Dawn Fretten Wilson
Counsellor Psychotherapist
"The good life is a process not a state of being. It is a direction, not a destination" Carl Rogers
Welcome....
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Hello and a warm welcome to you.
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Here you'll find out
more about me and how I work.
I hope you'll also be able to further inform your sense
of what it is you are looking for in
a therapist.
About you
Sometimes life can feel like a real struggle.
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Perhaps you are living with a recent or past loss, trauma or relationship difficulties.
Maybe you are experiencing stress or a ‘stuckness’; feelings of depression, anxiety and overwhelm;
or is it that a lack of purpose or direction in life is dragging you down?
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It may be that you want to make changes around a specific issue or ongoing relationship challenges. Perhaps you simply wish to understand yourself better.
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However it is for you, I am committed to working with you and at a pace that is sensitive to your needs.
I am also mindful of, and seek to support, your agency and autonomy in the process of our work together.
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I will be available to listen, observe, notice, respond; to help you to gain some insight, understanding and clarity around elements of your life and behaviour patterns that aren’t working for you - and also those that are!
About me
I have an open, curious approach to my practice and aim to create a calm and containing space within which we can explore whatever you need to bring.
Therapy is a very individual and personal process.
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A background in the creative arts and personal development support my focus on and belief in the process of therapy; of feeling listened to, valued and accepted
within a trusting relationship which is able to embrace challenge and contain the unbearable through the process of change.
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I aim to listen in a way that neither judges you, nor tells you what to do.
Training and experience
For many years, I taught art and design and also personal and social education with a specialist professional qualification in relationships and sex education.
I have a wealth of experience in working relationally with adults and young people from a diversity of backgrounds, identities and belief systems.
I am a registered member of the BACP which informs my commitment to ethical practice and the provision of a safe and confidential space for you.
My Diploma is in Integrative Counselling (UWE) which is also accredited
by the BACP.
Alongside my professional private practice, I also have therapeutic counselling experience with young through to older adult clients in Further Education settings, and for a mental health charity in central Bristol.
I have had the privilege of working as
an assistant project coordinator for Bristol Mind, primarily
training and supervising Mindline and Trans+ helpline volunteers, and as
an associate lecturer on the Certificate in Counselling Skills at UWE.
Qualifications
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MBACP (reg)
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Diploma - Professional Studies Counselling (University of the West of England -UWE)
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Certificate -Counselling Skills (UWE)
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National Teaching Certificate - PSHE Ed. specialising in Relationships and Sex Education (University of Roehampton Accred.)
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Art Teachers’ Certificate (University of London, Goldsmiths’ College)
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BA(Hons) 3D Design –Ceramics (UWE)
How I work
I offer a safe, calm and accepting environment to support you in making this brave and important step towards positive change.
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The therapeutic relationship is at the heart of my practice alongside
the essential values of
empathy, acceptance and genuineness.
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Sometimes words may feel inaccessible and feelings, locked away or
too difficult to communicate verbally.
From this calm, grounded and deeply holding relationship, I can offer you ways of working which explore alternative ways of communicating which are
creative and insightful, explorative and challenging.
I like to work with whatever may be meaningful for you.
This can include creative writing, dreams, imagery or objects.
Humour is welcome too!
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I am an integrative therapist. This means that I use elements of different psychological ideas to inform the most appropriate way of working with you and your particular needs.
Primarily, I integrate person-centred, psychodynamic and gestalt counselling approaches.
What I Can Help With
I can help you to make sense of issues around identity and relationships;
of life events and experiences - past and present; to recognise and challenge thought and behaviour patterns and gain a new perspective;
or to help you find ways of coping with difficulties that you might be facing.
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This can lead to greater self-trust, confidence and self-esteem
and also promote the discovery of a more authentic, empowered and accepting sense of yourself.
What to Expect
Our initial consultation will focus around us learning a bit more about each other.
We will talk about the issues that have brought you here and work out what your aims for therapy are. I will also ask you some questions about your life history.
This first meeting gives me a flavour of how things are for you; and you,
an idea of how I work and how working with me might feel.
I will also give you my 'Client Agreement' and 'Privacy Agreement'
documents to read. These outline the terms and conditions of how I work
and how I manage your personal data.
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It may be that you will have questions that you would like to ask me.
A question you might have in mind for yourself during
this initial consultation is:
Am I ready and able to make a weekly commitment to this therapeutic process
with this person?
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It is a key question because the elements that you like and are drawn to within
this first session will form the bedrock upon which a successful
therapeutic relationship will grow.
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Should you choose to work with me, I will ask you to sign
the 'Privacy Agreement' document.
We can then agree a suitable day and time for your weekly session.
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How will I feel?
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You may well feel nervous and apprehensive before meeting for the first time.
It is a significant step and I very much appreciate that.
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After a therapy session, you may feel very tired or even drained, shaky and emotional. If you can, try to factor in a little quiet time for yourself at the end of a session -go to a cafe, for a stroll, sit in a park or chill out at home.
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Fees and timings
Initial consultation - £45 (50 mins)
Counselling therapy - £60 per session
Sessions are once a week for 50 minutes and at the same time each week.
I offer open-ended therapy. This means that, once agreed, the session day/time
is yours for as long as you may need it.
Periodically, I will build a bit of review time into a session
to check how things are going.
Contact Me
I am a welcoming and friendly, qualified professional, offering one-to-one therapy in pleasant, comfortable rooms near
Clifton Down Shopping Centre,
off Whiteladies Rd.
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Email: dawnfw.counselling@gmail.com
Text: 07969391031
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I would love to hear from you either to make an appointment
for an initial assessment, or for more information.
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The Practice Rooms, 39, Cotham Hill, Bristol , BS6 6JY
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Find me at: The Practice Rooms
Find me at: The Counselling Directory
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