Counselling JCT
Online Counselling & Therapy – Serving Cumbria, Manchester, Lancashire the North West and uk
Fees, Sessions and Ways of Working Together
Choosing to begin counselling is a personal decision. You may have a clear reason for seeking support, or you may simply know that something in your life no longer feels right.
You might be dealing with a recent loss or life change. You might be recognising familiar patterns in your relationships, or finding that experiences from much earlier in life still affect how you feel, respond or see yourself.
Sometimes we know what we are experiencing without understanding why it affects us in the way it does.
Counselling offers an opportunity to explore these experiences, understand what may have shaped them and consider what you need going forward.
This page explains how I work, what sessions involve and what you can expect if we decide to work together.
Counselling with Jackie
I’m Jackie Connaughton, an Accredited Registrant (MNCPS Acc.) of the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS), with over 25 years’ therapeutic experience. I offer online, trauma-informed relational counselling to women throughout the UK.
My work is grounded in the belief that every woman makes sense in the context of her life.
Our experiences, early relationships, family environments and significant life events can influence how we see ourselves, relate to others and respond to the world around us.
Sometimes the ways we learned to cope or protect ourselves continue long after the circumstances in which they developed have changed.
Counselling offers space to explore these connections, make sense of what you are experiencing today and develop a different understanding of yourself.
You don't need to arrive with a clear explanation of what is wrong or a list of things you want to change. We begin with what is bringing you to counselling and work together to understand what matters most to you.
Individual counselling
Online throughout the UK
£75 | 60-minute session
Each session provides a confidential space to talk about what is happening in your life, explore experiences that may be influencing how you feel and respond, and consider what you need going forward.
My approach is integrative and relational, grounded in person-centred principles. This means that our relationship is central to the work. I don't follow a prescribed programme or assume that one approach will suit everyone.
I draw on my experience of working with grief, loss, attachment and trauma, alongside an understanding of how our experiences can affect both mind and body.
I have also completed the BTC™ Generational Trauma Therapy Certificate Course with Dr Mariel Buqué.
The work is collaborative. You bring your experiences and perspective; together, we explore what feels important and what may help you understand yourself and your situation differently.
Understanding what has shaped you
Earlier experiences, particularly those within our first relationships, can influence what we come to expect from others, how safe we feel expressing our needs and the ways we respond when relationships become difficult.
We may develop ways of coping that helped us manage challenging circumstances at the time, but which no longer feel helpful in adult life.
Family roles, expectations and ways of relating can also influence subsequent generations. Exploring these experiences can help us understand more about what we carry and how some of our familiar responses may have developed.
Loss can also have a significant influence on how we experience ourselves and our relationships. This isn't limited to bereavement. It can include relationships that didn't meet our needs, experiences we didn't have, or changes that leave us questioning our identity and future.
We don't assume that every difficulty has its origins in the past. Instead, we explore the connections that are relevant to your experiences and what brings you to counselling.
How we work together
There is no expectation that you disclose everything straight away or revisit difficult experiences before you are ready.
Trust develops through the working relationship, and we make space for difficult material when it feels appropriate to explore it.
I won't tell you what your experiences mean or impose an explanation on your life. My role is to listen, help you make connections where they are relevant and support you in developing your own understanding.
Sometimes this involves exploring familiar patterns, emotional responses or relationship difficulties. At other times, it may be about having space to talk about something that has happened and being heard without judgement.
The pace and direction of our work are shaped around you.
How many sessions will I need?
There is no fixed number of sessions that suits everyone.
Some women seek counselling during a particular period of difficulty, such as a bereavement, separation or major life change. Others want to explore experiences and patterns that have developed over many years.
Sessions are usually weekly or fortnightly, depending on what feels most supportive for you.
The length of counselling depends on what brings you, what you want from the work and how things develop as we go.
We can review our work together along the way. You don't need to commit to long-term counselling before we begin, and there is no predetermined number of sessions you must complete.
The aim is for the work to remain useful and relevant to you.
Your first step: a free introductory conversation
Before beginning counselling, I offer a free 20-minute introductory conversation.
This gives us an opportunity to talk about what has brought you here, what you hope might change and any questions you have about counselling.
It is also a chance to get a sense of whether working together feels right. The relationship between counsellor and client matters, and you should feel able to make an informed choice about whom you work with.
You don't need to be certain that counselling is right for you before getting in touch. There is no obligation to continue after our conversation.
What you can expect
Confidentiality
Counselling provides a confidential space to talk about your experiences. I will explain the limits of confidentiality and how your information is handled before we begin.
A collaborative relationship
We work together rather than following a prescribed programme. Your experiences, concerns and priorities help shape the work.
An individual approach
There is no single explanation for why we feel or respond as we do. We explore your circumstances and experiences rather than assuming that one approach fits everyone.
Attention to the whole story
Present-day difficulties can sometimes connect with earlier relationships, losses, expectations or ways of coping. We can explore these connections where they are relevant to you, without assuming that every difficulty has the same cause.
Respect for your readiness
You don't have to share everything immediately. We build the working relationship over time and approach difficult experiences with care and appropriate attention to what you need.
Making space for yourself
You may have spent a long time managing what life asks of you, making sense of things on your own or putting your own needs to one side.
Counselling offers dedicated time to explore what you have been carrying, understand how your experiences have shaped you and consider what you need now.
At £75 per session, it is a commitment of both time and money. The free 20-minute introductory conversation gives us an opportunity to talk about what has brought you here and whether working together feels right for you.
You don't need to have all the answers before you begin.
The first step is simply a conversation.
A conversation, not a commitment
You don't have to have all the answers before you begin counselling. You don't need to know exactly where your difficulties started or what needs to change.
Sometimes the starting point is simply recognising that something is affecting you and wanting to understand it better.
If you would like to explore whether counselling with me might be helpful, the first step is a conversation.You don't have to commit to changing your whole life.
You don't have to have all the answers.
You don't even have to know exactly what you need.
The first step can simply be a conversation.
And if we decide to work together, we begin where you are.
Begin with a conversation
You don't have to have everything figured out before you get in touch.
Sometimes the first step is simply talking to someone who understands that there may be more to your story than what can be seen on the surface.
Book your free 20 min conversation →
Contact Jackie
Email: jackie@counsellingjct.co.uk
Phone: 07432 373270
You can also leave a message using the contact form below.
All enquiries are answered within 24 hours and handled in confidence.
Find Me Online
Counselling JCT | Online Counselling for Women Across the UK
Helping women understand what has shaped them, make sense of where they are now, and consider what comes next.
Important Information
The Unthread programme is designed to offer space for personal reflection, insight, and growth. It is not a form of therapy or counselling and is not a substitute for professional support.
If you feel you need therapeutic care, we encourage you to reach out to a qualified counsellor or therapist.
While every effort is made to create a safe and supportive environment, participating in Unthread is at your own discretion, and you engage in the activities with awareness of your own wellbeing.