Sian Thomas, Counsellor , Psychotherapist in Bristol , Online/Telephone , London and

Whether you are curious to understand yourself and your behaviour in more depth, or in a place of despair, counselling can offer a safe space to be seen, heard, and understood.   Together we can explore and understand feelings perhaps too confusing, conflicting, or overwhelming to do so alone.   As we build our relationship, feeling safe with another person can be restorative in itself.  As you feel safe to explore difficult issues, energy and space can be restored to grow new more satisfying and authentic ways of being with ourselves and others.  I offer a warm, safe, robust, and psychologically informed collaborator, and at times, with compassion and humour, a gently challenging environment to explore your feelings, in a holding and non-judgemental way.

My Approach

I hold a Professional Diploma in Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapeutic Counselling and I am a member of UKCP & BACP.  As an integrative therapist, I tailor my approach to you and work collaboratively, based on our relationship and combined resources.  

Our relationship is at the heart of my work. Indeed research shows that it is this that is the most important ingredient in counselling.  If you can feel increasingly safe in our relationship, you may find you can more deeply explore, experience, trust, and assert your needs. In turn, it becomes easier to brave being more honest and compassionate with yourself and others.  This is where true growth and change begins.  I would invite you to take time to find a therapist with whom you feel safe and experience a connection - this is something we will often explore in our sessions.

Person-centred and Psychodynamic approaches are the heart of my work. From an ecologically minded approach I am also concerned with your wider social/cultural system, as well as the existential difficulties of living, and how these can affect us both psychologically and physically.  This means I put your self-knowledge and experiences as central to our work.  I can offer knowledge of relational psychodynamics, attachment theory, exploration of meaning in life in your wider social systems as well as how this can become trapped and affect your body.  

My Practice

Based in Horfield, Bristol, I am able to offer face to face, telephone, and on-line counselling from my consulting room.

I offer weekly sessions of 50 minutes at £45.  I do offer a sliding scale for those who may need it, so please ask.

I have experience working with a wide range of ages, cultures, and gender, and feel able to sit with most difficulties, such as anxiety, anger, depression, grief/loss, relationships, self-esteem, sexual assault, domestic violence, work-related stress, disability, CFS, chronic pain, somatic pain, specific learning difficulties, gender and sexuality, childhood abuse, sibling abuse, self-esteem, self-harm, suicidal thoughts, addictions, eating disorders, trauma, work-related difficulties, and PTSD. 

One of my interests is in women’s health through the lifecycle, from working with mothers with anxiety and depression in the maternal period to a growing curiosity in mental health in the peri/menopausal period.  

I offer both short term counselling and longer psychotherapeutic work and aim to work as creatively as you feel useful. I offer a range of mediums and environments in my practice, from the use of art in our work to more traditional talking therapy.

Working online

I am able to offer confidential telephone counselling and online sessions. I have had training with the Open University (as recommended by the BACP) to offer Coronavirus counselling online.

This is an established and researched way of offering counselling.  It works in a very similar way to face to face counselling, with regular weekly 50 minute sessions via Zoom on a laptop, computer, or tablet with a working microphone and camera. You will also need a private space where you will not be interrupted or overheard, preferably not in your bed, as well as a good internet connection.

Contact

My counselling room is in Horfield, close to Muller Road, North Bristol. 

There is plenty of free parking outside.  It is a few minutes from bus stops served from the city centre or Filton or 10 minutes walk from Gloucester Road. 

Access to my practice does involve 2 steps that would make access difficult for those using a wheelchair. However, I do have training and experience of offering telephone and online counselling.

Those with severe dog allergies should be aware that a dog lives in this house, though it is a "hypoallergenic" type dog and will not be present in our sessions. 

I offer sessions Monday to Fridays. 

Please contact me on 07842 449930 or email me at sianthomascounselling@gmail.com.   

I will aim to get back to you the same day Monday to Thursday between 9.30am and 8pm. 

Best Wishes

Sian

Whether you are curious to understand yourself and behaviour in more depth or in a place of despair, counselling can offer a safe space to be seen, heard, and understood.   Together we can explore and understand feelings perhaps too confusing, conflicting, or overwhelming to do so alone.