UKCP Registered Psychotherapist

Jane, founder of The Terrace, is a UKCP reg. psychotherapist and counsellor working with individuals, couples, families, groups, companies and supervisor. She is a group leader for the Spectrum One Year Course in Psychotherapy for 2010/2011.

Working with Jane has a clear focus which is to form a more satisfying way of being with yourself and with others. People come because they want to know more, understand, heal and be in charge of their lives.

Jane works with humanistic models of psychotherapy with a particular emphasis on Formative Psychology, using her experience to meet each client’s needs.

What some people have said about working with Jane:

“After one session we were able to listen more effectively and understand each other’s feelings”.

“I felt so relieved after my first session; Jane listened and helped me understand why I was so confused.”

“It was particularly important to me to feel safe, which I did, as Jane ‘held’ the group with great care and warmth. This enabled my work in the group to go deeper and I experienced many profound shifts forward.”

UKCP Registered Psychotherapist

David is highly qualified and respected as a psychotherapist, supervisor and Gestalt practitioner. He practises in Exeter and Taunton and trains counsellors and Gestalt therapists through CHPC Training Devon, of which he is the director.

David has over 22 years experience of working with individuals, couples and groups. He trained in Gestalt Therapy and Core Process Psychotherapy, and also recently in EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques).

The focus of David’s work is present centred – ie on the here and now in the client’s life and in the therapy room, but he also takes note of the client’s story and development over time.

The aim is through enhanced awareness of habitual patterns of thought, feeling and behaviour, to have more choice and resource available in the present to cope with life’s urgencies, challenges and opportunities.

BACP Accredited Counsellor and Psychotherapist

Before training as a counsellor, Annie worked as a dyslexia specialist with children and then with adults in further education. Her work with adults, many of whom were struggling with a range of emotional difficulties, impassioned her to train and qualify as a person-centred counsellor. She has since worked privately and within organisations.

Person-centred therapy is based on the philosophy that each human being is of unique value and has the potential for psychological growth and increased personal fulfilment. Annie aims to see, feel and understand as closely as she can the world as you experience it, and in so doing establish a therapeutic relationship with you. She then works to help you develop greater self-awareness with the aim of resolving whatever troubles you and finding a better way forward.

Annie has several years’ recent experience counselling in a large hospice. She has specialist experience in supporting patients and their families coping with life-limiting illness and bereavement.

Annie works with individual adults, young people, and groups.

What some people have said about working with Annie –

“Calm, supportive, there for me…encouraged by your quiet presence”

“I know without hesitation I am getting back to being a happier person, and am certain I could not have achieved such a leap without you, thank you”.

BACP Accredited Counsellor & Psychotherapist

Ali Leftwich runs mindfulness meditation groups and has many years’ experience of therapy and training and has trained in teaching mindfulness with the Centre for Mindfulness Research and Practice at the University of North Wales. She also teaches mindfulness on a one to one basis.

“The course was inspirational and life changing”. Course participant Taunton 2009

“I feel I have grown in self esteem, contentment, worth and confidence. I do not feel overwhelmed by the future but feel I can meet it now and not crumble”. Course participant 2010

“Thank you for being such a calm, accepting and grounded facilitator”. Course participant 2010

Family Mediator

John is a very experienced and highly respected mediator, and is a founding partner of South West Mediation which now operates in 11 venues across the South West. Prior to setting up South West Mediation John worked as a family lawyer for 10 years. He is qualified to undertake mediations directly with children and is also a Professional Practice Supervisor.

More and more couples are now seeing the benefit of using mediation when their relationships break down, rather than going through the court process, as can be seen by the comments below:

“John is an excellent mediator, trustworthy and very likeable, we couldn’t have reached a resolution without him.”

“Mediation gave a more friendly and approachable solution to an otherwise difficult situation”.

“I would recommend you to someone else if they needed mediation because of the excellent service you provide and good value for money”.

Family Mediator

Jane has worked with South West Mediation since 2007. Prior to training as a Family Mediator she worked in Special & Further Education with families and with groups.

More and more couples are now seeing the benefit of using mediation when their relationships break down, rather than going through the court process, as can be seen by the comments below:

“I would be certain to recommend you to someone else if they needed mediation because of the relaxed friendly atmosphere in which the situation could be discussed together with the provision of all the necessary information.”

“Thank you for your help, it has certainly helped us both achieve an amicable compromise.”

“Professional, friendly, unbiased help through very difficult times.”

