Jamie Forster
BSc psych (Hons), PGCert, PGDip, MPPsS, MBACP
I am an integrative therapist whose work is deeply rooted in the person-centred perspective. Specializing in fertility, families young people and children.
Jamie Forster
I am an integrative therapist whose work is deeply rooted in the person-centred perspective. I received my postgraduate certificate and diploma in Counselling Psychology from Keele University, I have also gained a diploma in child psychology and a certificate in play therapy. I am passionate about working with families through their infertility journey and have received training to work with issues such as gender difference, same sex family building, the implications of 3rd party donation, and fertility procedures such as IVF and IUI. This training allows me to deliver this specialist counselling in HFEA (Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority) approved clinics in the UK.
In addition to my client work, I also deliver emotional health, well-being, listening skills, and stress busting workshops to business who are interested in giving their employees and clients that extra support.
I do not focus on issues, I focus on people
In my spare time I volunteer at a local hospice providing end of life and bereavement counselling to patients and their families. I also assist with a children’s bereavement support for children ages 5-15 and work 1:1 with adolescents and adults.
I am a graduate member and working towards accreditation with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and the British Infertility Counselling Association (BICA). and am a graduate member of the British Psychological Society (BPS).
My goal is to offer you an empathic and non-judgmental therapeutic experience, that is designed to make you feel accepted and safe to explore the furthest corners of your life. I do not focus on issues, I focus on people and truly believe that in the right environment anyone can gain a greater understanding of their self and facilitate the change they want to see in their own lives. I believe that you are the expert in your own life and my job is simply to support you during difficult times and together we can find the best way forward for you!
My philosophy
The relationships that have felt the most genuine to me have all been based on trust and security which come from feeling safe, valued, respected, heard and when my own autonomy has been honoured. So, a good starting point with new clients is to engage in the relationship with these as my core values and to always come from a place of acceptance. I feel it is so important to be aware of the biases and judgments that I carry so that I can step into my client’s frame of reference in a genuine and respectful way.
Every new encounter gives to the possibility of growth or learning, and I try to engage with any new person from a place of sincere curiosity and authentic willingness to work with genuine caring and attention.
I have no idea who is going to be on the other side of the door when I hear that client knock, I do not know what they are bringing, where they have been or where they want to go, I do not know their fears or their pain but I can come with an intimate knowledge of myself and endeavour to turn my weaknesses into strengths for them and for the therapeutic process.
‘What you are to be, you are already becoming’
Carl Rogers
I believe counsellors are not healers but here to give hope to those who are stuck in cycles that keep them from seeing their true potential. The key to being a good counsellor is to be truly present, my favourite philosopher, Kabir Helminski, (2017), says that presence is a state of consciousness, a choice developed through practice, and ‘extends the boundaries of what we thought was ourselves’. I am comfortable working on the edge with any of my clients, working with anything that a client brings in an effort to bring you comfortably into your own conscious presence.
I believe in people and morning, when we open our eyes, we already have everything we need to get through our day and our life in a way is true to the best version of our most authentic self.