Jane Jiggens

Welcome to The Therapy Shed where I support individuals and couples (18+), in building healthier, more fulfilling relationships. So, if you have found my website, then you may be experiencing some of the following: Feeling overwhelmed by anxiety, rage, anger or sadness and finding these emotions difficult to manage Strained or breaking relationships Bereavement or loss Difficulty expressing your needs Feeling lost or without direction Experiencing a harsh, self-critical inner voice Experiences of trauma You may be seeking support to understand and make sense of your thoughts, feelings and behaviours, both your own and those of others and to even understand the world around you. Human beings are wired for relationship/connection. From birth, we form attachments with our caregivers, which are essential for survival and healthy development. However, some attachments are insecure, turbulent, or shaped by trauma. As we move through life, this can leave us feeling confused about why: Relationships seem to end in the same way Distressing emotions keep recurring We engage in harmful or unhelpful behaviours We repeatedly tell ourselves we are not good enough or believe everything is our fault It feels difficult to feel close to others This is where I can help. I believe that when we compassionately connect with ourselves and develop a deeper understanding of who we are, our self-awareness grows and stress, rage, shame and guilt begin to subside. Gradually, things start to make sense. Through this process, you can become more assertive, establish and maintain healthy boundaries, regulate difficult emotions and communicate more effectively. Harmful behaviours reduce and relationships become more intimate, fulfilling and resilient. You may begin to feel lighter, gain the confidence to move away from relationships that are not good for you and develop the clarity to make healthier, more empowered decisions for your life. Specific For Couples Being in relationship is an essential part of being human. While relationships can be fulfilling, supportive and joyful, they can also be complex, challenging, and at times a source of stress or heartache. Whether you are experiencing difficulties with a partner, friend, family member or business partner, couples and relationship counselling can offer a safe and supportive space to explore conflict, ruptures, betrayal, communication challenges or intimacy difficulties, with the aim of fostering change or greater acceptance within the relationship. Couples and relationship counselling differs from individual counselling in that, as your counsellor, my primary focus is the relationship itself, rather than either individual. The therapeutic approach is therefore slightly different. My role is to facilitate sessions in a way that creates emotional safety and balance; however, at times I may take a more directive role by coaching specific skills, such as effective listening, clear communication and healthy conflict resolution. As a relationship counsellor, I work from a non-judgemental and compassionate stance, valuing what each person brings to the process. I prioritise the development of a strong, trusting therapeutic relationship between all parties, encouraging and supporting each individual to show up authentically. My work draws on a range of therapeutic frameworks, including psychoeducation, trauma-informed practice, Transactional Analysis, Attachment Theory and a developmental understanding of relationships. I also support couples in learning practical ways to communicate more effectively without deepening disconnection. At times I may offer an individual session to each party, if I believe that this will be beneficial to the relationship you hold together.