About me | MyTalkTherapy

Hello, my name is Avril

I qualified as a therapist over 16 years’ ago. I started as a ChildLine counsellor and supervisor in 2001 before working in local charities that supported adults and children affected by violence and abuse in2006; as a result, I offer trauma informed counselling. After this, much of my work was with children and young people's mental health in CAMHS (2015) before moving to private practice.

My approach is Person-centred, however I incorporate other models such as CBT and Systemic Practice.

Person-centred therapy, also known as a humanistic approach, works to understand your individual experience from your perspective. This approach can help you reconnect with your inner values and sense of self-worth, helping to find your own way to move forward and progress.

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) aims to reduce symptoms of mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression. CBT focuses on challenging your beliefs, changing unhelpful behaviours and supporting you to develop better coping strategies.

Systemic therapy focuses on family and couple relationships. It helps you to identify behaviour patterns and to understand the ways your emotional life affects how you interact with others.

I offer online and telephone counselling to children, adolescents, adults, and couples. I also provide supervision to qualified therapists and professionals that provide therapeutic work.

My aim is to create a safe and trusting environment to explore what feels most important to you and to support you find a way forward.

I have a special interest in and extensive experience working with Abuse, Safeguarding and Child Protection.

Other areas include: Anger, Anxiety, Bereavement, Depression,

Disordered Eating, Identity, Low Self Worth, Low Mood,

Panic Attacks, Relationships & Family, Stress, Self-Harm, Suicide and Trauma

My Training

Cert. Online and Telephone Counselling

Counselling Tutor - 2020

Advanced Cert. Sexual Exploitation Practitioner - 2018

Parents Against Child Exploitation (Pace), Leeds

PGDip in Systemic Family Practice - 2016

Manchester University, Manchester

Level 5 BTEC in Weight Management – 2013

Lighter Life Training Centre, Essex

BSc in Therapeutic Counselling – 2006

Leeds metropolitan University, Leeds

Diploma in Person Centred Counselling – 2004

Joseph Priestly College, Leeds