Jane Hancock – Senior Accredited Counsellor & Psychotherapist

If you are looking for an experienced counsellor in Exmouth, Devon, choosing the right person can feel like an important decision.

I am Jane Hancock, a Senior Accredited Counsellor and Psychotherapist with more than 20 years' experience. I provide confidential counselling for adults from my private practice in Exmouth, supporting people through a wide range of emotional, personal and relationship difficulties.

I believe that counselling works best when you feel comfortable, listened to and able to talk openly without judgement. My aim is to provide a safe and supportive space where you can explore what is happening in your life and, when you are ready, consider what you might want to change.

An experienced counsellor in Exmouth Over more than two decades as a counsellor, I have worked with people from many different backgrounds and in a variety of settings, including private practice, the NHS, charitable organisations and workplace counselling.

I also spent ten years lecturing on the Counselling Diploma at Exeter College, helping to train and support future counsellors.

My professional experience, together with ongoing training and clinical supervision, enables me to work with a broad range of issues and to adapt counselling to the individual person rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach.

I am a Fellow Member of the International Society of Psychotherapy and Counselling (ISPC), a Senior Accredited Counsellor and a Senior Accredited Clinical Supervisor.

I have also undertaken specialist training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) at the Oxford Cognitive Therapy Centre.

What can counselling help with? People come to counselling for many different reasons. You may have been struggling with something for a long time, or perhaps something has recently happened that has left you feeling overwhelmed, anxious or uncertain about what to do next.

I have experience supporting people with issues including:

• Anxiety and stress
• Depression and low mood
• Bereavement and loss
• Relationship difficulties
• Low self-esteem and confidence
• Life changes and difficult decisions
• Trauma and the effects of abuse
• Workplace difficulties and stress
• Panic and feeling overwhelmed
• Difficulties around food and eating
• Emotional and personal difficulties
• Problems affecting relationships and wellbeing

You don't need to have a diagnosis of anything to come to counselling, and you don't necessarily need to know exactly what is wrong.

Sometimes you may simply feel that you are struggling, that you have lost your sense of direction, or that you would like some space to understand your thoughts and feelings.

My approach to counselling. I work in what is called an integrative and person-centred way. This means I draw on different therapeutic approaches according to your individual needs and circumstances.

I don't believe counselling should follow a rigid formula. You are the expert in your own life, and my role is to listen, understand and work alongside you.

My person-centred approach places importance on creating a genuine therapeutic relationship where you can feel safe enough to explore difficult thoughts, feelings and experiences.

Where appropriate, I can also draw on my training in CBT, which can provide practical ways of understanding and working with patterns of thinking, feelings and behaviour.

The approach we use will depend on you, what brings you to counselling and what you would like to achieve.

Individual counselling in Exmouth. Individual counselling provides you with dedicated time and space to focus on yourself and whatever is bringing you to counselling.

You may be experiencing anxiety, stress, low mood, relationship difficulties, bereavement, a major life change or simply a feeling that things are no longer manageable.

There is no need to have everything worked out before you begin.

Together, we can explore what is happening and consider what might help you move forward.

Find out more about individual counselling 

https://www.eastdevoncounsellingservice.co.uk/individual-counselling/

Relationship and couples counselling. Relationships can go through difficult periods for many different reasons. Communication may have become difficult, you may be struggling to understand each other, or circumstances may have changed the relationship in ways that neither of you expected.

Relationship counselling can provide a confidential and structured space to explore what is happening and improve understanding and communication.

Find out more about relationship counselling 

https://www.eastdevoncounsellingservice.co.uk/relationship-counselling/

CBT counselling. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy can be helpful for understanding the connection between thoughts, feelings and behaviour.

I have undertaken specialist CBT training at the Oxford Cognitive Therapy Centre and can incorporate CBT techniques into an integrative approach where appropriate.

CBT is not necessarily the right approach for everyone, which is why I consider your individual circumstances when deciding how we might work together.

Find out more about CBT 

https://www.eastdevoncounsellingservice.co.uk/cbt-and-trauma/

Walk & Talk counselling in Exmouth. For some people, sitting opposite a counsellor in a traditional therapy room doesn't feel quite right.

Walk & Talk counselling offers an alternative approach, combining therapeutic conversation with walking outdoors in the Exmouth area.

Being outside and moving while talking can feel more natural and less formal, and some people find that it makes it easier to talk about difficult things.

Find out more about Walk & Talk counselling 

https://www.eastdevoncounsellingservice.co.uk/cbt-and-trauma/

Counselling online or by telephone. Although I am based in Exmouth, counselling doesn't always have to take place face-to-face.

I also offer online and telephone counselling, which can provide greater flexibility and may be particularly helpful if travelling to the practice isn't convenient.

The same confidential and professional approach applies whether we meet in person or remotely.

What happens when you first contact a counsellor? Making the first contact can sometimes feel like the hardest part.

You don't need to know exactly what to say or have a clear understanding of what you need from counselling.

We can have an initial conversation about what has brought you to counselling, what you are hoping for and whether you feel I might be the right counsellor for you.

Choosing a counsellor is a personal decision, and it is important that you feel comfortable with the person you choose.

There is no obligation to book counselling following an initial conversation.

Why choose an experienced counsellor? Experience isn't everything when choosing a counsellor, but it can be reassuring to know that the person you are working with has supported many people through different circumstances over many years.

Alongside more than 20 years' counselling experience, my professional background includes clinical supervision, counselling education and experience within private practice, the NHS, charitable organisations and workplace counselling.

I continue to undertake professional development and supervision as part of my commitment to providing safe, ethical and effective counselling.

Counselling in Exmouth, Devon

My private practice, East Devon Counselling Service, is based in Exmouth, Devon.

I work with adults from Exmouth and the surrounding East Devon area, as well as offering online and telephone counselling for anyone further afield or unable to meet in person

If you are searching for an experienced counsellor in Exmouth, and would like to talk about whether counselling could help you, I would be happy to hear from you.

You are welcome to contact me for an informal conversation about what you are looking for.

Jane Hancock
Senior Accredited Counsellor & Psychotherapist
East Devon Counselling Service
Exmouth, Devon

Contact Jane

https://www.eastdevoncounsellingservice.co.uk/contact/