“When I am thus able to be in process, it is clear that there can be no closed system of beliefs, no unchanging set of principles which I hold. Life is guided by a changing understanding of and interpretation of my experience. It is always in process of becoming.”
― Carl R. Rogers, On Becoming a Person: A Therapist's View of Psychotherapy
Step towards the life you want with
St Ives Therapy
Live Your Best Life
First, let me offer a warm welcome.
Finding a therapist and deciding to seek help and support can be quite a step so as you find yourself here reading this, I would like to say hello and welcome.
I offer a safe and accepting environment without judgment to help you explore your present difficulties and consider how your past experiences or thoughts on the future could be impacting your life now.
About Me
I am a Humanistic Integrative Counsellor. I work relationally, meaning the relationship that we co-create is at the heart of your therapy therefore the connection we have is a fundamental component of our time together. I offer a safe and calm environment to help you grow towards a more harmonious way of being.
During our time together we can look at what has brought you to seek help and together we can work towards enhancing your self-awareness enabling you to manage yourself and your life in a more pleasing way. In working with your emotions and feeling, which can be overwhelming, we will find a way together, guiding you to where you would like to be.
I work within multiple modalities: Person Centred Therapy, Mindfulness, Psychodynamic Therapy, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, existentialism and dream work. This enables me to guide and support you, as an individual, to take the steps together at your pace in a confidential and comfortable environment.
Life is too short to be unhappy, unsure or unfulfilled. Let me help you learn and develop ways to handle the issues that may be standing in the way of you living the life you want.
I am also a clinical supervisor, supervising both students and qualified counsellors within my integrated relational approach.
Counselling and Psychotherapy
I help my clients break through the obstacles which seem to be holding them back in life. My previous post, working with young people in an educational setting, was highly rewarding in being able to support the next generation with their mental health needs.
Another of my previous roles was counselling lead for a small local Community Interest Company. This involved managing a large team of students on placement, supporting them in their final year of studies to become qualified counsellors.
In addition to this, I have experience working with MIND and adult individuals. I feel passionate that mental health support is, and should be available to all and everyone. Therefore, I welcome you to get in contact with me so we can discuss your needs.
Previous roles include
freelance work specialising in working with men and counselling lead managing students on placement as part of student counsellors in training.
I trained with the only NHS endorsed training institute for counselling and psychotherapy in the country. Kent and Medway NHS and social care partnership trust is a BACP (British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy) accredited course, I was very privileged to complete my training in this way. The training I complete to become a counsellor and psychotherapist was intense and gave me the necessary academic education and experience to not only feel but be good enough and competent in my practice. I have also completed additional training with MIND.
I have a full and enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) certificate. I am also registered and GDPR compliant.
During our time together we can look at what has brought you to seek help and together we can work towards enhancing your self-awareness, enabling you to manage yourself and your life in a more pleasing way for you.
In working with your emotions and feeling, which can be overwhelming, we will find a way together, guiding you to where you would like to be.
Clinical Supervision
I offer integrative supervision to qualified and student counsellors.
I have a Diploma in Supervision, which has advanced specialist training status with the National Counselling Society (NCS). This qualification allows me to supervise and hold clinical responsibility for my supervisees who work within a professional code of ethics.
The relational approach and the integrated model of my practice and supervision are the bases of the work we do. The integrated model I can offer includes psychodynamic, CBT and humanistic themes to explore the clinical work you present. It is important to be able to work in whatever style suits you. In our sessions together, we would initially co-create our way of working, you would present your clients and we will go on to discuss client your client work. We would explore what is going on for the client, as well as what the client may be bringing up for you.
I work by the code of ethics and good practice of BACP, this holds no limitation of us being able to work together as long as we are both aware of any possible implications. Please do get in touch to discuss this further should you wish.
All counsellors need support and supervision. I aim to develop an equal relationship in supervision with you.
So what sort of supervision would you get?
It would be integrative but shaped to fit into your style of practice, it would be respectful and confidential, it would be challenging and supportive, and encouraging.
Individual and group supervision is available.
Please note we would work collectively to create group supervision to meet the needs of each supervisee.
Price £40.00 per hour
Please do get in touch to see if we could be a good match - the session will be delivered on the online platform of zoom or face-to-face in my counselling rooms.
Here for you
In the darkness, together, let us find your light.
I offer a variety of life coaching services that will nurture your spirit, help you overcome personal challenges, and allow you to achieve your individual life goals. I cater to each of my client’s personal needs in order to unlock their full potential. Contact me to start your proactive journey today.
Specialising in
Depression
Anxiety
Stress
Abuse and complex trauma
Counselling during Corona Virus
Online and telephone counselling
Suicide
Life after loss
Cost of war
Domestic Violence for all
Working with men
Working with young people (age 14 and above)
Working with armed forces
Working with front line workers
Working with elderly
Working with LGBTQI+
Modalities
Humanistic, Existential, Psychodynamic and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy.
Modalities
As an integrative therapist, I work within multiped modalities. Simply put, this means I am skilled and knowledgeable in multiple ways of working from a range of psychological theories and styles to suit you. This is beneficial to you, as a client, as I can work seamlessly to ensure you have the therapy that is as unique and individual as you are.
Humanistic
Bringing a focus towards your self-development, growth and recognition to your strengths, creativity and choice in the 'here and now'. I can offer you a safe, supportive space where, together, we will explore you and your potential. Ultimately, working towards developing your own personal growth - mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Humanistic therapy (also referred to as person-centred therapy) is a client-led style of therapy looking at an individual's self-worth and values.
Existential Therapy
Focusing on exploring the meaning of certain issues from a philosophical perspective. this approach is often helpful and can be helpful in exploring existential crises and anxieties.