BACP Accredited Counsellor and Psychotherapist

Su is an accredited member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and on the United Kingdom Register of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (UKRCP). Her core training is Psychodynamic, although Su also works with other skills, for example Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) and Mindfulness.

Su sees men and women for counselling/psychotherapy on an individual basis for long term, medium term and brief work. She is skilled and experienced in working towards new ways of thinking, which can have a positive effect when considering and identifying patterns, which may be contributing to emotional distress and troubling behaviour, either in personal or employment situations. Su works with people towards Restoring a Balance in their Lives. Su also works with Couples/Pairs and Adolescents (13-18 yrs.).

Su provides Psychodynamic Supervision for Qualified and Trainee counsellors from a broad spectrum of trainings and orientations. Her experience of supervision includes organisations, primary care and private practice.

Su provides Mentoring for people who need assistance with work related issues or who have a desire to change their work/life balance to achieve positive outcomes in personal and professional relationships.

Transactional Analytic Counsellor and Psychotherapist

As a Transactional Analytic Counsellor and Psychotherapist, Helena is a member of BACP and the Institute of Transactional Analysis (ITA) and works with individuals, couples, adolescents and groups, her underlying interest being in helping people to communicate effectively at all levels and to `move on in life`.

Transactional Analysis is the theory of personality and social psychology within a humanistic tradition, pioneered in the 1950s, and more commonly referred to as TA. It offers a framework for understanding personality, communication and life patterns.

The use of TA enables people to look inside themselves, and to make changes in order to deal with difficult times or situations in their lives.

TA can be used in personal work or with organisations, with couples or groups. It can be used to help many diverse problems, and has a multitude of applications. Helena is very positive and enthusiastic about TA and the benefits it can bring to people’s lives.

Registered Psychologist (Clinical)

Karen is a fully qualified Chartered Clinical Psychologist and is registered with the British Psychological Society (BPS). She offers professional psychological assessment and therapy.

Karen is a very experienced therapist having worked for over 17 years in the National Health Service. Prior to her move to independent practice in February 2007, she was a Consultant Clinical Psychologist, and Deputy Head of the clinical psychologists working within Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.

Karen has a particular interest and expertise in assessment and intervention for child/adolescent mental health, autistic spectrum disorders and developmental delay.

As a Chartered Clinical Psychologist, Karen works within the professional code of the BPS and is also committed to ongoing professional development, to up-date her knowledge and skills, and also receives supervision for her work.

Everyone experiences stress or emotional upheaval at some point in their lives and having an experienced therapist with whom you can talk things through can help you begin to feel valued and understood, confident and more positive in your future.

Karen offers a range of psychological therapies including:

• Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
• Family Work/Therapy
• Psychotherapy (Psychodynamic Approaches)
• Specialist assessment and approaches for Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

Through sensitively paced exploration together, emotions are explored and unhelpful patterns of thinking, relating and behaving are identified and better understood. Connections between past experiences and present concerns can also be explored.

Karen’s experience allows her to individually tailor therapy so that whatever your age, ability, sexual orientation or culture, she can work with you to encourage:

• greater understanding
• personal growth, development and change
• effective re-processing and healing of underlying issues
• improved confidence and coping

Dip. Clin.Hyp. NLP. Coach

Jan is a qualified teacher and lecturer as well as a practitioner in the Lightning Process and lifecoaching/hypnotherapy and NLP. Jan worked with children with behavioural problems and their families for over 20 years and was trained in behaviour modification before training to be a practitioner of the Lightning Process. With 4 years experience working in this field Jan is able to apply her previous training and knowledge of Care Standards to this role. Clients would most often describe Jan as compassionate, committed, caring, vibrant and skilled in enabling them to effect the changes they want, as evidenced by this testimonial:

Tinker’s testimonial – ‘I had been suffering from severe depression when I dragged myself to the Lightening Process. Overwhelmed by helplessness I had been told that it could offer me a way of helping myself. From the first moment of walking into the room I knew I was in the presence of someone of huge and positive energy, given unconditionally and from the heart. Although I wavered through the sessions Jan gave me the courage to stay with them and through phone calls during the following 2/3 months, let me know that she was there for me, for however long it took. In a short time I had regained my old spirit and had undertaken the translation of a 250 page book.

In the `success stories’ on her website the most frequently used words to describe Jan Oakley are generous and down to earth. She is quite simply one of the most inspirational people I have met’.

