Frances Sheldon

Frances Sheldon is an Integrative counsellor and registered with the BACP. They have been working within the low-cost counselling service at the Awareness Centre Clapham for a year, whilst training towards an advanced Diploma in Integrative Counselling and Therapy. They have experience working with domestic violence and Mental Health Services units, and as a college counsellor to young people in Further Education. Now a qualified counsellor (level 4 CACPD Diploma), they are excited to welcome new clients for private sessions at The Awareness Centre, Clapham.

Frances is an Integrative therapist trained in many modalities – both humanist and psychodynamic. Using a Person-Centred approach, they work empathetically with clients by offering a safe, calm space to share and process difficult feelings around issues such as sexuality, personal relationships, and existential life changes. This enables the person to work at their own pace and to bring whatever they wish to speak about to the sessions by being led by their own needs and finding the answers within themselves. Other modalities within Integrative counselling, such as Attachment Theory can then be engaged with by delving into formative personal connections and its impact on present relationships and emotional difficulties. Frances encourages their clients to think in fresh ways about their experiences – to seek deeper reasons behind established defense strategies, and to find new metaphors and symbolic images aiding an understanding of their own stories. They also have experience in helping clients overcome trauma and shame with a healing, affirmational approach to self-love and self-acceptance. For clients who are suffering with anxiety, Frances can also guide exercises from Gestalt and NLP practice to enable clients to find their own internal resources for calmness and confidence.

Frances currently also works as a communication support worker in British Sign Language with d/Deaf clients in education, and with clients with additional learning needs, Autistic Spectrum/ ADHD/ Dyspraxia/ Aphasia, and other communication differences, so they are experienced at working with a style, pace and format to suit a person’s individual needs. Should a client have learning difficulties or physical communication differences, or wish to work in a more visual way, BSL / Sign Supported English, and/or other adaptations can be implemented into their sessions. Frances aims to enable clients to feel as comfortable as possible with accessibility needs met in the ways that suit each person the most.