Hilary Jiggins

Hilary Jiggins takes a straightforward, transparent approach to therapy and aims to keep professional language accessible rather than full of jargon. She works collaboratively with each person, recognising that clients know themselves best and tailoring the work to what will be most useful for them.

Drawing on a range of training, she works integratively from evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) - an approach also used by the National Health Service - alongside humanistic practice that treats each person as an individual with kindness and compassion. Her practical aim is to make herself redundant - using time and clinical skills efficiently to reduce distress so clients can move closer to the life they wish to lead.

With a background in medical science, Hilary keeps up to date with research and NICE guidance and will explain the rationale for any suggestions she makes. She uses approaches including Solution-Focused work, Motivational Interviewing, CBT and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) skills training, and can offer psychometric measures similar to those used by the NHS if clients are open to them. If traditional formats like paperwork or homework feel unhelpful, she adapts methods and can offer more creative ways of working.

If clients choose longer-term work, Hilary can adopt a more exploratory, relational approach to help understand the journey that has led to their current difficulties, which can reduce the chance of problems re-emerging. Relational or attachment-related issues may be approached in this way, and she will be honest about when a longer therapeutic commitment might be needed or when a referral to a colleague with a different specialism would be more appropriate.

Sometimes the therapeutic relationship itself opens the way for deeper psychotherapy, involving a longer commitment - perhaps a year or two or more - and using the relationship as a vehicle for change beyond shorter-term, problem-focused therapy. Hilary began her therapeutic work co-facilitating support groups with the mental health charity Mind 15 years ago. After further training she worked as a counsellor with charities including As You Are, Cruse Bereavement Care and Sussex Communities Development Association, and has worked with adults, groups, couples and young people. She is a female, gay, non-religious therapist practising in the United Kingdom.