Hello and Welcome.
Are you looking for an accredited counsellor or psychotherapist, to help? Someone experienced in working in person and online through video calls such as Skype?
AvA offer a unique counselling and psychotherapy service in Leamington Spa, Near Warwick and Stratford upon Avon.
This unique way of working, known at 'The Reach Approach' as it's about Reaching your potential, means we cover a wide area of the Midlands including Warwickshire, Oxfordshire, West Midlands, Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire, Leicestershire, North and West London or indeed anywhere through working on line with video call. My farthest afield client is currently in Kenya.
The truth is we all need help from time to time. For some people life seems a constant struggle, for others difficulties ebb and flow.
You may be suffering, or have suffered from:
Often a symptom of distress, such as an eating disorder, seemingly is conquered, only to find that, at a later date, another symptom, such as anxiety emerges. Whatever your story is, we are here to help alleviate and manage the symptoms of distress whilst also attending to and healing the root. Please see our 'Testimonials' page to get a sense of what some of our client's experience.
Our aim is, first and foremost, to create a strong and supportive relationship with you. On the back of that relationship we will work with you to bring about real and lasting change to help you reach your full potential. We will do this largely through listening and also with dialogue, providing you with knowledge and a raft of techniques that you can apply in your life outside the counselling room. (For more details on the way we work see ‘tell me more about this unique approach below and our 'FAQs' page).
We have set out our website in the form of questions and answers to promote the concept of dialogue, of being in relationship with one another. We hope you will find it helpful.
Can you tell me more about the unique approach AvA Counselling and Psychotherapy use?
First we work to establish a non-judgemental relationship of trust, empathy, genuine warmth and support. Having an opportunity to talk in confidence, about your problems with someone who is professionally trained, being heard and really understood by such a person develops the therapeutic relationship. The work we will do together is on the back of that relationship. With the care of your therapist and their support, a way forward will be found. Our integrative way of working draws from a myriad of different therapeutic approaches, modern science, including neuroscience and ancient wisdoms. However our approach is not only integrative, the way we work is also ‘holistic’, recognising the ‘whole person’ and the complexities of what it is to be human. Support from one of our counsellors / psychotherapist includes sharing with you knowledge and proven techniques that will empower you to reach your full potential. (for more information about how we work see the 'FAQs' page and the ‘More Information’ page).
The ‘support’ you talk about, can a counsellor and psychotherapist at AvA give me practical advice and techniques that will help me?
Yes. Our therapists are accredited members of the BACP. They are highly trained and experienced and as such are able to help you overcome your problems, whilst we won’t tell you what to do we can share with you a wealth of knowledge, practical steps you can take and techniques you can apply, that both research and experience has proven can help. (For more information see our ‘FAQs’ page).
What have clients said about their experience with you?
Well this is what one client said "I was stuck in a spiral of negative thinking and couldn’t see a way out of it. After taking counselling sessions with Nina, I can truly say that I now know I have the tools to prepare me with whatever comes my way. With her understanding nature and kind support I finally had the courage to deal with my insecurities and emotions. The worksheets and techniques really do work, a completely new approach to me in the beginning but one that is made everything clearer to me. The whole process has allowed me look at myself and life with a different perspective".
Another said "I have had positive experiences working with Nina both in person and remotely using video calls. Skype/video sessions have allowed me to continue my personal growth despite travel and a busy schedule that have prevented in-person sessions. Nina creates the same warm environment and privacy over video calls as she creates in person".
Another "It was not an easy decision for me to seek counselling and I approached it with a great deal of trepidation. However, I am very glad that I found Nina, her calm and professional demeanour is very reassuring. Over many months Nina's insightful approach and warm and empathetic manner helped me address the problems that led me to seek therapy".
"Nina's comprehensive approach helped me to reevaluate and make changes in many different areas of my life. I feel that the process gave me psychological self sufficiency."
Can you tell me about the training of therapists at AvA Counselling and Psychotherapy?
