For reasons of confidentiality identities have not been disclosed. In all cases permission to publish has been sought and granted.
Counselling for Children and Young People
“Last year we had problems in the family which were difficult for all of us, but particularly for the children. We sought the help of Frances and her guidance and sensitivity has enabled the children to find their way through a very emotional and testing time.
The children feel very comfortable with Frances and are able to express themselves freely without fear of upsetting anyone. The fact that the visit takes place within a home setting and in a comfy, gentle room rather than in an impersonal office, makes a tangible difference to the children's confidence and trust in Frances. This has meant that they are open to be helped effectively and relatively quickly.
We were in a black place and Frances has helped all of us move on. Obviously, things are still not ideal but an occasional visit to Frances seems to set us back on track and put things back in proportion. I shall be eternally grateful for all that Frances has done for our family.” (Grandmother of children aged 7 and 9, dealing with family breakup)
'Frances has worked with my 12 year old son for a number of months on issues such as school bullying, lack of confidence and low self esteem. Offering brilliant support, advice and guidance he has learned to cope and deal with the various difficulties he finds himself in and ultimately has become a much calmer individual.
He often struggles adapting to new situations but they very quickly established a very good relationship and he felt at ease in the comfortable surroundings of her home.
I would highly recommend Frances to anyone whose children may need any help in coping with what is now a very difficult world for them to grow up in'
Counselling for Adults
Relationship Problems
“I just wanted to say many thanks Frances for your help through the last troubled months.
I was sceptical about how you could help me, but really needed someone who was unbiased and being new to the area there was no one I felt I could open up to. Also knowing you were experienced allowed me to trust and believe what you were telling me... and you were right!
You didn't solve my problem. my partner still left and I am still a single Mum, but having you tell me that my feelings were normal and giving me ways of dealing with the overwhelming emotion certainly helped. Silly as it sounds, at the end of the roller coaster (well nearly at the end) having a pat on the back from you for coming through it, especially remembering the way I felt at the beginning, gave me hope and made me realise I can get through it.
Thankyou!”
“During the time I have been attending counselling with Frances I have always found her to be completely professional and approachable. From the very first session Frances managed to make me feel at ease and made the whole idea of counselling a little less scary.
I trust Frances completely and know that whatever we discuss remains confidential and know from her background in counselling that she has bags of experience as a counsellor and therefore I have a lot of faith in her vast knowledge.
I am not at the end of my therapy yet but do feel that I am learning more about myself all the time, and therefore benefitting from my time with Frances, I would highly recommend and indeed have done so already to anyone in need of her services. Thankyou Frances!”
Life Changes
“It took me quite a while to pluck up the courage to ask for help - as I really didn't believe that I was the kind of person who needed it. Some of my friends and colleages had sort help in the past and my answer to that was "why didn't they just pull themselves together". However, I realised that I just needed someone to talk to and someone who would listen and help in a way that I didn't think anyone could. I was going through a time in my life where my children were growing up and I was finding it difficult to understand the changes around me. When I initially saw Frances I couldn't even get through a session without crying but eventually I was able to talk to her and she listened and without even knowing what she was doing or how she was doing it I was able to feel that I was coping with that particular time in my life. It was such a massive step forwards for me and I am eternally grateful to her to help in a time of my life that I never thought I would get through. It is just nice now to go back and see her and chat and tell her about the family etc and without me knowing it, I know she is helping me get over the little hurdles that are there.”
“I called Frances when I had a tangle of problems in my life that was affecting my work and my relationships. I had tried to unravel this tangle alone, couldn't do it, and felt close to despair. Frances was friendly and welcoming, and I was surprised by how easy it was to talk to her. I thought perhaps some of my problems were rather trivial. Not to Frances. She took me seriously although, to my relief, she was also capable of great humour at times - I didn't expect counselling to be such a good laugh! At other times, of course, it was anything but a laugh, and her counselling room soon became a place where it was safe for me to feel and be whatever I needed to feel and be, even if that was sad or angry. This provided a necessary pressure valve which quickly had a knock-on effect on my life outside counselling: within a short time I could concentrate better at work and was having fewer rows with my partner.
Frances gave me ideas for new ways to look at my problems, and offered practical suggestions, without ever making me feel that she was telling me what to do. I appreciated her common-sense clarity: 'What do you want to change?' 'Right, let's work out how you can do that.' I felt thoroughly supported and yet always in control of my own destiny. After several sessions I was ready to manage my life alone again - but I find it comforting to know that Frances is there, and that I can go back for a top-up session or two if I feel the need.”
Addictions
"Frances made me feel very welcome and I immediately felt very comfortable. She was extremely professional and has helped me get through my problems and has given me the knowledge to remain level headed. She is a wonderful person who will listen and acknowledge any issues you may have. I highly recommend Frances and would definitely see her again if I had any more problems!"
EFT
"EFT - Helping with my phobia
I had heard of EFT before but didn’t understand the mechanics of it so when Frances explained it all to me I was even more intrigued.
My phobia is flying and I hate it with an absolute passion. It’s so overwhelming it brings me to tears and the sheer panic triggers hyperventilating. I have been known to freeze with fear while boarding a plane so Ive been quite happy to not even travel abroad for several years, just to avoid going through weeks of fear and dread leading up to a holiday.
