About 50 Minutes For You
Hello & welcome!
Let me take a couple of minutes to introduce myself. I am Gemma Jenner, a certified Integrative counsellor and registered member of the BACP. I am dedicated to providing compassionate support for individuals facing challenges in their mental health. My role as your counsellor is to create a safe space where you can explore your thoughts and feelings without judgement; only support. Being an integrative counsellor means I work with and combine different therapeutic approaches (person centred, psychodynamic) which allows for flexible and collaborative counselling. Your unique needs and circumstances are our guide. Our sessions are tailored completely to you as we work together to find the most effective path for your healing and well-being.
My area of specialism is parental mental health
Maternal Mental Health
As many as 1 in 5 women develop a mental illness during pregnancy or in the first year after birth, but many don't seek support for fear of judgement. I offer a non-judgemental space where you can speak freely and openly. In my therapy room it does not matter if you breastfeed or bottle feed, co sleep or use a cot, are a stay-at-home Mum or a Mum who also works outside the home. Your choices of motherhood are fully respected in my therapy space. My role as your counsellor is to ensure you feel seen, understood & supported. During Matrescence (the transition of becoming a mother), women go through profound physical, psychological, and emotional changes that are often not talked about in society. This often results in new mothers feeling isolated, like they are failing or doing motherhood wrong. I can support you & your wellbeing through this period of transition.
Motherhood doesn’t look the same for everyone. Your experience will be shaped by a number of things - your own childhood, the temperament of your children, your personality, if neurodivergence is present, your physical health, finances, support network, your fertility journey, your birth experience – the list is endless. This is why I strongly believe that universal parenting 'advice' does not work, support needs to be tailored.
My support is not just limited to the perinatal period because as we know every stage of motherhood brings different challenges. The mental load does not decrease as children get older, there is no annual leave from being a parent. Postnatal depletion can persist for years after giving birth as can conditions such as postpartum depression, if left untreated. Whatever stage of parenting you find yourself needing assistance with your mental health, I can be there to support.
Paternal Mental Health
I often hear when speaking with non-birthing parents’ dismissal of their own struggles on the parenting journey. They don’t believe they should be experiencing mood/behaviour changes or depression if they didn’t physically have the baby. Whilst I am a huge advocate for maternal mental health & strongly believe there should be much more focus on mothers’ mental health in society, it is also very important to remember that any parent in the home can be affected by a babies’ arrival. 1 in 10 new fathers experiences Paternal Postnatal Depression. PTSD is also highly prevalent if a traumatic birth has occurred. If left untreated both of these conditions can have a huge impact on your mental health and also on your ability to support the birthing parent. The emotional wellbeing of the whole family system is important. Everyone deserves to feel mentally well. Whatever element of your parenting journey you find yourself needing support with we can work through it together.
*Please kindly note that I don’t currently offer couples counselling, therefore, if your partner is having therapy with me I will not be able to also provide you therapy due that being a conflict of interest. But I will happily support you with finding an alternative counsellor or support *
Adoptive Parents Mental Health
It goes without saying that the Maternal & Paternal sections above apply to every Mum & Dad, whether you have become a parent through birth, adoption, surrogacy or foster care. But it is important to be aware that adoptive parents can face unique mental health challenges, including post-adoption depression, secondary trauma, and high stress from navigating complex child needs. These are areas I can support with you as you navigate your parenthood journey.
The Journey to Become Parents
Everyone's journey to parenthood is unique. Trying to conceive and navigating fertility treatment or assisted conception can deeply affect your emotional wellbeing, before, during, and after pregnancy. Finding validating support during this time can significantly help ease any emotional strain.
While treatments like in vitro fertilisation (IVF), intrauterine insemination (IUI), donor conception, or surrogacy offer hope, they can also introduce unique stressors that can affect your mental health. Stress & anxiety, isolation, physical strain, complex decision making, financial pressure, relationship strain & resentment are all very common feelings.
Those who have become parents through fertility treatment or assisted conception have often been on a long journey to get there. It means that you can feel like you are emotionally running on empty before you've even started your pregnancy or entered parenthood. Therefore, any additional challenges you experience during your pregnancy or in the early days of parenthood can feel even more difficult when you’ve already been through so much. You may find it more challenging to speak up if you find any aspects of parenting difficult, or struggle to bond with your baby. The feeling that you are not ‘allowed’ to complain, only be grateful for being able to become a parent is common. This is of course, not true. Everyone can & will experience challenges with parenting, no matter what their conception journey was like. Whichever stage of your journey to parenthood that you find yourself needing support, I can provide this for you.
Loss During Your Parenthood Journey
Loss can take many forms during a parenthood journey. You might be childless not by choice & grieving the future you’d imagined with children. You may have experienced a miscarriage or stillbirth or be parents who have lost a baby or a child. The common experience felt by many after suffering these losses is isolation and loneliness. Some of these losses aren’t always recognised, understood or valued in society which makes your experience feel invalidated. For many of these losses friends & family may seem uncomfortable and avoid discussing the topic or asking how you’re doing. Society often struggles to acknowledge the terrible pain these losses bring.
