Jennifer Hayward

I currently have availability on a Monday, Tuesday and Friday.

I also offer fortnightly slots on Friday evenings and Saturday mornings.

Firstly, thank you for reading my profile! My personal approach to counselling has been shaped by intensive training, deep personal work as a client in therapy and twenty years of experience in the service industry, which I mention because as a result, I bring a down to earth practical slant to my work alongside a detailed understanding of psychological approaches underpinned by emotional support and understanding which is crucial when you are feeling vulnerable and exposed.

I approach therapy with a mixture of practical here and now discussion designed to help you feel more comfortable in your skin in relationship and in the world, and a deeper examination of the roots, in particular systemic family/ childhood trauma if you choose to explore at depth. It is important to note that it is always your choice.

Therapy feels good and satisfying but the process can also be murky, confusing, bumpy, and frustrating at times which is why it is my job to create an environment that offers safety, consistency, and strong emotional support with as much or as little guidance and practical support from me depending on your needs.

Finding a counsellor you feel comfortable with is important which is why I offer a free full length session to help you get a feel for who I am and how I work so that you can make an informed decision. 

A little about me and my journey into the world of therapy;

I started training as a counsellor six years ago and I have been working with clients for three years in a drug and alcohol recovery centre and more recently, private practice.

I had the good fortune to train under Paul Alexander at Strode College, a learning experience like no other and I have emerged from my diploma (regulated by the CPCAB) having embedded a strong academic foundation alongside a deep relational understanding of myself and my fellow human beings.

I hope this introduction has been helpful, do get in touch if you would like to book an assessment.

I have a beautiful practice space located in the High Street in West Harptree, where I hope you will feel safe in a professional, yet warm and welcoming room.

When you enter the building, there is a place for you to wait with comfortable chairs, although I ask if you could arrive as close to your arrival time as possible for confidentiality purposes.

For those with mobility considerations, there are a couple of steps into the building itself and a further step into my room to navigate. If this is a concern, I also offer sessions online or by phone. Also of note, the corridor itself is fairly narrow in places.

I offer a free initial session where we can spend time establishing why you are seeking counselling, your hopes for the process and whether we would be a good fit to work together. This gives you the opportunity to ask any questions and get to know how I work and how we feel in the space.

I do take some details from you for my own records prior to this initial session. These include your full name, DOB, address and GP details. I also email you my Client Agreement, which sets out the boundaries and parameters of the work together

After or during our initial session together, if we mutually agree to work together we can then look at and sign the Client Agreement to acknowledge the start of the work.