Jon Whitmore Counselling
Therapy outdoors
Hello. Thank you for visiting my website.Is the thought of festive celebrations at this time of year creating tension and anxiety in your life right now?If you are looking for a therapist to provide a space which makes you feel safe and accepted enough to talk about your difficult experiences or worries, then please get in touch. I can help you explore and try and make sense of what has happened, or is happening, to you.
Services I offer
I primarily offer therapy in outdoor spaces as I recognize the therapeutic value of being outdoors. I am committed to using, and actively involving, the outdoor setting as a third party in the therapy, to further support you during our time together. The effect of being outdoors is likely to help you be in the ‘here and now’, and access your conscious and unconscious emotional state.
My focus is building a space that feels safe and comfortable, which fosters trust and honesty, and which facilitates the sharing of your more difficult thoughts and experiences; such an environment provides the best opportunity for us to find clarity in your situation, and what you want to work on. Furthermore, the stress recovery effects of being in natural spaces will help with returning you to a more regulated state at the end of the session, where necessary, so you are able to step out of the therapeutic space and return to your daily life safely.
Alternative to traditional 'indoor' therapy
Sometimes clients have tried talking therapy before but the emotional intensity of sitting in a small room, in close proximity to another person whilst sharing very personal details of their experience or thought processes, was too much. Being in the neutral space of a natural setting can provide clients with an easier experience; the option of being side by side, not face to face, with a therapist can also help client ease.
Where I work
I offer face to face sessions in woodland, riverside or moorland settings in the Bingley/Shipley area of West Yorkshire. I also offer face to face therapy at my home in Bingley (BD16), if you would prefer to work indoors, or if the weather prevents outdoor work at any point.Accessibility
If you have impairments that might affect your mobility, we could chose an outdoor space that matches what you are able to navigate.
The therapy space at my home is on the ground floor and close to the front door, although I would say that my home is not fully accessible. I would be happy to provide further details.
About me
I was fortunate when growing up, in being able to get outside easily, and that’s where I liked to be. It didn’t matter whether ‘outside’ was the road outside the house, the local school playing field, by the edge of a stream or sitting in the shade of a hedge at the edge of a field. Further opportunities when younger enabled me to experience dramatic landscapes such as the drained peatlands of Kinder Scout in the Dark Peak, the vast skies of the fenlands of East Anglia, and the dramatic coastline of the south west. Ultimately however, I get as much from watching the directional decisions of a scuttling woodlouse as I do from drinking in the variety and scale of a glacial valley in north Wales.This regular and long standing experiencing of nature and natural processes has always felt like more than simply observing; it’s like a welcome and comforting entanglement, a nourishing ‘being part of’. Only as I learned more about ecopsychology did I obtain the vocabulary to better describe this connection with the natural world around me, as my ‘ecological self’, and really recognise not only the calming effect of being in touch with the natural world, but also the emotionally restorative value of this connection. More recently, I have started to notice, and feel more attuned to, the power and variety of the built environment as well, and more keenly recognise the emotional impact of the form and scale of human constructions.As a result of my love of the natural environment, I embarked on a 25 year career as a freshwater ecologist before retraining as a psychotherapist. I moved into the field of talking therapy following an impactful experience of counselling, as a client, in the late 2000s; I experienced how supportive and healing a completely non-judgemental, therapeutic relationship can be. The value of feeling such a connection prompted me to become a Samaritans listening volunteer, which I did for a few years, before I then decided to re-train as a counsellor.My experienceI have experience of a wide range of client material, especially broadened whilst employed as a Trauma Informed Therapist at We Are Survivors (a charity supporting male survivors of sexual harm, and their supporters), and whilst working at the Marie Curie Hospice in Bradford, and with inmates at Leeds Prison.Material clients have brought to me includes difficulties with romantic and/or familial relationships, neurodivergence, bereavement and loss, sexuality, trauma (physical and emotional), suicidality, self-harm, guilt, shame, ageing, gender, loneliness, racism and broader societal inequalities.QualificationsI have a post-graduate diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy from Leeds Beckett University as well as a Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies. Since qualifying, I have undertaken training in Understanding Therapeutic Practice in Outdoor Natural Spaces with The Centre for Natural Reflection. This training has enabled me to use, and maximise the value of, outdoor space as a third party in the therapeutic process, as well as appropriately and safely support clients in an outdoor setting.
What to expect
FeesSessions are priced at £55 per hour. Discounts are available for student therapists.Payment is required at least 24hrs before each session and can be made by cash, card or bank transfer.What will therapy look like?On contact with me, I will suggest we arrange a 15-30min phone or online introductory session (at no charge). Given how important a good relationship is between client and therapist, this first session gives you a chance to see if I am a good fit for you; I will also use this session to ask the following questions of you:
Whether you have any goals for therapy, and if so, what are they (although if a client comes with no such goals, that is fine and will not reduce the effectiveness of the work).
Whether you have had therapy before, and what was good and bad about that experience.
Whether you are currently having suicidal thoughts, or thoughts of harming yourself in some way.
