About Me

I am a warm and empathic counsellor.

I have always been a good listener and realise these skills are essential to being a good Counsellor. I feel it is vitally important to build a trusting relationship with the client and learn how other people see the world in order to more fully understand their issues. I am able to be congruent in a warm and calm way and this has helped clients to put their trust in me.
I like to reflect and clarify issues for the client in a non-judgemental way. This can overcome blockages and help the client to express themselves in a beneficial way.

I have specialist experience and interest in counselling young people and find this work particularly rewarding. Teenagers have a multitude of pressures and problems in the world today and gaining their trust and working with them to build self esteem and confidence is a very important part of my work

I have completed a specialist course on Eating Disorders and Obesity with renowned expert Deanne Jade of the NCFED and this has enabled me to see clients with all types of eating problems, severe or slight, using the latest research, evidence and techniques.

I use the following Therapies:

Psychodynamic – Looking into the subconscious. Understanding why we do things. What has happened in the past that may be influencing us today? We may be are unaware of patterns of behaviour that may be negative for us.

Person-Centred – Building a trusting relationship with the client. Allowing the client to lead the sessions and reflecting back in a non judgemental way. Being congruent, empathic, understanding, respectful. Having a positive regard for the client.

Cognitive Behavioural -Focusing on behaviour, patterns, beliefs. Challenging thoughts and looking at alternative ways of thinking. Making changes to behaviour in a positive way.

Solution Focused: -Based on brief therapy. Looking at how it would feel to be different . How would you know? What would it be like? What are we already doing that is working for us and we can build on these positives. Practical exercises can be thought provoking.

My Qualifications

  • Diploma in Person Centred and Psychodynamic Counselling: West Suffolk College
  • Diploma / Master Practitioner in Eating Disorders and Obesity: National Centre for Eating Disorders, Surrey
  • Positive Therapy Course : London
  • Fast Trauma and Phobia Course : Human Givens : Colchester
  • Accredited with the BACP.
  • Continued professional development – 30 hrs per year.

 

My Experience

  • 2 years Samaritan Telephone Counselling:
  • School Counsellor at 2 independent boarding schools
  • Suffolk Wellbeing Service working with clients with depression and anxiety.
  • Over 10,000 counselling hours experience.
  • Talks and workshops on Eating Disorders and Emotional Eating.

Clients say....

Yvonne was wonderful, from the first 3 hour breakthrough session we had to the weekly sessions that followed, she was professional, knowledgeable and personable. She was able to help me identify the root cause of my bulimia, and after working out the cycle I was finally, after 13 years, able to break it. We discovered my issues were never truly with the food but that it was instead a coping mechanism for many other things, which we sorted through together at my pace. Yvonne was never judgemental, she listened with an open mind and was able to offer scientific reasoning to follow up her points, which I found extremely helpful to enable me to understand how and why human brains react in different ways to different situations. It is now months later and I am still happily on the right track, which is something I did not ever see as a possibility before I spoke with Yvonne. I would highly recommend Yvonne's counselling for others suffering with eating issues, her help was invaluable and I would not be living the life I am now without her.

Clients say....

Yvonne's warm and caring approach made me look forward to each session and I knew this was a person I could trust completely. Yvonne's work was so good, that I was able to complete my course of six sessions, with a new outlook on my problem, and I take away with me a much more confident and positive person. I wholeheartedly recommend Yvonne to anyone who is trying to take the brave step to confront their issues. Thank you Yvonne. S. - Bury St Edmunds

Clients say....

I would strongly recommend Yvonne to anyone who is going through a difficult time. I have struggled with anxiety and low self esteem. Yvonne is a great listener and a very warm person. It was so helpful to be able to talk to someone and not feel judged. Yvonne also taught me different coping mechanisms. I have to say that I have learned a lot about myself and feel so much stronger and positive after completing 5 sessions. K. - Westley

Clients say....

We were very lucky to find you, as our daughter responded very well to you and respected your great knowledge, experience and warmth. We can't thank you enough. Mr and Mrs B - Great Barton

Clients say....

For the first time in over thirty years, I no longer feel guilty about eating. I can make considered choices about what to eat and when to eat it. Food is not the first thing I think about when I wake nor the last thing I think about at night. I now plan what I eat and am not paralysed by indecision. I know I have a long way to go with regards to my weight loss but am confident that this time I can make some changes. Yvonne has given me the confidence to deal with my disordered eating. C. - Fornham All Saints

Clients say....

Yvonne's warm and caring approach made me look forward to each session and I knew this was a person I could trust completely. Ms S. - Bury St Edmunds

Clients say....

I would strongly recommend Yvonne to anyone who is going through a difficult time.  Mr K. - Westley

Clients say....

Our daughter responded very well to you and respected your great knowledge, experience and warmth. Mrs B - Great Barton

Clients say....

For the first time in over thirty years, I no longer feel guilty about eating. Mrs. C. - Fornham All Saints

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