Gillian Arthur

Hello and welcome. My name is Gillian (BA Hons; Dip.Couns. MBACP), and I am here to offer you a confidential, safe space to explore whatever it is you would like to change. I am a qualified Humanistic Counsellor and a member of the BACP (British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy). I am insured and ICO registered and hold an up-to-date Disclosure and Barring Service Certificate.

As well as running my private practice, I am a volunteer for Macmillan counselling services, at the East Sussex NHS Trust, supporting cancer patients and their families. I also volunteer for Mid Kent Mind where I work with a number of clients experiencing a broad range of issues such as anxiety, low self-esteem, relationship difficulties, domestic violence, depression, anger management, and abuse.

I understand that starting therapy can feel scary and overwhelming. My aim is to provide you with caring and compassionate support in a confidential, safe and non-judgemental space so that you can explore whatever it is you would like to change.

I believe we all have the capacity to grow and become the best version of ourselves and so, whatever your situation or difficulties, I will seek to accompany and support you while you are on your personal journey of positive transformation. 

Using a combination of Person Centred, Gestalt, and Existential modalities, I am able to provide an integrated offering that can be tailored to suit your specific needs.

These three approaches are united in their recognition that the quality of the therapist-client relationship is the key to successful therapy. Person Centred therapy believes in the individual’s innate drive and capacity for growth and self-actualization; Gestalt therapy focuses on the here and now, and immediate thoughts, feelings and behaviour to better understand how we relate to each other and to day-to-day situations; and the Existential approach confronts some of the most fundamental questions regarding human existence: “What is my purpose in life?” “How do I deal with my own mortality?” "How shall I live my life?". 

Depending on your needs, I will tailor the therapy to suit your unique requirements. I can also incorporate Mindfulness techniques into the sessions and, if you are drawn to creative expression, we can use creativity in our work together.

Location

My practice is in a relaxing garden room surrounded by nature, located in Hawkenbury, less than one mile from the centre of Tunbridge Wells. There is a regular bus service from the centre of town and parking is available at my practice if required.

Deciding to have therapy and then finding the right therapist for you are both incredibly important decisions. I therefore offer a free 30-minute telephone consultation as an opportunity for you to decide whether you will feel comfortable working with me, and, equally important, for me to make sure that I am the best person to support you.

The first session is then an initial assessment session when we can discuss what you would like to achieve by coming to therapy and determine the approach best suited to your needs. It is a fact-finding, form-filling session which lasts for up to one hour and is charged at the normal rate.

Once we have identified and agreed what it is you would like to change, we will usually meet once a week for 50 minutes, with regular reviews of the progress being made towards your goals.