Stafford
Welcome
I believe that every human contains the potential to be and do more than just merely exist or survive life’s journey. With the right help and support, difficulties and concerns can be worked through to enable you to thrive, whatever the circumstances.
If you are considering counselling with Thrive, I hope this website will provide you with information to help you make your choice more easily. If you have any further questions, please do get in touch.
Thank you for visiting
Jo
Hi, I’m Jo Adamson
I am a professional and compassionate counsellor and work together with clients from all backgrounds and circumstances according to their individual needs and desires. I offer a warm and non-judgemental space to explore troubling issues, whether past, present, potential, individual, relational or spiritual.
Areas I work with include: anxiety, depression, bereavement, loss, trauma, abuse, stress, panic, attachment, relationship difficulties, ill-health, identity confusion, dissociation, self-harm, suicidality, anger, self-confidence, and existential issues. I work with adults and children/young people from 13 years up.
I am an integrative counsellor, which means that I will individually tailor knowledge and tools from different types of counselling (including Person-Centred, Cognitive Behavioural, Psychodynamic, Solution-Focused, Internal Family Systems, and Gestalt approaches, along with mindfulness techniques, and creative interventions) according to your individual needs and preferences. I value your ongoing feedback in order to remain working with you most effectively.
I am committed to providing a professional and ethical service and to keeping your information confidential and secure, therefore I have an Enhanced DBS; I am a member of two professional bodies, the BACP (British Association of Counsellors and Psychologists) and the ACC (Association of Christian Counsellors); I am registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO); I attend regular supervision and I maintain continuing professional development (CPD).
– Where does counselling take place? In-person counselling takes place at Oakridge Business Centre, Weston Road, Stafford, ST16 3RS; online sessions via the ‘Zoom’ conferencing app. An email with a link and password will be sent so you can access our meeting.
– When are you available? I currently offer sessions:
Mondays from 3.30pm – 7.30pm, Wednesday 9:30am – 7.30pm, and Thursdays 9.30am – 7.30pm
– How much do you charge? A normal session, lasting between 50 and 60 minutes, costs £40. Those with financial difficulties, please speak to me about your situation.
– How can I pay? Payment can be made by card-contactless, cash or bank transfer, and is required in advance or on the day of the appointment (unless an invoice arrangement to a third party is in place).
– How long does counselling take? I offer both long and short-term counselling. In our first session together we can discuss this. It is likely to depend upon your goals for counselling, the issues you bring and financial implications. I often suggest planning for 6 sessions and then reviewing, but this can be renegotiated at any point within our work together.
– How often do we meet? I usually see clients on a weekly or fortnightly basis. It depends upon what you feel you need, and where we are in the counselling process. Occasionally a longer break than usual may be necessary to allow for continuing professional development (CPD), holidays, or, of course, sickness.
– How do I make an appointment? You can call, text, or email me to arrange a preliminary appointment. If we agree to work together, further appointments will be made during each session.
– What if I can’t make an appointment? Please try to give at least 48 hours’ notice of the need to cancel an appointment or you may be charged the agreed fee. Due consideration will be given to genuine crises or sickness that occurs at short notice.
– What qualifications and experience do you have? BA (Hons) Counselling; Cert. Advanced Safeguarding Children (Level 2); Cert. Working with Children, Young People, Adolescents and Families; Dip. Intercultural Studies (NZ);
I have an Enhanced DBS and am experienced in charity, NHS, school, and private settings.
This information forms part of a contract that we will sign should counselling commence.
Confidentiality
Information given to me during the counselling process and any records will be kept private and confidential, with the following exceptions:
Data Protection
In order to fulfil my responsibilities as a counsellor, I will keep a record of your name, address, contact details and GP practice; these will be kept in a locked filing cabinet. Separately, under a code or pseudonym, I will keep brief factual notes of our sessions together, also locked away. Information will be kept for 7 years following the conclusion of our work together, unless legal or professional circumstances determine otherwise.
I will keep contact details on my (work) mobile phone, and laptop, and where we agree to communicate by text, call or email, any messages may be kept for the same duration as counselling notes. My phone and laptop are password protected and details are stored in a secure ‘cloud’ for restoration if lost or stolen.
You have the right to ask to see any information held by me about you. You may ask verbally or in writing, and I will endeavour to provide you with the information requested within four weeks. You also have the right to ask for information held to be corrected or deleted. This does not include any data I am obliged to keep for administrative, legal, or security purposes.