About Me

About Me, Flora Winchester MA, UKCP (Accred.), MBACP (Reg.):

I was first attracted to psychotherapy as a young professional, over thirty years ago, having experienced the death of a close friend. I had no idea what to expect, but I knew that I needed someone to help me make sense of my feelings. It worked. Since then, psychotherapy has become integral to my life, helping me to understand myself and my relationships.

After several years of engaging in my own therapy, at various challenging times in my life, I trained in Core Process Psychotherapy at the Karuna Institute in Devon. This is a Humanistic and Integrative model, which combines the insights of the Buddhist tradition with Western psychotherapy, bringing attention to the relationship between body, speech and mind. It is a multi-layered form of psychotherapy, focusing on mindfulness in relationship. It can help a wide range of people, in many kinds of situations, and in all stages of life.

I invite you to an initial interview, giving you the opportunity to meet me in person, ask questions, and decide whether you feel comfortable working with me. If we agree to work together, we then meet once a week for a one-hour session. We work at your pace, exploring whatever thoughts, feelings and sensations arise. Sometimes, this can involve working with art, dream material or writing. Together, we find out how you can understand and express more of yourself and live in a more fulfilling and meaningful way.

People come to me with a range of difficulties, including anxiety, depression, relationship and family issues, eating disorders and addictions. I take a particular interest in people affected by Bipolar Disorder or Manic Depression. This could be sufferers, their carers, partners or families. I co-facilitate the Oxford support group of Bipolar UK.

I also offer low-cost supervision for counsellors, psychotherapists, or anyone working in the helping professions. I am currently working towards inclusion in the UKCP's Professional Register for Supervisors.

Training, qualifications & experience:

I hold a Masters Degree in Core Process Psychotherapy from the Karuna Institute and Middlesex University.

I am accredited by the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) in the Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapy College, and adhere to their ethical standards.

I am also a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and the Association of Core Process Psychotherapists (ACPP). I sit on the ACPP's Ethics, Equality and Diversity Committee.

I see clients privately and have also worked for several years as a student counsellor in Higher Education.

Before practising as a psychotherapist, I worked in a variety of large organisations, including the BBC, Oxfam and the University of Oxford. I am very aware of the stresses that many of us face in our relationships, in our work, and through unemployment.

I gained my first degree in English Literature (BA Honours) at the University of Sussex.

For many years, I worked as a broadcast journalist. Having lived and worked abroad during that time, I cherish a particular interest in global issues and working with people from other cultures. I work with an awareness of the wider geopolitical situation, as we live through times of great political, security and economic uncertainty.

For me, meditation and mindfulness practice have been very important in creating a sense of well-being and inner strength.

I work with

• Individuals

Types of Therapies Offered

• Core Process Psychotherapist