Ms Angelina Jennings

A conversation with Angelina Jennings

• What led you to choose psychotherapy or counselling as a profession?

  I was told from a very young age that I was good at helping people. Whenever anyone needed support young or old I would be there with a listening ear, empathy and support. As I grew older I realised this is where I found my meaning and purpose and what made me feel truly fulfilled was the ability to empower others to feel heard and feel better with the tools I was learning to provide. This is why I chose social work as my profession which is grounded in empowerment and helping others.

• Which philosophical approaches have influenced your professional development?

  Professionally I have never felt more fulfilled than when I worked with people during my time as an emergency psychiatric clinician. The people I saw had made the choice to end or had attempted to end their lives. Through the ability to build a strong therapeutic rapport, work from a validating compassion focused approach and focusing on strengths I was able to garner a tiny piece of hope which provided us the ability to move forward. Working with people where they are rather than a one fits all approach is what influences my work and always keeping the person at the centre of all the work we do.

• Which particular aspects of health or the human journey are you interested in?

  I am particularly interested in supporting those who feel they cannot be helped or may feel like they want to give up. I have lived experience of depression and it is so incredibly important to have that experience at the centre of any therapy or setvice that is offered. Evidence based research to support mental illness needs to include the voices of those who have been there as there is no greater material of significance than that.

• What methods do you use?

  The most important thing for me to focus on initially is building a therapeutic relationship. Meeting a person where they are. Not everyone will suit everyone. I use whatever method is suitable to the person's individual need which could include, strengths based therapy, mindfulness, cognitive behavioiral therapy or dialectical behavioural therapy. The method is really dependant on what works for the individual themselves.

• When do you think the client will start to feel that progress is being made?

  Again it is really all individual depending on the situation. I would want to regularly review with the client to gain feedback and to complete some assessment scores and if the particular approach is not working we can explore different avenues of therapeutic approaches.

• How has therapy made a difference in your life?

  Therapy has made a huge difference in my life. It has empowered me to recognise and take control of damaging throught processes. It has renewed my confidence in my ability to manage difficult situations. Things that previously would have overwhelmed me and I would have given up, I now approach with new perspectives and emotion. It changed my life for the better in many ways.

• What do you like most about being a therapist?

  I absolutely just love helping people. I love empowering those who need it, to take control of difficult situations through understanding how and why their thought processes are the way they are. I enjoy seeing people move.forward with renewed confidence energy and perspective despite their situations sometimes remaining unchanged.

• Do you ever have 'bad hair' days?

  Often....but not as often as I used to, before I met the most amazing therapist. Now when my hair is bad I don't just go to bed and hide it under a duvet, I take it for a walk....lol

• What do you think is the most significant problem we face, in the world today?

  I think people have forgotten how to care for each other. We have lost a sense of community and support. Unfortunately business, big tech and getting ahead has left us with different priorities. I think unless we get back to basics and remember what's really important which is looking after each other then the world will remain challenged.

• Can you share the name of a book, film, song, event or work of art that inspires you?

  Falling Down, the movie with Michael Douglas. Its a movie which presents the impact of pressures which are present in everyday life can turn people into something they wouldn't ordinarily be. It presents someone who is cornered, unheard and trying to do his best and no one is listening. For me it represents that no matter your best intention life can continue to throw you curve balls and you have to pull on your inner strength and resource to manage them.