Welcome to Dara Counselling
Offering accessible, affordable counselling based in North Somerset.
My name is Julie Mines (MBACP) and I am a qualified registered counsellor.
I believe that counselling can help you to discover a stronger sense of who you are, greater understanding of yourself and your relationships, and find fresh perspective in different areas of life.
In several languages the word dara conveys meaning of qualities such as strength, wisdom and compassion. The Dara Knot in Celtic tradition symbolises the strong, deep roots of the oak tree to remind us of our inner resources that are sometimes unrealised. In difficult times we may need support to find our strength and wisdom.
I hope that Dara Counselling can help.
Counselling – Why and How?
We are often able to weather the storms of life. But there may be experiences such as loss, relationship breakdown or living with anxiety and depression that feel hard to manage. Counselling provides a dedicated time and confidential space for you to explore and reflect on life struggles and questions.
My training has included a range of therapeutic approaches but at the heart of my counselling is a commitment to developing a relationship where you feel listened to, safe and accepted.
There are many types of counselling and psychotherapy. I am an integrative therapist based in a person-centred approach. This means that I recognise you are a unique individual and can draw on different modes of therapy to find a way of working together which respects your needs and may help you to move forward.
Who am I?
My name is Julie and I am a professional counsellor experienced in working with young people (16+) and adults. I am a registered member of the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists and work in accordance with the BACP Ethical Framework.
My training includes – FdSc (Distinction) in Counselling from the University of Gloucestershire, Certificate in Pastoral Counselling Skills from Network Training and a Diploma (Level 7) in Counselling Children and Young People. I have completed the Transactional Analysis 101 course and qualified with Cruse Bereavement Care as a Bereavement Volunteer.
I have experience with a wide range of issues including anxiety, depression, relationship breakdown, bereavement, loss, self-esteem, sexual identity, childhood trauma and spirituality.
My life experience and working background is broad and diverse and over the last 20 years I have worked with different charities supporting people from all walks of life across many issues.
So what’s next…?
At the moment I am offering online, telephone and walk and talk counselling. Many clients find online or phone counselling sessions a beneficial way in building a safe therapeutic relationship and is accessible with no need to travel. I will resume face to face counselling sessions in Portishead from November 2021.
Our first appointment is about listening to you and why you have taken the step of coming to counselling. We can talk about how the counselling process works and if this is new to you then there may be questions and concerns you would like to express and discuss. Counselling is about a mutual relationship so we can explore how you feel about working together.
What is the cost of a counselling session?
- The fee for a 50 minute session is £45
- I hold 2 concessionary spaces for full time students and individuals on low income of £30 per session.
Counselling sessions can be focussed and short-term or open-ended where you can have as many sessions as you need and work at a pace that feels right for you.