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meet Antonia

I am a qualified Person-Centred Therapist, with a BA (Hons) degree from Edge Hill University in Counselling and Psychotherapy. I am also a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).

My background includes working for more than twenty years within an adult social care setting with a diverse range of people. In addition to this, I have also worked as a trainer within a medical company, as well as in customer service.

I am currently a counselling volunteer with Ormskirk Bereavement Service.

I have worked with a wide range of grief and loss issues and discovered that I have a particular interest in this area.

In addition, I also provide regular mental health support to university students.

I offer a friendly, caring, and confidential space, where our sessions will be at a pace best suited to you. This will allow us to explore together what’s going on for you in a relaxed, safe, and accepting environment.

I also welcome a presence of humour to the therapy room and believe that this helps facilitate warmth and connection.

My practice is centred around providing you the opportunity to feed heard, valued and understood.

Your feelings matter, your experiences matter, YOU matter.

What is Person-Centred therapy and how does it work?

I’m going to be honest here, coming to person-centred therapy, like many therapies isn’t always a quick fix, nor is it for everyone.

It doesn’t happen after one session nor two, three, or sometimes four. It can often take time to really understand your own process and explore your “stuff”. Think of it like a bag, it needs unpacking.

The foundation of person- centred therapy is the belief that, under the right conditions, everyone has the capacity and desire for personal growth and change.

I will provide;

  • Unconditional positive regard (UPR), accepting and valuing you.
  • Empathy, seeing your viewpoint as if I were you.
  • Congruence, being honest and transparent in how I experience you and your world.

 

This is to assist you in navigating any unpleasant feelings and to grow and develop in your own way, rather than taking charge of the session and acting as the expert.

By assisting you in re-establishing your sense of self-worth and values, this approach can empower you to choose your own path forward.

Without any prior counselling experience, a lot of clients think their problems will be solved by me, the therapist. To help you become more self-aware and independent, I will not solve your issues but, I will support you as we explore your own difficulties, emotions, beliefs, behaviour, and view of the world.

Through the process of working through your problems, developing your self-confidence, and understanding that you always have options, I will assist you in discovering what tools and resources are available to you. Being yourself is something no one else can truly understand, so I will regard you as the authority on yourself.

I will not judge you, regardless of what you bring to the session. All your emotions are welcome. This contributes to the development of a trustworthy relationship in which you feel free and supported to discuss whatever is troubling you. Eventually, you will discover your own abilities and autonomy, allowing you to effectively deal with past, present, and future emotions.

I work with :

  • Chronic Illness
  • Addiction
  • Bereavement and loss
  • Trauma
  • Stress
  • Family issues
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Relationships
  • Self esteem
  • Sexual issues
  • Sexuality and gender
  • Alternative lifestyles
  • Spirituality
  • Work related issues
  • and any other troubles you may wish to bring

Make Sense of the past

For me, therapy helped me make sense of my past, be accepting of the present and hopeful for the future.

It gave meaning to my life and allowed me to let go of what no longer serves me by breaking down all that emotional armour that over the years had slowly been building.

Therapy can help gain a better understanding of yourself, your behaviours and your emotions whilst increasing self-confidence, awareness and bringing more balance to your life.

The best investment you can make is in yourself.