Counselling
& Creative Wellbeing
Face to face (Mossley, Greater Manchester), online and Walk and Talk outdoor therapy
"Be yourself, everyone else is already taken"
Thank you for visiting Outside the Lines Counselling & Creative Wellbeing.
All are welcome here.
I'm Julie Dawson, a non-judgemental, neurodivergent, creative, integrative counsellor. I consider myself 'alternative' in terms of the way I think, look and my interests and tastes with a passion for all things Gothic, spiritual and involving nature. I'm also a lover of books, I have been sober since 2019, I'm an artist and have rescue dogs. My pronouns are she/they. I have never fitted in and understand how it can feel to be excluded or misunderstood.
I retrained as a counsellor after a breast cancer diagnosis put things in perspective for me and prompted me to reevaluate my life. Prior to this I had various roles - I have been a full-time Mum to my two (now grown up) children and dealt with the challenges this has provided. As well as the struggles all parents navigate, my son is autistic, transgender and queer; my daughter is dyslexic and suffers from anxiety. In the past I've worked in (amongst many others), Human Resources; as an aromatherapist; art workshop facilitator; school midday supervisor and personal assistant/companion to an elderly lady who had lost her sight. I have volunteered with a number of charities and now support a local counselling service as a volunteer. These experiences along with managing my own mental and physical health struggles, have led me to my current destination in counselling and I feel I have found my vocation.
Life can throw all kinds of challenges our way and these can be difficult to grapple with for anyone. This can be magnified when faced by those of us who don't fit the social norm for whatever reason. Navigating life can be that bit more challenging whether you feel 'othered' due to the way you look, the way you think, your interests or beliefs, your gender identity or sexuality, the subculture you gravitate towards, the way you dress, the lifestyle you choose to lead, or you just feel different - maybe not fitting in within your family, at work or socially. I am here to listen, support you in your growth and healing, and to help you in celebrating your uniqueness.
As a neurodivergent counsellor (ADHD+), I understand that those of us who are 'neurospicy' - having a diagnosis (or self-diagnosis) of ADHD, autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia or a combination of these and/or other conditions outside of the neurotypical can make us feel lost and disconnected from others. There are often associated conditions with these such as anxiety or depression. My understanding and accepting approach, regardless of your quirks and differences, and working in a way which is tailored to you and your needs, are what I consider my unique strengths along with my creative skills within the counselling space.
My Approach
I offer an approach tailored to you and don't believe that 'one size fits all' in counselling. As an integrative counsellor, my practice has a person-centred foundation with elements of other counselling approaches where appropriate to the therapeutic process. This may also include using techniques and tools from other modalities such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Transactional Analysis, Gestalt, or Solution Focused Therapy, along with psychoeducation and grounding and mindfulness activities to help with symptoms of, for example, anxiety or panic. Following a thorough initial assessment, we will decide how best to proceed and will review regularly. My approach is open-ended - some clients find they have achieved their objective after a few sessions, some may find that it takes many months or more before they feel ready to go it alone and end their therapy in a gentle and supported way.
As a creative therapist, I offer the opportunity to work with additional materials such as card decks to encourage exploration around, for example, values, emotions, or identity; collage and art materials for expressing feelings, creating vision boards or doodling to self-soothe plus a range of other creative resources. These interventions may be incorporated into the therapy where appropriate, and, of course, only if the client is comfortable adding them.
I aim to make your experience of counselling as comfortable as possible and endeavour to meet any sensory needs by requesting information prior to the first appointment. This includes any adjustments I can make to the lights, sounds, smells etc within the counselling room. I also provide fidgets and other sensory resources where required during in-person therapy.
What Can Counselling Help With?
