Harley Taylor-Topp creates a safe, warm and empathic space for clients to explore and share their thoughts and feelings. Working alongside clients to achieve their counselling goals, she actively listens without judgment or assumptions, allowing clients to feel seen, heard and understood. Harley uses an integrative approach, which helps to provide a unique experience for those she works with. She uses the modalities person centred and psychodynamic, while also implementing the importance of the therapeutic relationship. The person-centred approach allows client’s to move at their own pace and allows them to connect with the power they hold within. The psychodynamic approach gives insight into a person’s past, attachments, relationships and unconscious feelings or thoughts. Harley understands past experiences can show up in the present and how this shapes our views and understanding of ourselves, others and the world. She works with the here and now to help clients focus on their strengths and achievements, while understanding life shows up and a person’s needs and views are ever changing. Harley understands part of the counselling process is the professional relationship between counsellor and client and Harleys natural attributes of empathy, active listening and emotional warmth help to facilitate this. She also uses creative approaches such as drawing and writing to help explore thoughts and feelings further.
Harley has over 15 years experience working with young children and their families. Working in nursery settings as well as a nanny allowed Harley the opportunity to listen and work with the emotional needs of children as well as their families. She also has experience as a mentor, working with vulnerable children and their parents/carers to help them achieve goals as well as helping enhance the family’s bond and provide them with support and care. Harley’s experiences working with children and families has helped her work holistically and have a deep understanding of the unique needs of other individuals and provide them with care and professional support.
Harley is an integrative trainee counsellor and is a registered student member with the BACP. She is in her last few months of working towards completion of her Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling. Harley works in the NHS Wandsworth Service within The Awareness Centre.
