About Me
Integrative Counsellor with Adults and Young People, in UK.
I am an integrative therapist based in the Manchester area. Utilising a wide variety of skills and techniques, I am able to find an individual approach for each client in order to provide personalised therapy.
I am passionate about helping people move out of pain and confusion and lead happier and more fulfilling lives.
How did this all begin?
Like many people, I have experienced difficulties in my life. Years ago I felt completely at odds with the world around me. I needed help desperately, but it was almost impossible to find. When I finally did see a counsellor everything changed. Over time, my life has transformed and I have developed a deep desire to listen to, understand and help others.
I was amased when I first read about Carl Rogers and his ‘Person-Centered’ approach to counselling. I had been totally unaware of the impact of emotions up to that point and here in black and white was a profound understanding of just how much feelings influence our lives and how we see our world. After I went on to gain my Diploma in Counselling and started to work with clients, I saw that what was true for me was true for my clients as well. With this in mind, I committed myself to using the “Person-Centered” approach in my practice moving forward.
Through the process of counselling all of my clients, whether they be teenagers, children or adults, I have become increasingly aware of how much their view of the world is shaped by their feelings. As these feelings are ‘processed’ and change, their reality changes too.
Counselling for children and young adults.
I am a mother of two grown sons and have personal experience with all stages of human growth and development.
I have experience resolving children’s problems using different techniques.
I offer creative therapy and counselling specifically for children as well as counselling for teenagers.
My Qualifications.
I trained as a counsellor in Manchester and now work as a long and short term counsellor and psychotherapist with adults, teenagers and children in the Manchester area.
Level 5 CBT Diploma, 2023
University of Salford, Greater Manchester ~ BSc (HONS) Professional Counselling, 2009 (Top Up Degree).
- Mindfulness (Integrative Practice 3).
- Expressive Therapies.
- Bereavement and Loss.
Salford College, Greater Manchester ~ Diploma in Counselling Level 4, 2007.
- Professional and Organisational Issues in Counselling.
- Counselling in a Diverse Society.
- Counselling: Person-Centred Theory.
- Advanced Counselling Skills.
- Self-awareness for Counselors.
- Counselling Specialism.
I am a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) which is the major regulatory body for counselors in the UK. It ensures that the therapeutic support I offer you is of the highest standard.
I see a clinical supervisor who helps to keep my work up to scratch required standards. I also abide by the BACP Ethical Framework.
Some of techniques I use
___________
Person-centered
Person-centred therapy is a working partnership. Unlike seeing a doctor, in person-centred counselling you are seen as the authority on your own life. Though you may feel confused or unhappy now, under the right therapeutic conditions – when you are met with empathy, understanding and acceptance – you begin to connect to your inner wisdom. In time and with my help, you will find your way forward and be able to make the right choices and changes for you.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness technique combines Buddhist Awareness Meditation techniques with cutting-edge approaches from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). Mindfulness is based on increasing your awareness of how you feel and think and how this affects you. Mindfulness has been clinically proved to be extremely powerful particularly with people suffering from anxiety or depression. It is a safe way of accessing and coming to terms with difficult feelings and thoughts. Where appropriate this is something I would teach you and we could practice together in the session.
Gestalt Therapy
Gestalt therapy is a holistic and experiential therapy, examining what is happening for you moment by moment. By focussing on how you are moving, breathing, feeling, touching, rather than on the content that has been discussed, you become much more deeply aware of how you tick and what needs to change inside you.
The Gestalt perspective is that awareness is the key to finding greater happiness, making more positive choices and building more constructive relationships with others.
Pain Therapy
I also use techniques taken from the Work of Byron Katie. This uses key questions to examine your beliefs about life or relationships, hold them up to the light and really find out if they are true.
Creative Therapy
With children and people with learning difficulties, I use creative therapy. Through the use of puppets, painting, creativity and sand play, a child can manipulate the world at a level that feels manageable and safe to them. Through creative therapy, a child can express how they feel without the need for language skills which have not yet developed. They can also come to terms with difficult feelings or changes in their world.
If you have questions and comments, Please contact me
Frequently question asked?
________
What is the difference between counselling and psychotherapy?
Counselling and psychotherapy are both terms used to describe talking therapy. Sometimes psychotherapy is used to describe longer-term therapy and counselling used to describe shorter-term intervention.
I am practised and committed to both approaches. For ease, I use the term ‘counselling’ in this website to cover both psychotherapy and counselling.
How long does counselling take?
Many clients feel a great sense of relief, having finally unburdened themselves, after just one session. After that improvement in well-being happen at different rates for different people. At the end of our initial session, we make a contract for how we wish to proceed. For some focusing issues, just a few sessions would be appropriate. But for more complex or longer-lasting problems, longer-term or open-ended therapy may be appropriate It’s also normal practice to have periodic review sessions. These help you get a sense of how far you have come and of your progress and change.
How long is each session?
Counselling sessions last 1 hour.
What is your training?
As you can see from my About page I have a Diploma and Degree in Counselling. I am a member of BACP, the British regulatory organisation for professional counsellors and psychotherapists. I abide by their Ethical Framework for good practice.
I’m interested. What should l I do now?
If you would like to find out more or to arrange an initial counselling session for you, your child or teenager, please send me an email at elenaburrow@hotmail.co.uk. Or write me a message using the contact form on this site. I look forward to hearing from you!