About Me | Jenny Hodsdon @ Meadows Counselling

Why I became a Therapist

Learning

My passion for talking therapies started when I studied Psychology at University. My final year option covered child development and how important it is that we are nurtured by our parents or other significant carers. I learnt about the things we need in order to thrive in life as we move into adulthood, and what happens to us when we don't. It helped me to understand my own upbringing.

This important theory underpins a lot of the work I do.

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Next Steps

I accessed some counselling whilst at University and it helped me to understand that what had happened in my childhood may have contributed to the way I coped with challenges in life. I was anxious a lot of the time especially around exams and later, around my performance at work.

During my sessions, it became evident that I had experienced a number of Adverse Childhood Events (ACEs) and had received no acknowledgement or support at that time.

Sometimes we can believe that we are 'stuck' and that we cannot change or improve things for ourselves.

I had counselling with some great counsellors, who helped me to see that I wasn't stuck and I no longer felt a slave to my anxiety.

Gaining Self Awareness

Having self-awareness means that things start to make more sense; to drop into place, a bit like a jigsaw. The self awareness I gained from counselling helped me to see that we can unlearn patterns of behaviour and start to change.

I realised that being finally listened to by someone who is warm, empathic and non-judgemental can feel immensely healing and this is what I offer you should you decide to work with me. Click here to book now and start your journey to self awareness and change.

My Counselling Experience

Most of my experience has been around workplace stress, life stage/event challenges with or without anxiety, depression, generalised anxiety with or without panic attacks, grief where death has been sudden (heart attack or suicide), or expected such as after a chronic illness (such as cancer), loss of a person psychologically (alzheimers, mental illness or addiction), relational issues eg family dysfunction, estrangement, cptsd due to emotional neglect or abuse (shaming, humiliation, silent treatment) and ACE's (adverse childhood events).

I have volunteered at a mixture of providers; GP surgery, City centre, bereavement services and cancer services as well as 7 years in private practice.

I participate in both individual supervision and peer group supervision and have safeguarding, Prevent and Risk management training.

Relationship Therapy

I have always been hugely interested in how we interact with those around us and have studied Transactional Analysis and the work of the Gottmans, Harville Hendrix, Esther Perel to name a few. This means I am well-equipped to help with most relationship issues. It also means I have developed my own style of counselling couples to improve their relationships, you don't have to be in crisis to access this type of therapy. You may want to iron out any issues prior to living together for example.

What this means for you

I started my private practice so that I could help others to discover more about themselves especially if low mood, low self esteem or chronic, high-functioning anxiety were making daily life a struggle. and particularly if this is connected to a difficult childhood.

I have expanded my practice over the years so that I also see clients who have concerns related to grief or loss, especially if this involved the psychological loss of a person due to brain injury, memory loss, dementia, addiction or severe mental illness, rather than a physical loss. This type of loss of a person is called Ambiguous Loss and is something many of us encounter in the course of our lives without it being recognised, by society or even ourselves.

The Me Outside the Therapy Room

I love the countryside having been born on the side of a moor in a Lancashire mill town. I have been lucky enough to live close to the Pennines for most of my life and enjoy walking locally.

I am a dog lover and have a lovely rescue called Jazz who would like to be a therapy dog (provided you have a stack of treats for her!).

I enjoy all types of dance, ballet, bellydance, bollywood and african and have performed in a dance troupe.

I love all types of music and can play the drums to an acceptable standard.