Counselling and Psychotherapy

 Throughout life, things can arise which dispirit or dis-orientate us, resulting in feelings of helplessness or hopelessness and we can get stuck or feel trapped.  Sometimes the changes we experience around the time of pregnancy and birth can be unexpected and/or frightening

From my experience as a midwife and a therapist, I have found that talking to someone who listens carefully to you can help. Counselling and Psychotherapy offer the opportunity to better understand ourselves and make changes towards more fulfilling ways of living.

People seek help with a range of concerns.  Some of the things people have come to me for help with are:

• anxieties around pregnancy, birth and/or parenthood

• grief and loss

• changing identity and adjustment to parenthood

• depression

• relationship difficulties

• health anxieties

• lack of confidence

• parenting challenges

as well as a more general desire to explore possibilities for greater fulfilment in life.

My approach is respectful, forward looking, optimistic and creative. I can meet with you in a comfortable, confidential setting, to explore your needs and possible ways of moving forward.

I welcome anyone who is experiencing concerns, anxieties or distress of any kind, individuals and couples.

 Parent Support

Family life with children either young or older can present its own set of challenges.  As well as bringing joy, children can also leave adults feeling exasperated, exhausted and desperate.

At the Pregnancy and Parents Centre I provide:

• a safe, respectful space for parents to talk abut their parenting concerns & worries.
• support for parenting in practical, creative and immediate ways.
• a chance to explore ways of interacting with children which build on your skills and your relationship with your child/children, to encourage greater  co-operation, autonomy and harmony.

Fees

Sessions can be planned flexibly, as needed.

Sessions will be charged at a rate of £35 per hour.

(Where less than 24 hours notice is given of cancellations, full fee will be payable)

The Pregnancy and Parents Centre is a charitable organisation and never turns away anyone because of inability to pay.  If you need a concessionary rate, please speak to the centre co-ordinator.

For more information, you can either contact the centre on 0131 229 3667 or contact Jenny directly at jenny.newland@pregnancyandparents.org.uk

About Jenny

I am a mother with 2 children and am also a qualified midwife, with experience of both the NHS and independent practice.

Initially, I studied psychology at university and then became interested in birth issues following the birth of my first child 21 years ago, which lead me to train to be a midwife.

As a midwife it was always of vital importance to me that women’s concerns were heard and taken seriously, that their wishes were respected and carried out wherever possible.  It was within the context of midwifery, that I discovered the ways in which a trusting and a respectful relationship can transform a woman’s experience of pregnancy, labour and birth, forming a powerful contribution towards optimum well being of the birthing mother and new baby.

Following other life experiences and the birth of my second child some years later, I found my interests moving more towards the emotional and psychological aspects of pregnancy, birth and families and in this way, found myself coming around in what felt like a full circle, to train in counselling and psychotherapy.  This seemed to be a way of drawing all of my previous experiences and skills together in a new and exciting way.

I was drawn to Personal Construct Psychotherapy (PCP) as as a theoretical approach, as it seemed to offer clients the same kind of respect for their choices, expertise and knowledge that was already so important to me.

For me, there are no assumptions that the same thing that has helped one person will necessarily help another – it  may and it may not.  With each person, I start from scratch by listening attentively and accepting without judgement or criticism in order to gain a deep understanding of the person,  their experiences and the ways in which they construe and understand their world.  This means that therapy is truly personal.  It is creative, exciting and demanding, keeping the individual who is seeking help at the centre of everything.

I also work at Counselling Conversations (Edinburgh) and Health In Mind and co-run ‘Communicating With Our Children and Ourselves’ workshops for parents with Lyssa Clayton at the Healthy Life Centre.

Useful link for more on counselling www.counselling-directory.org.uk