These questions are to enable us both to understand how best I can support you.If you feel that you want to work with me, we can then arrange the first therapy session. I will ask you to sign a contract for therapy before or during the first session, setting out conditions of how we work together. A copy of my contract is available here.During the first couple of sessions, I will ask you to consider your relationship with nature and the outdoors. I will also ask you questions to enable me to better understand your support network (including whether you are taking any relevant prescription medication) and what soothes you.When the relationship with a client is strong enough, I might introduce challenges such as highlighting where a client has contradicted themself, to spotlight maybe where they aren’t being honest with themself or might not know what their reality is, which can help clarify thinking. Fundamentally however, I try to make the client feel supported and valued.If you want to find specific solutions to your problems, then I will support you in exploring your options; I won’t however offer you advice or tell you what to do as only you have all the information to enable a considered decision about issues affecting your life, whether it feels that way or not.I regularly review how work is progressing by asking my clients how they feel they are benefiting and if they want to change how we are working. Again, sometimes I use very brief questionnaires for this purpose.The length of time I work with a client is always collaboratively agreed, to match progress, budget and circumstance.Accessibility
If you have impairments that might affect your mobility, we could chose an outdoor space that matches what you are able to navigate.
The therapy space at my home is on the ground floor and close to the front door, although I would say that my home is not fully accessible. I would be happy to provide further details.Session cancellationBookings can be cancelled or rescheduled at no cost, if more than 24 hours' notice is given. However, the fee is non-refundable if a session is missed or cancelled with less than 24 hours' notice.
Contact
If you have any queries or want to book a session, I would be pleased to hear from you so please get in touch via email or phone, or by completing the form below. If I am not immediately available, I aim to get back to you within 24 hours.Email: [email protected]Tel: 07364 128716
ComplaintsI am a registered member of the British Association For Counselling and Psychotherapy. My membership number is 01004613.Information about how to complain to the BACP about the service I provide can be found here:How to complain about a BACP member
(https://www.bacp.co.uk/about-us/protecting-the-public/professional-conduct/how-to-complain-about-a-bacp-member/)
Out of hours supportIf you feel you are in immediate need of support, (for example, you are experiencing feelings of wanting to commit suicide or harm yourself or another) please call 999, or contact the Samaritans on 116 123 or by email at [email protected]If you need a different type of help or assistance, please contact one of the organisations below:Ann Craft Trust
0115 951 5400 • www.anncrafttrust.org
Safeguarding disabled children and adults at risk of abuseChildline
0800 1111 • www.childline.org.uk
Advise and support for children and young peopleGalop
0800 999 5428 • www.galop.org.uk/domesticabuse
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people experiencing domestic abuseLGBTQ and ALL
www.lgbtqandall.com
LGBTQ mental health and gender confirmation resources from around the worldRespect - Men’s Advice Line
0808 801 0327 • www.mensadviceline.org.uk
Helpline for men affected by domestic abuseMind
0300 123 3393 • www.mind.org.uk
Email: [email protected]National Domestic Violence Helpline
0808 2000 247 • www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/
Information and advice around domestic abuseNSPCC
0808 800 5000 • www.nspcc.org.uk
Protecting children from abuse and neglectNational Centre for Domestic Violence
020 3866 4107 • www.ncdv.org.uk
A free, fast emergency injunction service to those at risk of all forms of domestic abuseRape Crisis
0808 500 2222 • www.rapecrisis.org.uk
Specialist services to those affected by sexual violence in England & WalesRespect helpline
Men’s advice line - 0808 802 4040 • www.respect.uk.net
For anyone worried that they may be harming someone elseRights of Women
www.rightsofwomen.org.uk
Free legal advice for WomenSafeLives
www.safelives.org.uk
Charity dedicated to ending domestic abuse, for everyone and for goodShelter
0808 800 4444 • www.shelter.org.uk
Advice for people with housing needsSamaritans
116 123 • www.samaritans.org • [email protected]
24/7 emotional support for anyone in crisisSupport Line
01708 765 200 • www.supportline.org.uk
Emotional support for adults, young adults and childrenSurvivors UK
Chat via SMS 020 3322 1860 • www.survivorsuk.org
Support for boys, men and non-binary people overcoming sexual abuse and rapeVictim Support Helpline
0808 1689 111 • www.victimsupport.org.uk
Emotional support for anyone affected by crime – whether recent or historicalWomen’s Aid
www.womensaid.org.uk
Support for women and children living with domestic violence
Policies
My Privacy Policy is downloadable using the below link:
Privacy PolicyMy contract for therapy is downloadable using the below link:
Therapy Contract
ecopsychotherapy, outdoor therapy, nature therapy, biophilia, psychotherapy, outdoor therapy, Ecopsychology
Reflections
Below are moments that have left me with something. None of the pics are filtered, although they're not intended to be artistically great; I just found something in each of the experiences.
From a woodland...The crackle of a jay,
And then the smooth pulses of a gull,
take me to a different place.
MorningA clean moon.
Between remnants of a bonfire sky.
Drifting mist creating tangible depth,
and interest with comfort.