AvA therapists are professionally qualified in Counselling and Psychotherapy to degree level - practitioners in the UK are only required to be qualified to diploma level – Our practitioners have also undergone extensive further training including that of ‘Reach’ and are on the accredited register of the largest professional body in Britain the BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy). Furthermore we also recognise a therapist is only as good as the work they have done on themselves, so our therapists know what it is to have sat in ‘your’ seat, have faced their demons and since personal development is an ongoing process, continue to do so. (For details on this and for more information go to ‘More Information’ page).
I understand AvA can help with depression, anxiety, relationship difficulties and all sorts of other symptoms of distress but can you help someone like me?
All sorts of people come to AvA Counselling & Psychotherapy, there is no ‘typical’ clients. We are all human. We are all imperfect. Regardless of gender, background, creed and culture, we can all benefit from having help from time to time. You are never too old either, in fact we have experience of clients in their 80’s as well as those as young as 10 years of age.
I am still not sure, why would I travel to see a counsellor at AvA Counselling & Psychotherapy, in Leamington Spa rather than see a counsellor 30 minutes away?
A personal journey with us is a whole different experience. Our therapists have had extensive training over and above that which required to practice as a therapist in the UK and our approach incorporates the wisdom of the past along with cutting edge science such as neurobiology, quantum physics and epigenetics. We will share with you a wealth of knowledge and proven techniques that will empower you to reach your potential. The experience we offer is unparalleled by other ways of working.
I live and work in Cheltenham, an hour away from Leamington, can I have an appointment outside ‘office hours’?
Yes. We offer a wide range of appointments hoping not to exclude anyone from counselling because of their other commitments. (For more details please see our ‘Making Contact & Next Steps’ page).
Just a couple of points to ponder...
Thucydides circa 400 BC
“The secret to happiness is freedom… and the secret to freedom is courage.”
More recently from Nelson Mandela
“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”
One small example of a practical step that you could take to help yourself...
If you are having trouble finding the courage to make an appointment, say the affirmation "I will make an appointment to go and see a counsellor" aloud to yourself and ideally to others, with conviction a number of times each day. Before long you will find yourself going for an appointment and making the first steps towards a new way of being.
And another technique that can help is what we call "creative visualisation". This can be particularly helpful if you are suffering from anxiety.
Imagine yourself sitting in the place you feel most comfortable, picking up the phone, checking the telephone number 07580 487041, tapping it into your phone, hearing the answer phone message and leaving your own - stating your name, number and the times that would be convenient for us to return your call and then ending the call. Imagine this as though watching a video of yourself and feeling the sense of achievement at having done so.
What areas do AvA Counselling & Psychotherapy cover?
Given our close proximity to the M40 and a main line railway station, we cover a wide area; Banbury, Coventry, Daventry, Kenilworth, Warwick, Shipston on Stour Stratford upon Avon & Rugby are all within about 30 minutes travelling time. Aylesbury, Bicester, Cheltenham, Chipping Norton, Evesham, High Wycombe, Milton Keynes, Moreton in Marsh, Northampton, Oxford, Reading, Tewkesbury & Towcester are within an hour’s reach, with North, West and Central London about an hour and a half away. (Journey times are approximate. For more details and a Map of where we are, see our ‘Making Contact & Next Steps’ page).
Whatever your symptoms of distress are: depression, anxiety, bereavement or stress, relationship issues, anger, low self-esteem / confidence, or loss, be it of; health, job / employment or independence, if you have been, or are being, affected by abuse, neglect, addictive behaviour, eating disorders or OCD… or feel life has demanded so much of you that you don’t know who you are anymore... A counsellor at AvA Counselling and Psychotherapy, Leamington Spa, Near Warwick and Stratford upon Avon, is here for you. You can contact us either by phone or email on the links above, or through the ‘making contact and next steps’ page and we will be happy to either answer any questions you may have or just book you an appointment. Thank you.