There are times in all our lives when we need the time and space to work through difficult emotions, understand the thoughts and feelings around a situation or explore changes we would like to make in our lives. Healing from the past, working towards a better future by making changes in the present and exploring the emotions which arise in the counselling space can all be part of the process. Being heard can be invaluable. I can provide this along with support and guidance to dismantle barriers to growth and healing and help you to move forward in your life. You may feel lost or disconnected, overwhelmed by racing thoughts or decisions, or simply in need of a quiet space and some time with someone outside of your family and friends to process what is going on for you. I am here for you.
People come to me for help with a wide range of issues. Although each client has their own unique story, with concerns which are specific to them, some of the common themes which arise and which can be supported through therapy include:
Low mood and depression
Anxiety and stress
ADHD and neurodiversity
Gender identity
Sexuality
Lack of confidence
Low self esteem
Addiction and recovery
Relationships
Family dynamics
Work or retirement
Panic attacks
Grief, loss or bereavement
Identity and self
Abuse
Anger management
This list is intended to give an idea of the breadth of topics which can be addressed by counselling but is in no way an exhaustive list. You are welcome to approach me with any issue you need support with. If I am unable to support you due to lack of expertise in that area, I will endeavour to refer you to a more suitable therapist or service.
Sessions and Fees
Counselling sessions last 50 minutes and cost £55 per session. I offer a discounted rate for those who wish to work with me but are struggling financially as I believe counselling should be accessible to all. If you are a student, are receiving benefits, or are in a difficult place financially, I am open to discuss your circumstances and will offer a discounted rate wherever possible.
I offer an optional 15 minute telephone call prior to beginning therapy so that you can ask any questions and find out a little more about how I work and you can then decide if you would like to book a session. Counselling can be an emotional process and you may be revealing thoughts, feelings and experiences which you have never discussed before. Although trust within the therapeutic relationship may take time to develop, it is important that you feel a connection with your counsellor and are comfortable with them so this telephone call is an opportunity for you to gauge your 'gut reaction' to me. It is also an opportunity for me to get an idea of your reason for seeking counselling whether that is due to a specific issue or more general feelings which you wish to explore or changes you would like to make. If I feel I am not the right fit for you, I will let you know and attempt to refer you to another counsellor or service which may be able to better serve your needs. If we decide to proceed, I kindly request that payment be made by bank transfer within 24 hours of attending the session.
Creative Wellbeing Sessions
In addition to counselling, I also offer workshop style sessions which combine my passion for creativity with supporting mental wellbeing in a nurturing small group setting. We begin with a short heart-opening cacao ceremony while we set our intentions and think about the theme of the session. We then create in a non-judgemental, supportive space using a range of art materials and techniques to express ourselves. Each session has a different theme and may include journalling, paint, ink, collage, affirmations or quotes to create pages, books, wall art, card decks or other creative reminders of the session - the aim of the sessions is not to take home a flawless piece of art for others to admire, but to allow ourselves to play, to be free to experiment, creating meaningful art without the need for perfection. Drop your 'not good enough' beliefs and go for it!
People tell me they have no artistic ability, but being creative doesn't require any skills, just the desire to try. Pre-school children create fearlessly, trying new things to see what happens and are always proud of their splodges and splats! I aim to bring this unselfconscious ability to be curious to an older audience! All materials are included and absolutely no experience is necessary.
Sessions are held in Mossley and cost £30 per two and a half hour workshop. Tailored group events can also be arranged at other locations if required. Please use the contact form if you would like to find out more, or visit my Facebook page for details of upcoming events.
What my clients say ...
My Location
I offer face to face counselling sessions in Mossley (Tameside, Greater Manchester) from my home therapy room which is also my art studio allowing access to materials for creative interventions. I also provide online therapy via Microsoft Teams or if you would prefer to be outside in nature, I am a qualified Walk and Talk therapist and can offer sessions at a number of parks and green spaces in locations including Saddleworth, Ashton -under- Lyne, Stalybridge, Oldham, Holmfirth and Marsden.
Get In Touch
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about my services, to arrange an initial telephone consultation or to arrange an appointment.
All enquires are usually answered within 24 hours, and all contact is strictly confidential.