About Jill Abbott
Loves:
Laughing, the change of our seasons, animals particularly dogs, good food, friendship and family, sharing, log fires.
Hates:
Cruelty [physical or mental] feeling intimidated, insincerity, celery.
Growing up experiences in my adolescent years left me with little confidence or self worth. Until I met my first counsellor I did not realise that I could change things about myself and my life in a positive way, and there were always choices I needed to know where to look and believe in myself and that I deserved a better quality of life. On reflection over 30 years ago this was a completely liberating experience for me, leading me to peruse my love of Psychology and becoming fascinated with what ‘makes people tick, I knew when the time was right I would go back to study and become a qualified counsellor, offering some of the life skills to others that had given me such a helping hand.
I adore the countryside and nature. I am lucky enough to live and work amongst both, in the Tamar valley on the Devon and Cornwall border, about 2 miles from the beautiful river Tamar, as the ‘crow flies’. Water whether it is the river or the sea or a pond I have always found very relaxing and replenishing on many levels.
I am passionate about working with people, using my counselling skills and over a period of time observing how the distress and emotional pain become more manageable. When asked What is counselling I often describe it as a safely held place to unpack all that is overloading your mind, sifting through it with guidance letting go of some, then rearranging the rest so that your world starts to make sense and become manageable again.
I read and learn constantly from others more experienced than myself to add to my knowledge and use continual professional development courses to enhance my Counselling Profession.
I work with commitment and dedication in a professional supportive capacity with many of my referrals coming from personal recommendation.
My specialist areas are:
Issues surrounding Relationships, Bereavement & Mental illness
List of a few
Abuse
Addiction
Affairs and betrayals
Anger management
Anxiety
Bullying
Career and work related issues
Depression
Eating disorders
Generalised Anxiety
Isolation and Hopelessness
Low self confidence
Low self esteem
Obsessive compulsive disorder [OCD}
Personality disorder
Personal Crisis
Phobias
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder [PTSD]
Postnatal Depression
Separation and Divorce
Stress
Trauma
Qualifications and Experience
1999 Certificate in Transactional Analysis
2001 Certificate in counselling Exeter University
2002 Adult Education Teaching Certificate
2003 Anatomy and Physiology & Diploma in Holistic Massage
2003 Certificate in the Bowen Technique
2010 Certificate of completion Cornwall Hospice Care
2011 Diploma in Integrative Counselling – Working towards accreditation
2012 Level 5 CBT Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
2014 BACP Certificate of accreditation
2014 NCS Advanced Diploma in Supervision (accred)
2014 Psychotherapy for Healthcare Critical Incident De-Briefing
One day a week in a Medical Centre in Devon
On a voluntary basis for the Cornwall Hospice as a Bereavement Support Worker.
Prior to my Counselling Training I have mostly been self employed in business.