Janice Acquah
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About me

I am an integrative, relational counsellor and psychotherapist offering a warm, supportive, accepting and confidential space in which we can explore what has brought you to counselling or therapy. I abide by the Code of Ethics of the UKCP and the BACP of which I am a registered member.

My approach

An integrative approach draws together different theories. For me, these include humanistic theories such as a person-centred approach, Gestalt and existential ideas, as well as ideas from attachment theory, relational psychoanalysis & psychodynamic thinking, contemporary body psychotherapy and current perspectives on trauma and the body such as sensorimotor psychotherapy. This includes neurobiological understandings of the impact of trauma and earlier experiences on our lives and guides how we might work in therapy. Mindfulness, or increasing awareness of how we are, how our bodies and minds have been affected and respond in any moment, is important. 

Within an approach framed by my theoretical thinking, I aim to be responsive and respectful to the different needs of each individual I work with.

You can find out more about who I work with by clicking on The Counselling Directory or on Welldoing.org. 

More about me and you...

As a ‘mixed race’ woman of dual heritage (English and Ghanaian), I consider identity to be fluid and am interested in how society often seeks to categorise us - by our sexuality, race, ethnicity, gender, religion or beliefs, class, career (or not), choices we make or any other distinction or polarity. We may choose to define ourselves. I think therapy can offer a valuable space in which we can explore how we wish to be in the world, what our relationship is with any of these identifiers despite the expectations of others. I am interested in you and how you make sense or seek to make sense of the world. I will affirm your right to hold your sense of your identity though I may offer challenge too. In my experience this can be a freeing process.

More about counselling and psychotherapy

Therapy can grow your understanding of how patterns have come to be - perhaps through individual and family dynamics, historical, intergenerational and transgenerational roots, interactions with our socio-cultural and political context, or events in your past. Understanding can be enabling. We may come to realise we cannot change other people but we can begin to change how we engage with ourselves, with others and with our environment. At times, this may feel like challenging work. In a containing and compassionate space, with the attention of a trained therapist, we can be curious, increasing awareness and acceptance of what is happening right now and feeling into the shame that so many of us carry. This, in itself, can be releasing. 
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'Sankofa' - an Adinkra symbol which represents enriching the present by gaining insights from the past.
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