Julie Leeper Counselling
How are you coping at the moment?
Are you feeling overwhelmed? Are you struggling to balance a busy job with being a parent or supporting elderly parents - or both? Have you experienced a bereavement or a relationship break up which adds pressure? I work with people like you who need help.
What's the problem?
Are you finding work stressful? Are you doing well in your job but finding it difficult? Maybe you're not even sure it's what you really want to do.
Is everything getting to you at the moment? Sometimes our lives can look great to the outside world but inside you're struggling.
Have you experienced a loss? It might have been a while back and everyone thinks you're OK now, but you're not.
Are you trying to do all the "right" things for your mental health? You're exercising, eating well - but you still don't feel right.
Why Me?
Hi I'm Julie and I get it because I've been through it. Find out more about me here.
I am a qualified counsellor, registered with the NCPS. I offer sessions online via Zoom, and face to face counselling sessions in Shenfield, Essex.
My clients tell me that they appreciate how they feel heard and understood in our sessions and how I have helped them to make sense of and process their emotions.
I can help if you are struggling with any of the following:
Work stress
Redundancy
Bereavement
Work-life balance
Relationships
Anxiety
Depression
Life can be tough
Like most people, I have faced a number of challenges in my life.
For thirty years I worked in the City of London including senior, demanding roles in Human Resources in the legal and financial sectors. I have seen lots of changes and the impact that has both professionally and personally. As a working mum I had the challenge of balancing that career with family life. Then my husband died and left me with two young children. I found counselling so effective that I trained as a counsellor and now I help people like you.
You can hear me talk to WAY (Widowed and Young) about my experience of grief here.
My qualifications
I became a counsellor after the counselling I received helped me to move forward.
I am an Accredited Registrant with the National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society (NCPS).
My qualifications:
Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
Certificate in Online and Telephone Counselling
Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Skills
Masters Degree in Strategic Human Resource Management
I'd love to help you - please contact me and we can talk about what we can achieve together.
Work Stress
I worked in the City of London for over 30 years.
I understand how it feels to work under pressure. The deadlines. The constant changes. The personalities. Wanting to do a great job. And trying to have a home life as well.
I can help you work through all these competing demands. To look at what you can change and what you can't.
I can help you make sense of your feelings and how you can be you among everything else that's going on.
Grief
I know what it's like to lose someone close.
The shock. How it affects your sense of self. The difficulties of trying to continue with your day to day life. The sheer exhaustion.
I can give you space to work through your feelings. Grief is different for everyone - there is no "normal" path.
Online and face to face counselling
I offer online counselling as well as face to face sessions in Shenfield, Essex.
In my experience, both types of counselling can be really effective.
Online counselling works well if you can't physically get to meet me. It has the advantage of no travel time so can be easier to fit into your busy day. I'm able to offer early morning appointments online, as well as daytime and evening slots.
Face to face counselling allows us to sit together in the counselling room. For some people, being able to sit together with a counsellor helps them to open up.
You can decide which type of counselling works best for you.
Stress
Depression
Relationship problems
Anger
Anxiety
Work stress
Sexuality
Retirement
Grief
Bereavement
Family relationships
Problems with confidence or self-esteem
What's the first step?
Please make contact with me by phone or email. We can arrange a free initial phone call so that we can get a feel for each other, and you can give me a brief outline of what has led you to consider counselling and ask any questions you have about the process. This will take about 15-20 minutes.
What happens next?
We'll arrange to meet for an assessment meeting, either online or face to face. I know that this is a huge step and can be scary. This meeting will give us both a chance to get to know each other and for you to talk in a bit more detail about what has led you to counselling. I will take some personal details and background from you. We can then discuss how counselling will work and what you hope to get from it. We will work together to ensure that the counselling is working for you.
How frequent are sessions and how long do they last?
Sessions are weekly and last 50 minutes. It's difficult to say how long the sessions will continue - some clients are able to work through their concerns in 6-8 weeks, others require a longer timeframe. Although the work will be open ended we will review progress every six weeks or so to see if the counselling is meeting your needs.
Is counselling confidential?
Yes it is. Confidentiality is an important part of the counselling process. There are some exceptions, generally around your safety and to ensure I give you the best service. I will talk to you about these as part of the assessment process.
How much does it cost?
The fee per session is £70. Sessions must be paid for in advance.
Get in touch
If you think counselling might be what you need right now, please get in touch. I'll arrange a short free telephone chat where we can talk about what you are looking for and how I can help you.
Please contact me by calling me on 07568 628132 or by using the contact form below to arrange an initial consultation or to ask any questions about the counselling process. I will respond to all messages as soon as I can. Any communication will of course be treated in the strictest confidence.
"Honestly, from start to finish Julie has been amazing. Julie provides a safe space to speak about your emotions, however big or small they may seem. She is a great listener and helps you to understand that it's OK not to be OK."
October 2022
"Making a decision to seek counselling is always difficult. Finding the right person and making a financial and emotional commitment is hard. I knew I had found the right person when I first met Julie. She was warm, welcoming and down to earth."
September 2024