Psychodynamic Therapy
This modality looks at and explores your unconscious thoughts and perceptions developed throughout your childhood, and how this may affect your current behaviour and thoughts.
Unlike other forms of therapy, psychodynamic therapy aims to help create deep-seated change in your emotional development. In our time together we will look at finding an understanding and resolution to your problems by increasing your awareness of your inner self and how this can influence your relationships.
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
This style of therapy is based on the way you think and/or the way you behave. These therapies recognise that it is possible to change our thoughts or behaviour to overcome specific problems.
I would like to work towards offering a service and space that most suits you and your needs. Therefore, I offer a free half an hour initial consultation by phone/zoom to get a feel for if we could be a good match to work together, equally important for you to get a feel for if I could be a good therapist for you.
Many organisations offer Employee Assistance Programmes (EAP). This is offered to help and assist employees in dealing with difficulties that may impact or affect their performance at work. I accept EAP referrals, please contact me to discuss further.
Please get in touch to discuss your needs
Outdoor Therapy
Our session takes place outdoors or walking side by side, were you lead the pace just like a traditional session. Walking side by side could be more comfortable for you and could help release inhibition.
It can be taken as an introduction to counselling, followed up by a more formal type of therapy if you are apprehensive about being alone in a room with a therapist looking at you. Equally, we could initially meet in my therapy room to make arrangements. Walking or being in the fresh air sometimes allows for a preferable engagement.
How about the weather?
I am not deterred by a few drops of rain, but it is your call. We can make arrangements for poor weather sessions at our initial consultation. A suitable alternative could be swapping to telephone or video calls for adverse weather conditions.
During our first session, we would discuss issues of confidentiality and how we would negotiate encountering other people or people either of us knows when out walking.
The focus of walking and outdoor therapy is not for exercise, it is on your process and what you are comfortable with.
Online Therapy
During the COVID outbreak and lockdowns, online therapy became a new way of working that Counsellors, Psychotherapists and clients had to adapt to.
Commencing for some and continuing, for some, therapy was a valuable way of being for many during this highly challenging time.
Online therapy is now recognised in my profession as a highly beneficial way of working.
Therefore I have undertaken the appropriate continuing professional development to be able to continue this service. This has given me the skills and ability to continue offering this service as part of my practice.
Benefits of on-line therapy
Accessible
Online therapy allows you to get the help when you need it, wherever you are, during a time that suits you
Convenient
Online therapy is an ideal way for many individuals to seek confidential and professional support
Reduction in social anxiety
Some have found comfort in not being face-to-face
Continuity
Should you wish to not take a break in therapy at times when maybe you may be away for work on a holiday
Travel
No travel time to and from sessions
The comfort of your own home
some have found this a great comfort, enhancing the therapy
Finding the right therapist for you
You are not restricted to choosing a therapist that is local to you, you have a wide and varied range of therapist available to you to chose from online
Here for you
I am happy to continue to offer an online service if this is what you feel comfortable with.
I have found Zoom a safe and confidential platform for us to connect and work together, I have also found it very user-friendly.
We would discuss how this could work for you during our initial telephone conversation. Should you need support in becoming familiar with the online platform of zoom, we can work together to be able to do this for you.
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Let's talk suicide.......
I am a member of the orange button army
Launched by Cornwall Council and the local NHS the ‘Orange Button Community Scheme’ aims to make people who have received mental health and suicide prevention training more visible to those who need support.
I have undertaken extensive suicide prevention training.
Please get in touch to discuss your thoughts.
I care, I will support and I will listen.
I AM
Comfortable to say / hear the word suicide
Can listen without judgement
Can inform people where to find help and support
F & Q
Commonly asked question
What are the next steps?
I offer a free 30-minute telephone or video call for you to decide if we may be able to work together.
What are your fees?
£40.00 per session, each session will normally be 50 minutes, weekly with pre-arranged and agreed time and venue or platform.
Students in counselling training rates possible - please get in touch to discuss
How many session will I need?
This is a very difficult question to answer. Therapy is as unique and individual as you are, therefore, it is impossible to say at this stage. May I suggest we have an initial free 30-minute telephone/video call conversation and if you feel you would like to meet; we arrange an initial session.
During our initial consultation would agree in an initial contract that best suits you with a view to reviewing as and when we both felt necessary.
Should you wish to start therapy with me we would schedule an initial 6-week course of treatment with a view to review and extend if we both feel this is the best way forward for you.
Open-ended therapy is great if you feel time-limited therapy may add pressure. Open-ended therapy is an agreement where a deeper level of processing can happen.
How often do we meet?
Usually once a week at an agreed location and time. If this needs to be changed for any reason we can discuss this as we go.
what can I help with?
Anxiety, depression, and other mental and emotional problems and disorders
ADD/ADHD/ASD
Family and relationship issues
Substance abuse and other addictions
Anger management
Asperger syndrome
Sexual abuse and domestic violence
Eating disorders
Career change and job stress
Social and emotional difficulties related to disability and illness
Adopting to life transitions
The death of a loved one
Loss and grieving
Self-harm
Your relationships
Your childhood
Your feelings, emotions or thoughts
Your behaviour
Past and present life events
Situations you find difficult
How do I know if I need counselling and or psychotherapy?
Only you can decide whether you wish to try counselling or psychotherapy. Just talking to someone confidentially, who is not a friend or family member can make all the difference. I can offer you a regular time for you to explore your feelings and talk about any problems you are experiencing. I can help you develop better ways of coping, allowing you to move forward and get the most out of life.
Still have more questions? Get in touch and I’ll be happy to answer them.
Ange Ashton
MBACP. COUNS.DIP. SUP. DIP.
Counselling and Psychotherapy
Clinical Supervision