Jan Howe – Integrative Counsellor in South West London
A safe space to talk, understand and move forward
There are times in life when things can feel difficult to manage. You may be dealing with anxiety or stress, struggling with a relationship, coming to terms with a loss, or simply feeling that something isn’t quite right.
Counselling gives you the opportunity to step back from everyday life and talk openly about what’s happening in a confidential and supportive environment.
I’m Jan, an integrative counsellor based in South West London. I work with adults and young people, helping them explore difficult thoughts and feelings, understand patterns that may be affecting them, and find ways of moving forward.
You don’t need to know exactly what you need from counselling before you get in touch. We can start with a conversation about what’s going on for you and whether I might be the right counsellor for you.
Free initial telephone consultation.
Relationship issues
Relationships can be complicated, particularly when you’re caught up in the middle of them. Whether you’re experiencing difficulties with a partner, family member, friend or colleague, it can be hard to see the situation clearly or know what to do next.
Counselling provides a confidential space to step back and explore what’s happening, how the relationship is affecting you, and what you want from it. We can look at patterns that may be playing out, how you communicate with others, and what you may be able to change.
Anxiety and Stress
Anxiety and stress can affect the way we think, feel and behave. You may find yourself worrying constantly, struggling to switch off, avoiding situations that make you anxious, or feeling overwhelmed by everyday life.
Talking to someone can help you understand what may be behind your anxiety and recognise patterns that keep it going. Counselling can give you space to make sense of your thoughts and feelings and develop ways of managing difficult situations with greater confidence.
Bereavement and Grief
Losing someone or something that matters to you can change how life feels. Grief is deeply personal, and there is no single way to experience it or a fixed amount of time in which you are expected to feel better.
You may experience sadness, anger, guilt, loneliness or even feel numb. At times, you may feel as though you’re managing, only to find difficult feelings returning unexpectedly.
Counselling offers a safe and supportive space where you can talk about your loss at your own pace, without judgement or expectation. You don’t have to put on a brave face or worry about how your feelings might affect other people.
Self esteem
The way we see ourselves can have a profound effect on our relationships, our choices and how we approach everyday life.
If you’re often hard on yourself, doubt your abilities, compare yourself with others or find it difficult to put your own needs first, counselling can help you explore where these patterns have come from.
Together, we can begin to understand the beliefs you have about yourself and consider different ways of seeing yourself and your experiences, helping you to develop greater self-acceptance and confidence.
Family dynamics
Family relationships can be among the most important relationships we have, and sometimes the most complicated.
Long-established roles and expectations can be difficult to change, particularly when they have their roots in childhood. You may be experiencing conflict, feeling responsible for other people’s feelings, struggling with boundaries, or simply finding it difficult to communicate with those closest to you.
Counselling gives you a confidential space to explore these relationships honestly, without having to manage anyone else’s reactions. We can look at the patterns within your family and, importantly, how they affect you and what you might want to do differently.
Young people
Growing up can be complicated, and children and young people don’t always find it easy to talk about what they’re thinking or feeling – particularly with parents or other family members.
Having someone outside the family to talk to can give a young person the opportunity to feel heard and understood in a safe, confidential and non-judgemental environment.
Counselling can help young people make sense of difficult emotions, build confidence and develop ways of coping with the challenges they are facing. The aim isn’t to tell them what to do, but to give them the space and support to understand themselves and their experiences.
For parents, it can also be reassuring to know that their child has somewhere they can talk openly and be themselves.
About Jan Howe
I’m Jan Howe, a fully trained integrative counsellor based in South West London and a Registered Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).
I work with adults and young people experiencing a wide range of difficulties, including anxiety, stress, bereavement, low self-esteem, relationship and family difficulties, and challenges connected with work and education.
I have particular experience of supporting people through bereavement, having worked with the charity Bereft, and of supporting teachers and other education professionals who can face significant pressures both professionally and personally.
As an integrative counsellor, I draw on a range of therapeutic approaches, including Humanistic, Psychodynamic, Cognitive Behavioural, Existential, Gestalt and Transactional Analysis. This allows me to tailor our work to you rather than expecting one approach to suit everyone.
I know that deciding to talk to a counsellor can feel like a big step. You may not be used to talking about yourself, or you may be unsure whether counselling is right for you.
My aim is to provide a warm, confidential and non-judgemental space where you can feel comfortable being yourself and talking honestly about whatever is happening in your life.
My role isn’t to tell you what you should do. It’s to listen, help you make sense of what’s happening and support you in finding your own way forward.
BACP
I am a Registered Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and abide by their Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions
FEES
The first telephone consultation is free. It’s a chance to talk about what you’re looking for and whether we’d work well together. After that, sessions are £60 for 50 minutes, either at my home or online.
Take the first step
If you’re considering counselling and would like to talk things through, get in touch to arrange a free initial telephone consultation.
You don’t need to know exactly what to say. Just tell me a little about what’s brought you here, and we can take it from there.