Acorns Therapy South Lakes, Counselling in Cumbria - the woman behind the service

I am Arusha, I live with my family in South Lakes, Cumbria, just north of Kendal, in our partly renovated (never ending job!) old farmhouse, with our lovely cats and chickens, and hopefully soon more furry friends.

I am a naturally empathic, caring and creative person, I love the outdoors, being busy, and helping others.

My children regularly run me in rings, but they are my absolute world. My daughter has a wide range of additional needs including learning disabilities and ASC, her ADHD makes her a non-stop whirlwind and her sensory needs are a constant juggle, but she shares my love of outdoors and freedom and we are always adventuring with her brothers. My biggest sons are both pretty strong willed, cuddly, caring and loopy, and growing by the day! We have a big neuro divergent family, and baby number 4 is currently giving all the snuggles and giggles! My hubby is my soul mate, and I’m so proud of all we have achieved as a family.

I love cuddles, coffee and cake (possibly too much, is that possible?!), hiking and bouldering, jumping in muddy puddles, being ever so slightly silly with my children, animals of all shapes and sizes, photography, and using my caring nature.

South Lakes is my home, though I have lived in many places and I love to travel. I love the Cumbrian fells, and having open spaces all around when I get up every day keeps a smile on my face.

I have always believed in the importance of supporting my friends and family, and those values naturally leant themselves to training as a counsellor and creating Acorns Therapy to provide South Lakes therapy services to my wider community in Cumbria.

My experience

I first trained in a CBT therapy approach in 2004 after completing a degree in Psychology, and qualified as a therapeutic counsellor in Person Centred Counselling in 2009. I have spent over a decade working as a therapist for the NHS in both adult and child mental health services (CAMHS). Working at CAMHS I therapeutically supported children and young people, with a wide range of mental health and additional needs. I have completed many ongoing training courses in creative therapy, schema therapy, bereavement, trauma and attachment, DBT and mindfulness, as well as working with individuals with additional needs, and adapting therapy to meet those needs.

I have a huge amount of experience of working with complex mental health problems, as well as helping adults and children with trauma, bereavement, anxiety, low self esteem, panic and phobias, low mood, and general struggles with emotional wellbeing. I also have specific experience supporting parents and young carers, and young people with additional needs.

I have specific training and experience, and therefore specialism, in working therapeutically with children and young people, and adapting my approaches to meet their individual needs. This is something I am passionate about, and you can feel confident that I will support your child in the best way possible for them.

I love working creatively to build a therapeutic relationship with my clients, which then goes on to form the basis of helping support and help you feel and see positive change in your life.

Being trusted to share in my clients lives, their ups and downs, their biggest struggles, trauma or worries, is something very valuable, and I love that my job allows me to really help people.

I regularly update my training, and receive supervision to practice safely to the best of my ability.

Through my work experience and personal life, I have a wealth of knowledge and skills of working with young people with a range of needs including learning needs and autism. I have supported and used my creative therapy training, to help people from a wide range of backgrounds, so whatever it is you or your loved ones are struggling with, please do take that leap and get in touch to find out more about how I can help.

I am insured to practice and fully registered with the BACP (British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy). I am also DBS checked.

Arusha Jenks, Acorns Therapy, South Lakes and Cumbria therapy and counselling services

(BSc Psych, PGCert YPIAPT CBT, Dip Therapeutic Counselling, Dip Mental Health Care Practice/CBT, Registered MBACP)