Julie Mitchell Counselling & Psychotherapy
Counselling and Psychotherapy are terms that are commonly used inter-changeably, both referring to the practice of 'talking therapy', a process which offers you space in which to talk through your problems with a trained professional. Increasingly often, we refer simply to 'therapy'.
People come to therapy for all sorts of different reasons, maybe you are feeling trapped, lost, overwhelmed, or you feel uncertain, anxious or depressed. Perhaps you are struggling with low confidence or are questioning your identity or worth. Sometimes we don't know what we need help with, we just don't feel quite 'right'. Our past experiences can shape who we are today and may be impacting upon how we relate to others. Talking honestly about our feelings and thoughts can help us to make better sense of what has happened to us and how this may be influencing our experiences in the present.
The work of therapy doesn't hold the power to remove the difficulties you face in life but it can help you to understand yourself better and build capacity for holding yourself steady in the face of uncertainty, to reduce your sense of overwhelm and allow you to experience greater balance and joy in your life. When we are able to openly share the things that are we are struggling with, things that we may feel unable to express elsewhere in our lives, we have the opportunity to put down some of what we are carrying or at least find more ease in the carrying of it. Therapy can be reparative in helping you to understand and overcome past hurt.
It is important that you find a therapist who you feel emotionally safe with, someone who you can build trust with. A positive therapeutic relationship can be very healing.
Whatever brings you to therapy, my aim is for you to feel accepted and valued, heard and understood. I am trained in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy and my approach is Pluralistic; this means I see that different things suit different people at different times and so I draw upon methods from a range of perspectives. How we work together is rooted in our therapeutic relationship and based upon conversation and collaborative decision making. The work ebbs and flows at your own pace, moving between curiosity about the here and now and exploration of past experiences, uncovering more of the whole self and exploring the mind-body connection inherent to human existence.
If you are interested in working with me I offer a free of charge 20 minute initial-meeting which will give us the chance to find out more about each other. Contact me to arrange this by clicking the link here.
My Approach
It is important that you find a therapist who you feel emotionally safe with, someone who you can build trust with. A positive therapeutic relationship can be very healing.
Whatever brings you to therapy, my aim is for you to feel accepted and valued, heard and understood. I am trained in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy and my approach is Pluralistic; this means I see that different things suit different people at different times and so I draw upon methods from a range of perspectives. How we work together is rooted in our therapeutic relationship and based upon conversation and collaborative decision making. The work ebbs and flows at your own pace, moving between curiosity about the here and now and exploration of past experiences, uncovering more of the whole self and exploring the mind-body connection inherent to human existence.
I have a deep interest in what it means to be human and as such look to existential understanding to explore the common dilemmas of living that we share and how this sits alongside the unique version of life that we each experience. I am drawn to Gestalt principles of non-judgement, in the moment awareness, exploring ‘wholeness’, dealing with ‘unfinished business', holding what is ‘alienated’ and out of awareness .
Sitting outside of the Humanistic perspective I am also influenced by Psychodynamic theory; how our childhood experiences can impact upon on current relationships, how we may respond to old wounds within relationships, exploring the root of here and now behaviours, getting curious about defence mechanisms and coping strategies, working with different parts of self who may be either unaware of each other or working against each other creating a sense of inner conflict.
My aim to is provide therapy that is anti-oppressive, neuro-affirmative and privilege-informed. I want to understand your social context and the structural barriers you may be facing, recognising what lies beyond the things that can be changed at an individual level.
Indoors, outdoors or online?
I offer therapy in different settings:
Indoors - I have a private therapy room on Bank Street in Sheffield City Centre. The room has been thoughtfully furnished to provide a calm and comfortable environment in which we can meet. Our surroundings matter and can really impact on how we feel.
Outdoors - I work from a couple of different locations on the Sheffield and Peak District border in postcodes S11 and S17. I invite you to walk with me and experience how the natural world and the act of walking alongside one another can support and inspire our work together, offering soothing and grounding and aiding the process of healing.
Online - If you are unable to meet in person I am able to meet with you on Zoom. You will need to have access to space in which you can be alone and where no-one can overhear you.
Wherever and however we meet, sessions are an hour long and cost £60 per session.
Therapy sessions usually take place once a week at the same time and place, if you need more flexibility then I am open to discussing this. Therapy may be short-term or long-term and is commonly open-ended with us regularly reviewing where we are in the process and with care taken to tend to a carefully managed ending.
