Annie Robinson

MSc. (Univ Bristol), Dip. Embodied Relational Therapy (ERT)

MBACP.

Professional supervision training

Providing counselling from the Centre for Whole Health since 2003, I have met people from all walks of life, coming for a very wide range of reasons, frequently to address issues that are personally distressing. Some people come for focussed, short-term issue specific work; others come for more open ended, longer and developmental work. The foundations of my approach are to provide you with attentive listening, acceptance, support and an authentic relationship, in a confidential and ‘safe’ space. Here you can explore your story and issues, gain a better understanding of your situation, experience yourself differently, and open up options for change.

Your concerns may be

• a crisis situation e.g. stress, bereavement, relationships, work
• facing a significant life transition such as parenting, redundancy, retirement, children leaving home, divorce
• wanting to find a new direction in life and/or becoming more comfortable with yourself
• addressing longer term problems e.g. anger, illness, anxiety, abuse, trauma, depression, drug/alcohol dependency (I work with those exploring  ‘recovery’ rather than those seeking rehabilitation, for which there are a number of specialist agencies)

I provide counselling for individual adults from age 16+, but I do not do children’s or couples counselling, although I do see individuals experiencing relationship difficulties. Professionally trained and qualified, and with considerable experience as a counsellor, I practice both independently and in organisational contexts, and I am a member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP), adhering to their ethical framework for good practice.

My therapeutic approach is Integrative, working within a relational framework, which draws on ideas and techniques from across the therapeutic ‘schools’ including cognitive, humanistic and psychodynamic. At one level, working relationally is as a collaborative, ‘co-researcher’ with you, and also it is working within the perspective of the therapeutic relationship, exploring relationally operant nuances in our work together. For me therapy is relational, echoing the view that we are relational beings, formed through our experiences and life contexts. The meaning we have developed for our lives derives from these experiences, together with the survival and coping strategies we have developed for functioning. I believe that as we raise awareness of ‘edges’ – things that are known and yet not known, in and out of consciousness, we widen understanding and compassion for ourselves. Experiencing, exploring and examining these within the therapeutic relationship provides ‘news of difference’. My aim is to respect and build on your existing strategies, and co-develop latent and new internal resources, and ultimately a greater ability to relax with yourself. Underpinning my work is a deep interest in embodiment & mind-body connections and I have an extended training in Embodied Relational Therapy (ERT).

As well as individual counselling, for professional therapists I provide practice supervision. I work as a partner for Lotus Counselling offering counselling, group facilitation and/or in-house training for employees. I am a part-time, senior lecturer in counselling at the University of Wales, Newport.

Clinic times and prices

I offer day and evening sessions on Tuesdays and morning sessions on Fridays.

My standard rate is £42 per session; some concessionary rates are negotiable for those on low income; an initial exploratory session is recommended at a flat rate of £25. Fees are negotiable for organisational work. Clients are expected to attend as agreed with a full fee charged for cancellations of less than 24hours.

My contact details are

Telephone: 0117 923 1138; 01275 472744

Email: ar.lotuscounselling@macace.net

For a web link see http://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/counsellor_20410.html