Anna Dunwoodie MBACP (Accred)

Online / Telephone

I am an experienced and accredited counsellor and qualified supervisor with over 12 years experience in NHS and voluntary sector services.

Counselling

I think of counselling as time and space – time for yourself, space to stop and think – but rather than take that time on your own, we meet there together. Speaking to a counsellor is different to the conversations you might have with other people in your life. Even in the closest relationships, there will be things you don’t want to talk about, or that might be difficult to say. There are also all the unwritten social rules we are supposed to follow. For example, maybe you were taught that it’s polite to ask questions and not dominate a conversation. Or perhaps you’ve learned there are certain topics that can’t be discussed in your family. When you meet with a counsellor, we don’t have to follow these rules. And we both understand that for the time we have together, we will focus on you.

People come for counselling for all kinds of reasons – periods of change or loss, relationship difficulties, past experiences or worries for the future. Sometimes there is a clear issue to work with, and a goal to work towards. But sometimes what brings people to counselling is harder to put into words at first. It could be a general sense that something isn’t right, an uneasy feeling that there is something that needs our attention. It could be that you feel stuck, and don’t know how to move forward. Whatever the reason, people are usually motivated to start counselling by the feeling that there is something that needs to be talked about, explored and understood. Often, when people start counselling, they will describe a sense of relief – the relief of finally putting something into words, saying it out loud, and being heard, without judgement.

I am an integrative counsellor, with a predominantly person centred approach. While I have training and experience in different kinds of therapy, and an interest in the theories behind my practice, you might not notice those things when we are working together. I worked for many years in services that gathered feedback from clients after they finished counselling. I don’t think anyone ever commented on how much they valued my use of a specific technique or model! Rather, people remembered they had felt listened to, understood and supported.

My role, if you decide to work with me, is to bring my skills and experience into the shared space of your counselling session. You just bring yourself, and a willingness to take a risk and talk openly to a stranger. I will then support you to explore your difficulties, adapting my approach as best I can to meet your needs. We will work with whatever is concerning or interesting to you.

While the counselling relationship is a working relationship, with it’s own set of rules and boundaries, I view the relationship we build together as a genuine connection between two people. I don’t just sit in silence. I will tell you about what I’m thinking and feeling, and I may suggest exercises for us to try or things for you to do outside of sessions. These are always optional.

I offer sessions online or by phone, which allows you to be in your own space. I work with adults over the age of 18, and offer brief or longer term therapy. I have particular interest and experience in working with neurodivergent people, which has grown from my own late diagnoses of dyslexia, dyscalculia and ADHD. I am an LGBTQ+ affirming therapist.

Supervision

I offer supervision to counsellors working within organisations and privately. My approach is broadly person centred with an emphasis on working relationally. I offer a safe, containing and genuine supervisory relationship, aligned with the BACP supervisory framework.

I understand the challenges counsellors face when working within organisations. I see supervision as a place where we can centre the client, the counselling model, and your own needs as a practitioner, while holding the context where you work in mind.

I am experienced in providing line management and supervision in NHS Talking Therapies Services and am qualified to supervise counsellors working in the Person Centred Experiential Counselling for Depression model.

Qualifications Training and Experience

Diploma in Integrative Counselling
Person Centred Experiential Counselling for Depression Practitioner and Supervisor
BACP Accredited

I trained at the Northern Guild for Psychotherapy, York University and the Metanoia Institute. I have additional training in CBT and Interpersonal Psychotherapy. I have worked in NHS primary care and Talking Therapies Services in Newcastle and Sunderland, and for Sunderland Counselling Services.

If you would like to find out more about working with me, please get in touch.