About me

Jill Williams psychotherapist counsellor rethink therapy llandudno

Jill Williams

Like many therapists I came to counselling as a second career. I initially studied psychology, including a doctorate specialising in emotion and motivation.

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I then worked as a university psychology lecturer, including a significant amount of time supporting students with additional learning needs. Ironically, having chosen a career field which revolved around people, I became frustrated by the increasing need to spend time locked away with paperwork and sought a more rewarding way to use my knowledge and skills.

 

 I then trained in counselling and worked as a counsellor within the NHS.  Most commonly I have worked with issues of stress, anxiety and panic, depression/ sad mood, low self-esteem/ low self-confidence, issues from childhood, relationship issues, PTSD/trauma (including sexual abuse or assault), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and addiction.

 

Working in a private practice was a new venture for 2018. Working with a private therapist means that the number and length of sessions can be tailored to your needs.

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With a substantial background in psychology, I take an up-to-date, evidence-based approach to my work. Until 2019 I still taught mental health and neurobiology part-time and I have a great deal of experience working in online environments. Although I now focus exclusively on my therapy practice, I am still committed to my own lifelong learning.

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I am a Chartered Psychologist and member of the British Psychological Society (BPS) and also a registered member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).

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I therefore work to the BPS and BACP codes of ethics and I am committed to working safely, ethically and confidentially.

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My therapy

Feedback

I'd put off counselling for a while due to having a bad experience in the past and thinking it was all the same. I'm so glad I chose Jill , I was made to feel at ease straight away and I feel like I am finally getting my life back on track.

As someone who really struggles to open up emotionally Jill is one of a very small amount of people who I feel comfortable doing that with. I would happily recommend her services if you are at all in need of help in this way.

I’m not sure I understood that I had reached rock bottom when I stumbled into Jill’s office for our first session but hindsight tells me that I most definitely had. I remember being surprised. I hadn’t expected to feel relief, reassurance and hope that things could actually be better- that there could be a different version of my day to day reality. I think I was there to simply surrender. But I did feel all of those emotions and that is testament to Jill and her ability as a therapist. Over the next 18 months, Jill carefully nurtured my self-confidence, self-compassion and assertiveness. I struggled and resisted at times - after all, it meant changing the habits of a lifetime - but Jill gently coaxed me along and adapted her techniques as and when she needed to. Compassion, empathy, humour, no-nonsense straight talk - I had all that and more. I will be forever grateful to her for the positive impact she has had on my mental health. I literally wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for her.

Key qualifications & training

  • BSc (Hons) Psychology (2001)

  • MSc Psychology (2003)

  • Doctorate (PhD) in Psychology (2010)

  • Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling (2016)

  • Diploma in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (2017-9)

  • Level 6 Forensic Counselling and Psychology (2018)

Counselling for perpetrators and victims of crime, including survivors of sexual abuse and assault.

  • PTSD Masterclass training (British Psychological Society approved)

    • Intermediate. Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Trauma and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (24-26th April 2019).

    • Advanced.  Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Complex PTSD and Dissociation (26th-27th February 2020).                                

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  • Additional training in online therapy

    • Working Online, a Coronavirus Primer - British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy, in conjunction with Open University (10 hours; April 2020).

    • Online and Telephone Counselling (80 hours; April 2020). Accredited  by the National Counselling Society and the Association for Counselling and Therapy Online.

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  • Theory and Practice of Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT), the Compassionate Mind Foundation (16th - 20th July 2020).

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  • Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Fundamentals, the Oxford Cognitive Therapy Centre, Prof P. Salkovskis & Dr V Bream. (2nd-3rd Nov & 8th Dec 2020)

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CFT promotes well-being by focusing on the chronic shame and high levels of self-criticism that underlie many mental health problems. For people experiencing severe self-criticism this can be a more appropriate and effective therapy than Cognitive Behaviour Therapy.