and the type of time of span you would like therapy to take (time-limited, short term or long term).

If we are in agreement to proceed working together, we will usually meet on a weekly basis for our therapy sessions at a pre agreed time and date. I can work flexibly to allow for work/life commitments. A booking will be made at the end of each session for the following week