Abi Spence 

Integrative Psychotherapy

About Therapy

There are many reasons why you might be thinking about trying therapy. It could be experiences from your childhood or more recent history which have been left unresolved, leading to anxiety, depression or toxic cycles of behaviour.

It might be what you are experiencing in the here and now; we are living in a time of great uncertainty, change and responsibility, with more access to information and more choice than ever before. Sometimes this can feel overwhelming.

About Me

I work with adults (21+) on a one-to-one basis to assist you to process, respond to or engage with whatever might be preventing you from living your life to its fullest and happiest.

My way of working is based on an integrative training, which means I call on various modalities,  person-centred (you are the expert on your experience), relational (what’s happening between us here and now) and psychodynamic theory (early relating and unconscious processes informing current feelings and behaviours).

Nevertheless, I am led by you; your lived experience of the world and your sense of place within it. For 50 minutes, one day a week, you can be present and alive to your thoughts, feelings, memories and sensations in a way that life may prevent you from being. 
As  well as anxiety, depression, stress and relationship issues I also work with:
  • Sibling and family issues 
  • Childhood trauma (including neglect, sexual and physical abuse) 
  • Boarding school childhoods. Find out more in this short introduction:
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dG3rY9TohTk 
  • Fertility issues, from undergoing IVF and miscarriage to involuntary childlessness. 
  • Fourth trimester, PPD and matrescence.
  • GSRD (Gender, Sexuality and Relationship Diversity) and 2SLGBTQI+ issues. 
  • You can also find me 
  • https://www.bacp.co.uk/therapists/384177/abi-spence/
  • https://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/counsellors/abi-spence
  • https://www.psychotherapy.org.uk/therapist/Abi-Spence-MhI3UIAV
Training and qualifications
  • I am a registered member of the British Association of Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP)  and adhere to their ethical principles and Code of Professional Conduct. 
  • I am an accredited clinical psychotherapist member of the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) and subscribe to its code of ethics.
  • I trained at the Minster Centre,  one of Europe's leading integrative psychotherapy training institutions.
  • MA, Diploma, and Advanced Diploma in Integrative Psychotherapy.
  • Member of BICA, (the British Infertility Counselling Association) The Relational School and The Minster Centre.
  • Media volunteer for Fertility Network UK. 
  • I hold DBS clearance to work with adults.
  • I am in clinical supervision and undertake regular CPD (Continual Professional Development). Recently this has included BICA Advanced Training to work with individuals undergoing fertility treatment.
  • Since 2018 I have worked in private practice in London. I now work online and in person at Miller's Yard in York and offer walking therapy at locations around York.
Outdoor Therapy 

Research consistently shows that engaging with the natural world supports good mental health. For some people, the idea of sitting in a room together can be too confronting. Holding the session outside in nature takes psychotherapy into the fresh air, using the environment and weather as "co-therapists".

Movement, being in the elements, feeling sun, breeze, listening to birds, wind in the trees  and being physically side by side rather than opposite each other can all be effective and beneficial to accessing difficult emotions.

Before the session, we negotiate where we meet, how we will manage confidentiality and privacy during the session, what 50 minutes of walking might look like for you ( I can tailor distance ​and route to your ability, experience or individual needs).

Contact me for my current availability.

Practicalities


I work Monday - Thursday. Contact me for my current availability.

First, We have a 25 minute meeting, which can be online, in person or on the phone.  I answer any questions you may have, and explain the practicalities of how we work together. 

There is no obligation to make any commitment beyond this session. If you would like to continue, we will pick a day and time to begin our meetings. Once we have agreed a start date, I will send you some information, and a client/therapist agreement form for you to read through and sign. Our first session will involve me asking more questions about your history, up to how you arrived at this point. 

Sessions 

I work in central York and North Yorkshire. In York, my consultation room is in Miller's Yard, Gillygate. Union Terrace, Monk Bar and Bootham Row car parks are nearby, and further parking is available in nearby streets. It is a 10 minute walk from York station. 

I also work online. Currently I work with individuals all over the UK. For some individuals, the convenience of online work suits them. For others, it is because they would like to work with issues in which I specialise. 

 I offer outdoor therapy. This is in parkland, city greenspace or trail environments. If this is something you are interested in, get in touch and we can discuss how it works.

Fee Structure

 Online or in person sessions are £70.00.

I work long and short term. Short term is 6-12 sessions.

Walk and Talk therapy sessions are also £70.00.

**Important Note** I will endeavour ro respond to your email within 24 hours, excluding weekends.

 If you are in distress, please call 111 NHS Mental Health Crisis Support.

Contact

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