An added challenge can be when parents grieve differently as it only heightens the feeling of loneliness and the sentiment that no one understands. In these moments of grief, finding support outside of your family & friends can be beneficial. This can give you the space to grieve at your own pace & in the exact way that feels right for you, without worrying about others feelings & emotions. I can provide the support that can help you navigate through this difficult time.
Other areas I work with
Anxiety
Depression
Anger management
Trauma
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Abuse (Emotional, Psychological, Physical or Sexual)
Identity crises & Life Transitions
Suicidal thoughts
Low Self-Esteem & Confidence
Relationship issues
Family Conflict
Stress management and Panic attacks
How I work
Initial chat
The relationship between a counsellor and client is a unique and crucial element of the therapeutic process, so it's really important that you feel comfortable with the counsellor you choose. This is why I like to offer a free 20 minute consultation via phone or zoom, to help you decide if I'm the right counsellor for you. During this conversation we can discuss what you are looking for from counselling, your reasons for seeking counselling and I can answer any questions you may have.
Sessions
If you decide after our initial chat that you would like to go ahead with me as your counsellor we can then book in for our first session. Ideally to keep consistency, your session will be at the same time and day either weekly or fortnightly so we can take a look at when this works best for you. I offer daytime and evening sessions. Sessions are always 50 minutes in length.
Payment
Sessions are payable 24 hours in advance by bank transfer. I do require 48 hours notice if you want to cancel/reschedule your session, any cancelations with less than 48 hours notice will be charged the full session price.
Pricing
Individual Face to Face Sessions
Individual Face to Face Sessions
Individual Face to Face Sessions
I offer one to one in person sessions from a private counselling room in Quinton, Northampton. Each session lasts 50 minutes.
For continuity sessions will ideally be held on the same day and time, either weekly or fortnightly.
Cost: £55
I am very aware that lack of childcare or not wanting to leave your small baby in the early months/e
I offer one to one in person sessions from a private counselling room in Quinton, Northampton. Each session lasts 50 minutes.
For continuity sessions will ideally be held on the same day and time, either weekly or fortnightly.
Cost: £55
I am very aware that lack of childcare or not wanting to leave your small baby in the early months/exclusively breastfeeding can create barriers to accessing support. This is why I offer a variety of options for my clients to attend sessions. You are more than welcome to bring your baby with you to sessions if this is the most convenient. I do encourage clients with babies over 6 months (when they start to get on the move!), to try to attend sessions alone as it can be really beneficial to have that 50 minutes of therapy just for you
Individual Zoom Sessions
Individual Face to Face Sessions
Individual Face to Face Sessions
For clients unable to travel to the counselling room or who find it more convenient to access therapy remotely, I can offer one to one zoom sessions. Each session lasts 50 minutes. For continuity sessions will ideally be held on the same day and time, either weekly or fortnightly.
Cost: £55
Zoom sessions can be flexible around your childcar
For clients unable to travel to the counselling room or who find it more convenient to access therapy remotely, I can offer one to one zoom sessions. Each session lasts 50 minutes. For continuity sessions will ideally be held on the same day and time, either weekly or fortnightly.
Cost: £55
Zoom sessions can be flexible around your childcare. Just like the face to face sessions, babies under 6 months are welcome to be present during your session, but all other family members need to adhere to confidentiality & not be in the same room as you. Sessions can't work effectively if you are in a space where you can be overhead or interrupted so please consider this when booking session times. Like the face to face sessions I do encourage my clients, once baby is over 6 months, to not have them in the same room as you during therapy
Individual Walk & Talk Sessions
Individual Face to Face Sessions
Individual Walk & Talk Sessions
For some clients the therapy room can feel a little restrictive or uncomfortable. This is why I like to offer the option of walk and talk sessions. To be out in nature and walking can be a more relaxed and easier space for some clients to talk and share. Each session lasts 50 minutes. For continuity sessions will ideally be held on the sa
For some clients the therapy room can feel a little restrictive or uncomfortable. This is why I like to offer the option of walk and talk sessions. To be out in nature and walking can be a more relaxed and easier space for some clients to talk and share. Each session lasts 50 minutes. For continuity sessions will ideally be held on the same day and time, either weekly or fortnightly.
Cost: £55
For parents wanting to access walk and talk sessions we can schedule these sessions in for a pram friendly walk & ideally during nap time!
My location for face to face sessions
I offer my Face to Face sessions in a beautiful peaceful setting in Quinton, Northampton.
Our private spacious car park is right outside of our front door
*Full Address will be provided at time of booking*
You will be welcomed into our waiting area where you will be able to grab a tea or a coffee. Feel free to sit in our garden area while you wait, if the weather is good the doors will be open! The waiting area is large so you are welcome to leave your pram here if you need to
Our therapy rooms are all based on the first floor & offer a comfortable, confidential space. If you are bringing baby with you, you are welcome to bring a playmat, baby swing or bouncer. There is plenty of space in our rooms to have these set up
