My name is Jane. I qualified as a counsellor in 2011. During this time, I have worked in charities and schools as well as in private practice, helping families and individuals ranging in age from children and young people to adults, covering a broad range of difficulties.
Before my counsellor training, I worked for almost 20 years in London within the financial sector and have knowledge of banking, capital markets and asset management.
During my work as a counsellor, I have always understood that each individual has their own way of processing their experiences. At certain times in our lives, we may look for support in understanding how our experiences affect the way that we think, feel and behave. With development underpinning the way in which I work, we look at transitions and explore how changes at these stages can be managed and understood. Asking for help can sometimes be difficult and knowing where to go could feel daunting for some. There have been many studies to suggest that healing, through counselling, can be achieved when a “good therapeutic relationship” has developed between therapist and client. If a person feels safe, heard and understood, they are able to explore their experiences through that relationship.
With a number of counselling styles available to people, it can feel overwhelming for someone to know what style works for them and where to begin. Therefore, before our first session, I can offer a telephone conversation to discuss how I work and see if that style of working would be suitable for you. I am able to work with you to help you understand how your social, cultural and belief systems can impact how you live, think and feel in the present day. Through exploration, I can help you to emerge with more self-awareness, understanding, emotional growth and autonomy whilst helping you to develop strategies to manage difficulties, allowing you to move towards the next stage of your life.
Jane Whitten
DipHE Integral Therapeutic Counselling; MBACP
My training in Integral Therapeutic practice has allowed me to develop a humanistic style of working through self exploration. Humanistic psychology strives to help people fulfil their potential and maximise their wellbeing. Personal development and the experiences we have during our lives impact how we think about and see the world around us. These experiences can be explored during our sessions through the work that we undertake whether that be face to face, by telephone or on a secure online platform.
It has long been known that the benefits of nature and the outdoors can have a positive effect on our general health and wellbeing. It helps improve your mood, reduce feelings of stress and anger, a more relaxed environment and improve physical health, confidence and self esteem. Working in this way may not suit all individuals or situations which is why I will discuss the suitability around this style of working with you.
I have worked with families, couples and individuals on a range of difficulties which include relationships, teen and adult transitions, difficulties around exams and university, personal growth and development, anxiety, bereavement, identity, sexuality, depression, trauma, low self esteem, stress, cancer diagnosis, reconstruction surgery, support with wellbeing and work related difficulties as well as difficulties around COVID.
Anglia Ruskin University – 2011
Metanoia Institute – 2015
BACP Accredited Course – 2020
“Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued, is always
just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down
quietly, may alight upon you.”
– Nathaniel Hawthorne
I work from home and am based on the West side of Chelmsford within walking distance of local City bus routes with Chelmsford Rail station just 3 miles away. My counselling room is a separate, secure building away from the house and offers a confidential space in which to work. I have ample off-street parking at the property.
I am a Registered Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)
and work in accordance with its Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions.
I hold appropriate professional indemnity insurance and am registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).
All personal information and counselling records are handled confidentially and stored securely in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.
I take my professional responsibilities, client confidentiality and the protection of personal information very seriously. Your privacy, dignity and wellbeing are central to my practice.
Commitment to Client Care and Continuity of Support
I understand that beginning counselling and building a trusting therapeutic relationship can be a very personal and sometimes vulnerable experience.
I take my responsibility towards every client seriously and recognise the importance of providing a safe, ethical and professional service.
As part of my professional responsibilities, I have contingency arrangements in place should I unexpectedly become unable to continue working due to illness, incapacity or other unforeseen circumstances.
These arrangements ensure that appropriate steps can be taken to inform clients, protect confidential records and provide information about alternative sources of counselling support where needed.
My priority is always to respect the confidentiality, dignity and wellbeing of my clients, and to ensure that their needs are treated with sensitivity and care.
Your trust is important to me, and I am committed to maintaining high professional and ethical standards throughout my practice.
I charge £65 for adults and £50 for under 18’s per session. I can offer a small number of concessional rates as and when they become available. I am client led and work sensitively at a pace that works for you.
After our initial telephone or email contact, I will send out the counselling contract and Data Protection documents. We can then agree a mutually convenient time to meet. At that stage, I will ask for some background information as well as what you would like to achieve from your counselling. If working with a young person, we can work together to find the best way of working with your child.
I can offer day or evening appointments on Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays from 8.30am until 8.30pm. Mondays, Fridays and weekends are available on some occasions should there be any difficulties attending your regular session.
Sessions are 50 minutes long and on a weekly basis within a confidential setting. I can offer a complimentary 15 minute telephone consultation to ensure that working with me is right for you.
Covid has had an impact on us all and changing the way in which we work is something that many of us have had to adjust to. Although my preference is to be in a face to face environment with my clients, safety and security at this time is of upmost importance and it is for that reason that, during this period, I trained to be able to offer online counselling for those who need support and are finding this current situation difficult to manage and who need support.
“When you find yourself cocooned in isolation and you cannot find your way out of darkness…
Remember, this is similar to the place where caterpillars go to grow their wings.”
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or to arrange a telephone consultation.