I recall my first EFT session quite vividly. We discussed my feelings on the days leading up to a holiday, the day of the flight, travelling to the airport and the big one…waiting to board. The panic, tears and the nausea start to kick in. By this time I am so overwhelmed with fear that my mind is open to anything, so we begin my first session of EFT.
I was surprised at how simple the procedure is and literally takes minutes to complete. With just a few words and a number of taps in specific areas of the body an amazing calming effect started to take over and I could actually feel my face smiling again. The feelings only moments ago of panic and fear had totally disappeared, as if they were never there and my body is in an amazing relaxed state. I try to re create how I felt earlier, Im in the car going to the airport, Im boarding the plane….nothing!! This really cannot be true so I try again. I’m actually laughing now as I cannot for the life of me remember any feelings of panic, fear and nausea anymore and all this from one session!
A few weeks later and after a couple of EFT sessions, I am at Gatwick airport waiting for a flight to Montreal….ON MY OWN! Im smiling to myself and so excited I could explode. I am actually enjoying the build up to a holiday/flight for the first time in my life. Having never experienced flying solo before there was some trepidation about an eight hour flight ahead of me but even with a four hour delay actually spent on the plane, with ENGINE PROBLEMS, it didn’t distract me at all. My world is calm, relaxed and my new life started there and then.
I can now perform EFT on myself to help alleviate anxiety or panic in any situation which is extremely helpful. Thank you Frances, I would have missed out on a fantastic life experience and possibly many more without EFT. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to anyone. "
Supervision
Frances Weston was my supervisor throughout the four years of my counselling training at Keele University. She is an excellent supervisor who is able to create a warm, supportive and yet challenging relationship. Always encouraging, Frances provides valuable feedback and effective monitoring of how you are performing as a counsellor. She is interested in the on-going process of counselling and supervision and is a good role model for experienced counsellors and those thinking of taking their first steps in counselling. I would definitely recommend her as a supervisor.
Lois de Cruz MSc in Counselling Psychology
“Frances,
As my supervisor you provided a safe environment where I could share issues raised from my therapeutic work without fear that I would be judged. You supported my professional development by sharing your knowledge but also by challenging me to take responsibility for sound ethical practice. I felt that we established a strong, therapeutic relationship based on trust and mutual respect. I want to thank you because your guidance and wisdom had a profound affect on my development as a therapist and more recently supervisor.”
Carole Law
BACP Accredited Counsellor
“I first met Frances Weston when she came to the agency where I was on counsellor placement to do a workshop on working creatively with children. My amibition as a counsellor was to work therapeutically with young people and I was so impressed by Frances that by the end of that day I decided when I did finally qualify I wanted her to be my Supervisor.
When the time came I took courage to contact Frances and was delighted when she accepted me as her Supervisee; over the following years I was not disappointed with my choice. Frances proved to be an amazing source of information and guidance but most importantly someone I soon felt totally safe in confessing my darkest counselling mishaps and fears to! She always therapeutically ‘held me’ whilst we worked through some very difficult client cases and during my time with her my confidence grew and grew; plus crucially our working relationship meant my clients remained safe at all times.
Frances is a ‘holistic’ supervisor, in that she was open to support me on personal issues that may get in the way of my work with clients, always remaining totally professional and challenging where necessary.
She has a friendly and fun disposition and I always feel totally at ease with her. Unfortunately the agency where I worked as a counsellor changed their policy and decided that every two years we had to change our Supervisor, by this time I had been with Frances longer than that, so reluctantly began the search for her replacement. It took me nearly a year to find someone of similar calibre and it was with much sadness our relationship as Supervisor/Supervisee ended.
I shall always be grateful to Frances for everything I learnt from her; she believed in me whenever I wobbled and without doubt supported me in becoming the experienced counsellor I am today.”
Joy Hazlehurst
BACP Accredited Counsellor
Workshops
Frances has facilitated several workshops for counsellors at North Staffs Mind, providing informative and highly experiential workshops which have been very well received by participants.
Diane Collingwood
North Staffs Mind
"Excellent, brilliant, please come again!"
"Frances is obviously expert, experienced and passionate about her work"
"Informative, stimulating and motivational"
"A really interesting day - content and delivery fascinating - a new perspective on children"
"Probably the bestest workshop in the world, ever!"
"It was fun, informative, touching, thought provoking and (thankfully) interactive"
"Frances has a clear and deep understanding of people, their struggle with emotions; why they may struggle and how to gently encourage their growth"
"Frances you are passionate about your work and it shines, very inspirational, am glad I attended"
Couples
"My wife and I were having serious problems with our relationship, and we got to the point where we were just going round and round when we tried to talk about them. We were on the point of splitting up. I persuaded my partner to meet Frances and although we both had misgivings we soon found that Frances’ gentle but firm approach allowed us both to talk for the first time about what was really at the bottom of our problems. It took a few sessions, but gradually we regained our trust in each other and we learned to talk to each other like we used to do. I'm convinced that, but for Frances, we wouldn’t be together now. Its difficult and painful at times, but its worth it!"
"When we first came for counselling with Frances we were very close to splitting up. There was a lot of resentment and bitterness within the relationship and we had lost sight of each others needs and feelings. We did not respect each other, or make time for each other. Counselling was a last ditch attempt to save the relationship. The counselling process was not easy, but we feel that we have come out the other side. There are still areas of our relationship that need to be worked at and this is a constant process, that we have to work at all the time. However, we now work more effectively as a team and communicate better with one another."
Testimonials
