Counsellor, Artist & Creative facilitator

About SJ
Passionate About Inspiring Others

Hello, welcome to my page, you will find more information about me personally and professionally here. I am very passionate about inspiring others, reaching out and supporting people in a therapeutic way that suits them, their lifestyle and their individual needs.
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I am a very warm and friendly person, I work relationally, therefore the therapeutic relationship is important to me, and I like to ensure that those I support have the space needed to explore and unwind what is troubling them. I have my own therapy space at Essential Space, a Community Interest Company where I am the director and founder, offering pay-what-you-can counselling and creative mentoring. You can find out more about the therapy services on the website www.essentialspace.co.uk. I am also happy to meet or see clients for 1-1 sessions and offer group sessions in organisations, GP surgeries, community centres, and schools if required. I hold an enhanced DBS clearance certificate and have up-to-date Safeguarding policies and certificates.
I started my own practice in October 2018, and I have been extending my qualifications and experience to offer both adult and children's Counselling. I began Reflective & Clinical Supervision for staff working with adults and young people in the community and within organisations, as I have a passion for people being supported appropriately and having a space where skills and ways of working can be challenged and encouraged.
I have had counselling myself, this was a time of self-development that set me on a path to discovering where my skills fitted best, I left school and became a health practitioner, working in an institution and completing a college course in Health and Social Care. I specialised in early years SEND education settings, , this is where I discovered a connection with young people and adults with learning differences and how we communicate who we are as individuals. My career went on to working and supporting adults within a head injury unit for rehabilitation, and later with the rapid response rehabilitation team in Gloucestershire. After becoming a parent of three children I took on the challenge of managing a well-being centre called the Isbourne Centre in Cheltenham town centre, it was there that I realised how beneficial alternative therapies are for supporting both physical health and mental health.
I completed the mental health first aid certificates and began my counselling training. I have supported hidden victims of crime with a charity, Infobuzz. This role included supporting families in the community and working within the criminal justice system and running creative art workshops in a female prison.
I volunteered with Young Gloucestershire supporting their counselling service and this allowed me to extend my experience to working with young adults who were struggling with life's challenges. My adventures have continued into gaining certificates in 'Stress Less Mindfulness' and running adult sound retreats using my Sound Practitioner training. I have naturally entwined mindfulness into my personal and professional life and have found the benefits have been endless. I have been able to share these skills with all of my clients as a mindful mindset works for anyone, anywhere and at any age!
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When I am not with someone in a 1-1 Counselling session, you will find me delivering training to professionals, running creative workshops or facilitating sound baths and retreats. My events are therapeutic and created for deepening self awareness with a chance to focus and recharge.
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Certifications
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Counselling Diploma for Adults (CPCABL4)
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Counselling Children and Adolescents Certificate
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Post Graduate Diploma Counselling Children & Young People (CPCABL5)
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Post Graduate Diploma in Supervision (CPCABL7)
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Safeguarding Lead Children & Young People L3
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Play to Talk & Creative Arts Certificate
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Mental Health Certificate
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Gender and sexuality diversity advanced Certificate
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Supporting clients online Certificate
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Mindfulness (for youth and adults)
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EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique)
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Certified Sound Therapy Training Diploma
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Arts For The Blues Training