Gill Aldridge

Sharing your thoughts with a counsellor can seem daunting at first; my aim is to put you at your ease, to listen, and help you to find a positive way forward. Having worked in Human Resources for many years, I became increasingly aware of how our individual and relationship worries impact on our happiness and our effectiveness both at work and at home. I decided to return to university to study Psychology, and became a Counsellor in 2006, bringing a positive, collaborative and, where needed, outcome-focussed approach to my work. Life brings many challenges, and I believe that counselling offers a safe space to think and reflect in times of crisis and decision making. I work with individuals and couples to explore issues which are causing anxiety and stress, and my aim is to support my clients to facilitate self-awareness and acceptance. A regular space to talk, and the time and structure to consider thoughts and options quietly, can be a useful resource in our hectic lives. I work in a light bright studio next to my home, which is in a quiet village backwater.

Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.

I am an integrative Psychotherapist and Counsellor, which simply means that I have studied multiple theories, drawing on Psychodynamic, Systemic and Narrative Therapy, and where relevant using CBT ( Cognitive Behaviour Therapy). I qualified with a BSc in Psychology and initially trained with the Relate UA Diploma Couple Counselling course, working with individuals and couples for a number of years. Recognising that so many of my clients were struggling with issues in their sex lives, I then took a Post Graduate diploma in Psychosexual therapy, and also trained as Fertility Counsellor. I regularly attend training and am particularly interested in attachment, loss, addiction and trauma.

As an accredited member of the BACP, I work with individuals and couples in the private, voluntary and NHS sectors, practising in the U.K. and abroad. Working with relationship issues, communication difficulties, anxiety and stress, I am also a Sex Therapist and member of COSRT, specialising in physical and psychological sexual difficulties as well as sex addiction. As a specialist Fertility Counsellor and accredited member of BICA, I support individuals, heterosexual and same sex couples through all aspects of fertility treatment, including IUI, IVF, surrogacy and donor conception. I work with those who have suffered miscarriage and stillbirth, and help clients deal with the stress of infertility.