Rate Gillian Cooper

Hello and welcome to BetterHelp!

I am a licensed Therapist in the UK with 9 years of professional work experience, working with adults and young people in various organisations and in private practice.

I have experience in helping people with stress and anxiety management, relationship issues, family conflicts, separation from children, those affected by family court, teenage challenges, trauma and abuse, panic, self-esteem, addictions, changes in sleeping and eating habits and sexual problems.

If you are going through bereavement or had any losses in your life that you would like support with, please contact me, as coping with grief and loss, is an area of life, I have acquired many lived experiences with.

I have worked in mental health settings of a trauma organisation for women and young girls, private care, MIND UK and NHS Hospital bereavement services.

I have also been a counselling tutor delivering up to Level 4 qualifications. Specific to learning and development, I have worked with young and adult learners that require support to; define their life purpose and career goals, develop inner confidence, structure themselves, become effective negotiators, build resilience, to name just a few areas I could offer support with.

I have worked to support neuro-divergent adults and young people, those in crisis situations, those presenting with challenging behaviours and those that have experienced varying abuses and trauma and the most vulnerable.

As an attestation of my Catholic faith, I can incorporate Biblical principles and Christian values into my approaches to work. I wholly acknowledge inclusion, and respect and value the perspectives of others, embracing all diversities.

What you need to know about me and how I can help you:

I am a blend of both a Therapist and a Counsellor. This means I can provide a therapeutic approach to meet your needs within 2 different and specific therapy methods depending on what you are looking for.

In counselling, you are more likely to focus on the short term ‘here and now’ and day to day occurrences to find ways to manage your current issues and feelings. I will typically assess how you are feeling in the present moment and how this is affecting your wellbeing on a day-to-day basis. This is called Solution Focused Brief Therapy.

Therapy is a longer process. As well as having an awareness of the ‘here and now’, we will also seek to explore the ‘back story’ to your problems in order to get to the root cause of these. This is called Psychoanalytical Therapy, which will enable you to understand how your past experiences may have influenced your present situations.

Both therapies are a collaborative process, meaning you and me, will work together to find methods of how to achieve any therapy goals you might have.

If you do choose me to be your therapist, this is what I will do for you:

• I will make you my primary concern during our time together.

• My approach will be personalised to you.

• I will work with you to create an open and safe environment, where your thoughts and feelings can be shared without fear of judgment.

• Your confidentiality and privacy will be upheld by me safely keeping accurate and appropriate records of our session work together.

• I agree to work together with you respecting your own ability to problem solve.

• I will provide you a therapy space that is committed to do no harm to you, committed to only enhance your well-being and capabilities.

• I will work with you to construct what I call a “road map” of how your therapy sessions will unfold. This will be your “road trip” for you to drive to the destination you want.

Taking the first step to seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. If you are ready to take that first step towards change, I am here to support, empower and guide you in that journey.

I want the best of outcomes for you, and welcome the opportunity to be your therapist.

Thank you from Gillian.