About Gemma

My training to become a Humanistic counsellor began back in 2006. I had a young family and felt I wanted some time just for me, and that’s when I decided to enrol on a part time course. That first introductory counselling skills course really interested me and so I decided to try it. I really enjoyed it, and had no doubt that I wanted to take that training further to become fully qualified.

I have a background of working in a caring capacity, and have always enjoyed working with, and supporting other people.

Gemma Spooner MNCPS (Acc.)

So, although I began my training almost by chance, my decision to continue was with the knowledge that I was passionate about counselling and becoming a therapist. I feel strongly that counselling can be life changing and it feels an absolute privilege to sit with people and support them through difficult times in their lives.

I have several years’ experience of counselling in an educational setting, where I set up and managed a successful counselling service working with both student's and staff.

I have worked for a number of years within the NHS as an Associate Counsellor.

I have trained in a number of different areas, including working with self-harming behaviours, anxiety disorders and bereavement in young people, to name a few.

Counsellors may use different approaches in their work with clients. Person Centred therapy is the theory that underpins my work, but I use an integrative approach which means I draw from many different counselling models, depending on the individual person and the issues they bring to therapy. I work in a way that suits your needs, and what you hope to get from counselling.

I am a fully registered accredited member of the NCPS (National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society) and I follow their code of conduct in my work as a therapist.

I engage in monthly clinical supervision with a qualified counselling supervisor which helps me to keep working in my clients best interests, and I regularly engage in continuing professional development (CPD) to ensure that I continually improve and reflect on my practice. I am also registered with the ICO (information commissioners office) as a holder of sensitive and confidential data, and have my own professional indemnity insurance.