BACP Accredited Counsellor and Psychotherapist

Mags is an accredited member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and on the United Kingdom Register of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (UKRCP).

Mags works with individuals, couples and adolescents offering both short term and long term counselling and psychotherapy.

As an integrative therapist Mags uses a variety of approaches, working flexibly with an emphasis on creating a warm and non judgmental relationship where you can freely express and explore your thoughts and feelings.

Counselling is typically a one to one relationship, (sometimes with couples) where one person, the client, meets the other, the therapist, to talk about the problems they are experiencing.

People can be anxious when they initially come for counselling, some things can be incredibly difficult to talk about and you will need to feel enough trust to be able to do so. In good counselling you are always in control of what you talk about, how you talk about it and what you don’t want to talk about.

Essentially it is about a relationship, about a meeting with someone you feel comfortable enough to talk to in order that you can find some resolution and bring about positive change in your life.

Dip.Couns, Dip. RSA, Relate Accred, Cert.Couns (Relate), MBACP

Paul has worked as a Relate counsellor for 8 years and been a qualified counsellor for 15.

Paul works with both couples and individuals, irrespective of sexuality, who seek support for their relationships. He covers a wide range of relationship issues, both past and present, including communication difficulties, relationships where there has been an affair, stress, anxiety and depression as well as family and work related relationship difficulties.

Paul also offers support to couples who are separating and, where children are involved, can support them in forming a positive co-parenting relationship. He has specialist training in domestic abuse issues.

Through Relate counselling, Paul will help you to:

• Explore your difficulties
• Gain a better understanding of your relationships
• Bring positive change

Relate Trained Counsellor

Alan is an experienced relationship counsellor who has worked with Relate for over 20 years.

Alan works with both couples and individuals, irrespective of sexuality, who seek support for their relationships. He covers a wide range of relationship issues, both past and present, including communication difficulties, relationships where there has been an affair, stress, anxiety and depression as well as family and work related relationship difficulties.

Alan also offers support to couples who are separating and, where children are involved, can support them in forming a positive co-parenting relationship. Alan has specialist training in domestic abuse issues.

Through Relate counselling, Alan will help you to:

• Explore your difficulties
• Gain a better understanding of your relationships
• Bring positive change

Relate Trained Couple Counsellor and Member of BACP

Maureen is an experienced relationship counsellor who has worked with Relate in Somerset for 14 years and is a Member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy.

Maureen can work equally with couples or individuals about any relationship issue. This may involve work, communication, sexual, mental or physical health difficulties, past or present abuse, the aftermath of an affair or enmeshed family problems. She has specialist training in domestic abuse issues.

Maureen can support couples who are separating and help them to establish compromise solutions where the co-parenting of children is an issue. She is also trained in email counselling which is a good option for people who cannot or do not wish to attend face to face sessions. She also offers young people’s counselling, for children over the age of 11 who often have their own unique difficulties.

Through Relate counselling, Maureen will help you to:

• Explore your difficulties
• Gain a better understanding of your relationships
• Bring positive change

BACP Accredited Counsellor & Psychotherapist

Miranda has practiced yoga and meditation for many years. She completed a teacher training run by Bangor University to teach Mindfulness courses, and works with groups as well as on a one to one basis. Her experiences with Mindfulness have been immensely positive, both personally and professionally. It is a powerful life enhancing practice, together with being a safe and effective therapeutic tool.

Miranda’s original training was in medicine, and she worked as a GP in Somerset, with a special interest in psychological problems. She gained a diploma in Psychodynamic Counselling, and now works as a senior counsellor and EMDR practitioner at the Somerset Counselling Centre in Taunton. She is also a British Wheel of Yoga teacher.

BACP Accredited Counsellor & Psychotherapist & EMDR Practitioner

Diana’s earliest experience of working with people was as a generic social worker which led her into becoming an accredited Psychodynamic Counsellor 15 years ago. This training combined with her personal experience of practising yoga and meditation stimulated her into seeking a way of offering meditative techniques to enable a more skilful way of relating to states of mind, in a moment-to-moment experience, away from habitual patterns of thoughts and behaviour – namely Mindfulness.

Diana runs Mindfulness (Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction) courses both for groups and for individuals. She trained to teach Mindfulness at the Centre for Mindfulness Research & Practice at Bangor University, North Wales. Her experience of working with Mindfulness, whether with a group or with individuals, constantly confirms her belief in its effectiveness and relevance in daily life.