Meet Julie Thomson
BAPC Registered Counsellor
About me
My experience in life is that it can be tricky, sometimes a lot more than tricky. And it can also offer wonderful things. It has been my passion since I was young to travel. I love meeting new people. I love learning new languages and finding ways to communicate. I love that moment when I feel I have connected with someone. It’s the reason why I became a therapist. It feels like magic to connect beyond just the surface of the daily routine; it feels like an honour.
It perhaps sounds corny to write that, in my work as a therapist, I hope to find that magic with the clients I work with.
The connections we make are what allow us to share stories, and in the telling of stories, we find common links, bonds, and understanding.
A client recently was surprised by my belief that therapy is often a two-way relationship, and not necessarily in the sense of supporting one another, but in connecting. It is a powerful dynamic when a client trusts enough to be willing to be 'seen' and is indeed 'seen' by the therapist and valued. Powerful enough to allow change, YES!
Powerful enough to create magic? Perhaps that is what change is. We create magic when we change the patterns that hold us and limit us. We create magic when we allow ourselves to be the best versions of ourselves that we can be.
It is important for me to listen to you and understand your perspective as I believe strongly that connections to one another are what make life inspiring and meaningful.
I offer a space in which to explore your voice - listening to your hopes and dreams - and, through the tricky challenges that life throws at us, offer a different perspective, finding options and opportunities.I work with a person-centred approach, listening to what you need and using CBT informed approaches as well as NLP inspired skills.
My work experience has been gained over almost 30 years of working with people across continents and always with a passion to understand and connect. I have lived and worked in Europe, the Middle East, Latin America and Asia. I speak English and Spanish, and very, very rusty French and Japanese!
As well as my work in private practice, I work as a school counsellor with young people from 12-18, and I work with children 5-12 offering play therapy. This can involve meeting with families, when appropriate, and working alongside parents and carers, if the child or young person feels this is beneficial.
My work in private practice is with adults and young people alike.
I trained as a Person-Centred Counsellor, studying the postgraduate Diploma in Person-Centred Counselling at the University of Strathclyde. Since then, I have undertaken CBT informed training.
Whilst working as a Child Play therapist, I have completed training in Supervision, Parent Partnership, Safeguarding, Assessing and Formulating, Clinical Management, Group Work. I have also trained in Seasons for Growth
Currently, I am developing further my interest in Hypnotherapy, although I do have a certificate level training. I am also looking to gain further qualifications in Family Therapy, which I am in the process of doing.
I have extensive experience working with young people, children, and families as well as adults.
I offer a free first 15 minute phone consultation. Get in touch on 0141 291 5024
Why Counselling
Many people have concerns regarding anxiety, panic attacks, depression, low moods, and it is a big question - WHY counselling? How will counselling help me understand what is happening to me?
I can help you understand by offering you a safe space, a confidential space in which you can speak freely, and say out loud the thoughts you may keep inside your head. When our thoughts are kept inside they form patterns, and if these patterns are negative, our behaviour, in turn, has a negative impact on our lives.
So the counselling I offer may help by allowing you to become aware of these patterns, through offering you a professional relationship with myself, someone you can trust to share your thoughts with. It allows you the chance to hear a new perspective, which may sometimes challenge you!
In the moments in which you become aware of your patterns, you can make choices. YOU can decide if you want to change, and that answers the question... WHEN? When is counselling helpful?
It is most helpful when you are ready, when you are ready for change, when you have reached a moment in which you want change so much that it is worth the risk, worth the challenges, when you know that you want to offer more of who you truly are.
Often words are used to describe how we feel - anxious, sad, depressed, experiencing panic - and it is important to understand what those words mean for you. Often today, these words may be used in ways that sound as if they are labels, and if you feel labelled then it can be even more difficult to know what that really means for you. So the counselling I offer may allow you the chance to take off any labels, and come to an understanding of your feelings and why it is important to listen to your feelings.
Counselling can happen in a Face to Face setting, it can happen online and it can happen using the phone.
Testimonials
Dear Julie,
I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate the invaluable help you have given me. When I first came to see you I wasn't sure about counselling and whether it would help me, but I had made a promise to seek help to my family and fortunately it led me to you. From our first session you helped me to unleash feelings and emotions that I had bottled up for years and you also helped me to realise how to let go and move on. I am having the most calm and stress free peiod of my life and we are almost a year down the line. The discussions, analysis and results of our conversations have been amazing for me, and my friends and family have been taking note. My wife prefers the new me or at least the upgraded version.
I would just like to say thank you so much. You changed my world.
Counselling by phone, or online via Skype, Zoom or FaceTime etc
In these changing times, sometimes it is easier to connect online or by phone. I charge £35 for each session, with reduced rates available. Please call me 0141 291 5024 for a free 15min initial call and we can discuss the best way forward.
Face to Face Counselling at Nurture, in Glasgow
When it is available, I charge £50 for each session, with reduced rates available. Please call me 0141 291 5024 for a free initial call and we can discuss the best way forward.
Creative well-being workshops
Working in groups, using dreams and/or images, workshops aim to encourage creativity through drama, art, writing, constructing in order to highlight the importance that creativity plays in our well-being.
Please contact me 0141 291 5024 for more information
For a free 15 minute initial consultation call 0141 291 5024 or fill in the form and I'll be in touch.
Contact Info
Phone
Address
0141 291 5024
Nurture
9 Fitzroy Place
Glasgow G3 7RH