Francis Taylor

My approach is based on Gestalt psychotherapy practice of working with the client very much in the here and now. This means that whatever you have experienced in the past and whatever your desires or concerns about the future are, we always start from what you want to address now. Being lead by your present concerns I try to build a positive supportive relationship which helps you decide how best to meet your ongoing, developing needs. 

I usually see clients weekly for one hour. When client occupations or life choices make this difficult, I am open to negotiating on how best to structure regular sessions.

I am happy to work online on Zoom with clients who live too far away to travel, or who have a preference for working online.

I live in a rural area and am lucky enough to have an acre of woodland as part of my property. I have a cabin within this woodland which is where I see clients. I am prepared to work with clients outdoors in the woodland, weather permitting, if that is what you want. This setting has many benefits over working in a room indoors.. but very occasionally I have had to cancel sessions when stormy weather is predicted!

I am also open to working with clients outdoors in other settings; both mountains and the seashore are within close reach of Groeslon, Gwynedd.

I usually see the first session as a chance for us both to weigh up if we want to work together, and to assess whether what I have to offer is likely to meet your needs. I feel it is a paramount that you, as the client, feel comfortable with your sense of me as a person whom you can trust. If, for whatever reason, you decide not to continue then I implicitly trust your judgement and do not need any explanations from you.

I have trained in both person centred counselling and Gestalt psychotherapy. I qualified as a supervisor through completing the P/G Cert in Supervision at the University of Manchester in 2009. I supervise counsellors working with adults, young people and children in a variety of contexts including private practice, schools, counselling services and charities.  As a therapist and supervisor I have dealt with the whole range of issues that are brought to counselling, but I am especially interested in issues arising from experiences around Asperger's syndrome, neurodiversity, trauma, being in care, bereavement, traumatic death, looked after children and education.

I live in a rural area of Gwynedd with an acre of woodland as part of my property. Within that woodland I have a cabin where I meet clients and supervisees.

I also work online or on the phone with supervisees, if this is what suits you best.

I understand that to truly meet our clients, we need to be as present and available as possible in the sessions. This means that, as well as the usual supervisory process of trying to understand what is developing between supervisees and clients, it is sometimes necessary to deal with issues arising in the supervisees life, which are, or may have, direct impact on their work. 

Similarly, all counselling takes place within different personal, professional, sometimes institutional and world event contexts, so I understand it is  sometimes necessary and vital  to reflect on and understand how these contexts may be impacting on-going work with clients.

You may now gather from this that I do not have a fixed pattern of supervising, but am lead by what is happening and developing in your work, practice and life. 

I think it is important to use the first session to judge whether we can work together and whether what I offer is likely to meet your needs. If you are having to see a number of supervisors to assess who best to work with, I am prepared to offer a reduced fee.