Jade Farrington – Neurodivergent Counsellor and Rewind Trauma Therapist

What does working with me involve?

If you’re interested in having counselling or rewind trauma therapy with me then this page outlines the process.

I offer sessions online internationally, subject to your country’s laws. I am based in the United Kingdom.

I offer regular slots between 9.45am and 2.30pm on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays. Ad hoc sessions and enquiry calls may be possible at other times.

There is no minimum or maximum session requirement. You don’t need a referral and I don’t have any thresholds. If you feel you would benefit from counselling or therapy then that’s all that is necessary.

I offer a free 15-minute online videocall so you can find out if I’m the right person to work with you. This gives you the chance to find out more about how I work and to ask any questions you have. (Also see my FAQs.)

Research shows that the single most important factor in whether therapy is effective is the relationship between the individual and their therapist. It’s therefore really important that you feel comfortable communicating with me before choosing to work with me. If you don’t feel comfortable engaging with me, or if I remind you of someone you know, then I won’t be the best person to support you – even if I look ideal on paper.

There is no obligation to book a paid session after our video call. If I don’t think I’m best placed to support you based on what you’ve experienced or what you’d like to work on then I can offer signposting to other counsellors or services who are more knowledgeable in that area of support.

I am only able to offer sessions where people are ok with having their camera on. This is because I find it harder to process speech when I can’t see the person I’m talking to. For this reason I do not offer telephone therapy. If you need to have your camera off I am happy to signpost to other neurodivergent counsellors who are able to offer this.

To book a free online call or a first appointment, please contact me.

Wellbeing note: Please note I work part time, and as a disabled and neurodivergent parent to two young children I need to manage my spoons. I aim to reply as quickly as possible at a time that I am able to. Please respond at a time that suits you.

Practicalities

When you contact me to book a 15-minute online call, I will send you a link to a Google Form for you to complete. (If you require a different format such as a Word doc then please let me know.) This gathers some background information about why you would like to come to therapy and what you’ve experienced so I can see whether I think I will be able to properly and ethically support you. It also includes things that I need for safety and insurance purposes, such as an emergency contact in case anything happens to you while we’re on our discovery call or in a session. It includes a link to my GDPR policy which outlines how I store and process data, and asks you to confirm that you agree with it.

I will give you a range of times to choose from. If none are convenient then I can suggest some others at a later date. The call or appointment is confirmed when you complete the form, and I’ll send you a Google Meet link.

You’ll also receive a link to my standard client contract which tells you about confidentiality and practicalities such as cancellations and payments. If you’re happy with it then I’ll ask you to sign and return it and if you aren’t then we can discuss it. I aim to be as flexible as possible.

Rewind Trauma Therapy

I offer counselling and Rewind Trauma Therapy (RTT) which is also known as the Rewind Technique. Most people who have RTT have it as part of their counselling sessions with me, but I also offer it as stand-alone support. Some people know they want RTT before they begin, but others realise it would be beneficial to them during our work together.

RTT can be used for PTSD symptoms (no diagnosis needed) such as nightmares, flashbacks and intrusive memories. It can also be used for phobias where this were triggered by a traumatic event. People having RTT don’t need to discuss what happened, which makes this an accessible form of support for those who don’t want to talk about an incident or are too overwhelmed by it. RTT can support victims, survivors and witnesses, and is also helpful for imagined situations or something that was seen on television such as a horror film. RTT can also be used for the ‘what ifs’ of an incident, for example if you had a car crash and you are being haunted by the idea of being a second earlier and dying as a result.

Research shows it is effective for 90% of people. If there is a single incident then it will usually only require one or two sessions. If you have multiple traumas you would like to rewind then more sessions are likely to be needed.

Counselling

Counselling is generally a talking therapy, but I also welcome people who prefer to write, type or use other forms of communication.

Many people who come to work with me are feeling some form of distress. Others want to explore their (potential) neurodivergent identity, or thoughts and feelings about making a big life change. If you feel you would benefit from talking about your situation in a safe, confidential and non-judgemental space then counselling could be for you.

Most people begin with weekly or fortnightly sessions, but I also offer one-off and ad-hoc arrangements. A week is usually a good length of time to process the previous session and start to apply things to life, if applicable. When people feel they have made significant progress but still want support then reducing session frequency is an option.

When people come for one-off sessions, these are highly focused on a particular topic. They may revolve around a choice that needs making, or for discussing thoughts and feelings on a subject I am knowledgeable on, such as how to become a counsellor or whether to start home educating your child.

As a counsellor I won’t tell you what to do. Everyone and every situation is different so what works for one person may not work for another. Instead I provide you with a space to uncover your thoughts, feelings and emotions and to process your past experiences and traumas. I will offer therapeutic processes that I believe may be helpful, but it is always for you to choose whether or not you think it’s right for you.

I offer a lot of psychoeducation to help understand neurodivergent experiences. This can be talked through in sessions, and may include signposting, books and articles. Again, it is always your choice whether you wish to receive these, read them or act on them.

I work in a neuroaffirming way. This means I respect people’s unique brain and nervous system and support them in challenging neuronormativity instead of trying to ‘fix’ anyone or make them ‘normal’. I offer techniques from a variety of methodologies depending on your needs, aims, and any goals you may have for our work together. This may include person centred, humanistic, existential, gestalt, transpersonal, as well as neuroaffirming CBT to challenge ableism and neuronormative ideas, and neurodivergent friendly DBT such as that developed by Sonny Jane Wise. You are always in charge of your therapy and how we work together.

Counselling is generally one-to-one and I am not qualified to offer couples/relationship therapy. If you need a translator or other support in sessions with you then please let me know and we can discuss this.

The first counselling session

Please make yourself comfortable somewhere you can’t be overheard and won’t be disturbed. You may wish to have a drink and anything else that helps you to feel comfortable such as headphones, fidget tools, etc. You are welcome to make as much or as little eye contact as feels comfortable for you. You can communicate in your preferred way, whether that’s mouth words or using AAC such as typing or writing, etc – or a mixture.

Unless you have booked a one-off session on a specific topic, then our first session will be slightly different to the others. It will involve an informal assessment, going totally at your pace. The idea is to find out more about your life and history; what you’re experiencing; and what you would like to work on in counselling. You may like to set some goals to help focus our work together, though this isn’t compulsory and you’re always free to change them at a later date.

I work in a trauma informed and neurodivergent-affirming manner, so no two sessions ever look the same. Flexibility and individualised support is key.

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