WHO IS ELAINE GENTLES

I am a proud Leeds resident, born in Leeds and working in Leeds for most of my life.  I offer therapy in the comfort of your home either online (via zoom, Microsoft teams or other video calling media) or by telephone.  It is preferable that you are on camera during your sessions but I can compromise if you dont feel comfortable.

LEGAL ROOTS

I worked in the legal profession for 20 years, 15 years as a qualified solicitor.  As a lawyer I witnessed many aspects of life which my clients endured including

Relationship breakdown (with or without disagreements over the custody of children)

Care proceedings (children removed from birth parents by the State)

Asylum claims with accompanying mental health issues

Disputed inheritance claims

Debt and bankruptcy

Employment tribunal claims (including racial discrimination)

Criminal work including work as a duty solicitor

General civil litigation

As a lawyer I could work compassionately but I had no training to deal with trauma and referrals were rarely made for anything other than expert witness or family doctor involvement.

Having received training in counselling and therapy and would have referred every client needing help from the outset to independent counselling or therapy.  All legal process will take a huge mental toll on an individual unless the work involved in solely commercial.

CHRISTIAN FAITH

Being a Christian is a huge part of my identity.  Unlike many children, I wasn’t dragged to church as a “must do” but attended out of my own interest and curiosity at a very early age.  I know the protection and sense of belonging being part of a Church family and I have experienced the pain of feeling excluded.  I have attended various congregations and have served, when the opportunity has been given, in different capacities.  I was ordained an Elder in the United Reformed Church 1997 and I have served as a Deacon in the Baptist Church.

I have assisted persons who have been subjected to shunning and barring from other communities.

In therapy an affected person can explore their value base and their beliefs and separate them from the treatment they may have received at the hands of others.

CARING FOR THE VULNERABLE

Over the last 18 years it has been my privilege to look after children and young people as a foster carer.  As a result of living with young people who have been removed from their birth families, I understand what it means to be bereaved of living relatives.  I have experienced vicariously the pain of losing siblings to adoption and the general disconnect from the whole wider family network.

In the media “taken into care” is usually followed by a stream of negative outcomes, but this does not have to be the case.  In therapy a person removed from their birth family can nevertheless make sense of their past experiences, find their strengths and build a future.  Issues of childhood neglect and childhood abuse can also be addressed in therapy.

MY STRENGTHS

I would list my strengths of relationship building and active listening.  Over the course of a few sessions I will endeavour to work in relational depth with you.  In your therapy journey with me, I will use the best tools I have available for your particular circumstances.

The therapeutic process will be paced by you (neither too fast or too slow).

NO OBLIGATION 15 MIN CONSULTATION

You have nothing to lose in arranging for a 15 minute telephone consultation.  Not everyone can form a therapeutic alliance.  If we cannot work together (for any reason) I will try and help in directing you to others who can.