Annie Ford - BSc Hons BACP Accredited Counsellor

My Counselling Approaches

As an Integratively trained Counsellor, I have studied Person Centred, Psychodynamic, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), EMDR Therapy and Professional Coaching. Originally trained in General Nursing and Midwifery, I have worked as an advanced Nurse Practitioner in Womens health and Oncology. I find my clinical knowledge helps in my therapeutic practice, understanding the complexity of conditions and the impacts clients and their loved ones face. As an EMDR Therapist, I successfully integrate this into my work, enabling clients to understand their triggers and ways of reacting and responding in certain situations. EMDR Therapy is a relatively new therapy developed in the 1980s by Dr Shapiro. Evidence shows EMDR is an effective treatment for anxiety, stress, panic, phobias and PTSD. It helps to reduce distress in the shortest period of time. I support clients with a whole range of stress and anxiety related issues.
Counselling will help you to gain new insights and self-awareness, you will learn how to manage your wellbeing outside of the therapy room. Learning to manage stressors and triggers, with this new awareness, you can move forward with renewed energy.

Issues I work with Overwhelm, anxiety, feeling sad, depression, panic, stress, bereavement, loss and unhealthy relationships. I find the issues clients bring to counselling are as individual as they are.
Professionally I also work with clients experiencing long term health conditions, including cancer (all stages), other neurological and immunological conditions as well as long term covid and birth trauma.
Life changes or transitions can cause stress, we all manage it differently. This can impact on our health, relationships and balance e.g. stress related to weddings, divorce, separation, menopause, infertility, becoming a new parent, retirement, relocation to a new area, university life, career or work situations etc. Sometimes clients have experienced an assault or witnessed situations outside their window of tolerance, each client is unique, therapy offers a safe, calm space to talk it through.

Annie Ford. BSc ( Hons) BACP Accredited Counsellor, Diploma Integrative Counselling. Certificate in Person Centred Therapy, Diploma in Supervision, Adv Diploma in CBT , Adv Diplomas in Executive & Life Coaching, NLP & EMDR Therapist. 
Trained in Advanced Adult Nursing RGN & Midwifery RM practice; including Advanced Practitioner in Health Education, Oncology Cancer Nursing, Gynaecology, Teaching and Assessing in Practice.
Advanced Certificate in Grief, Loss and Bereavement.
Advanced Level training in Group Facilitation, particularly Retreats and staff training days.
Advanced training for Working Online as a Counsellor.
Advanced Training with RNIB for Counsellors supporting clients with sight impediments including blindness.
EMDR Therapy Training Levels 1-3.
Group Reflective Practice and Debrief training.
CBT Focused Trauma 
" An Experienced and Professional Counsellor, passionate about wellbeing, mental health and mindfulness".