Our Founders...
Essere is an Italian word meaning ‘To be’. We wanted to choose a name that conveyed the inclusiveness of the service we want to offer.
We have always loved being around people and so the idea of Essere was created during one of many conversations in a local community coffee shop. Essere's ethos comes from a deep desire in both Catherine and Helen to feel connected to others and to provide deeply felt support to others. We feel our logo of the birds represents this beautifully.
So, it's not surprising that Essere has grown from the two of us and our idea into a team of passionate, like-minded people.
We know that when people come together in a safe and supportive environment, it supports movement towards those present finding out more about their purpose, whatever that might be. For some, it's might be a more peaceful and positive state of being, for others it might be finding a new way of viewing our often confusing world.
We know that not everyone finds it easy to come to therapy, so we want to make it as easy as possible.
We have a team of therapists so we don't have long waiting lists, we also don't do lengthy assessments, we just have a conversation to make sure we provide the right therapist for you, your child, teen, or family member.
Helen
Helen is a Co-founder of Essere. She loves being with people.
Helen is aware that there has been a shift in recent years, and we now have a much clearer and more accepting understanding of how therapy can help with unresolved experiences.
Helen is passionate about being with others in a therapeutic relationship, especially after experiencing difficulties after the birth of her child. She knows the benefits of having a deeply empathetic, trusting relationship and this was her drive to provide this for others.
Helen has worked with children, teens and their families for many years, maybe now, a few too many to count...
But she isn't stopping yet, she wants to keep on providing an empathetic, safe space for others, that's why Essere keeps on growing, she believes when the conditions are right, something special happens.
Helen is an Integrative Therapist and Clinical Supervisor, and along with Catherine they are also Co-founders of Open Space a Community Interest Company.
Open Space has providing opportunities for people from displaced communities to access therapy, community groups have also been provided for many.
Both Catherine and Helen are always thinking of how they can bring people together, so watch this space...
Catherine
Catherine is a Co-founder of Essere. She always wanted to work with children and always has done, first as a Primary School teacher and now as a Play Therapist.
When teaching, Catherine always felt acutely aware of the children in her classes who didn't seem able to access their capacity to learn and thrive. Some of them had had difficult life experiences that were affecting the way they felt about themselves and the world around them but there was no recognition of this within the schools where Catherine worked at the time. Catherine could see that these children needed a specific kind of support and help before they were going to be able to fully focus on fulfilling their potential, recognising this situation led Catherine to return to university to train as a Play Therapist.
Since gaining her Master’s degree in Play Therapy, Catherine has worked with children and families experiencing a range of issues and very differing histories. Some have experienced multiple traumas and losses in their lives and are experiencing a range of difficulties when they begin therapy. Other's are referred because they are experiencing specific issues, such as separation anxiety or low self-esteem. Catherine has worked with children and their birth families and those in foster care and those who have been adopted.
Catherine is also privileged to be foster mum to someone who is now an exceptional young woman (she has allowed Catherine to write this bit). The ongoing experience of becoming a family (and staying one!), of the roller-coaster that is parenting, of needing to learn many new things (therapeutic parenting, PACE, Dan Hughes, Sarah Naish being some of these) and also how to advocate for someone who has the right to a positive experience of the world but has not always experienced this, has taught Catherine enough to write a book! (Though, thankfully, others have already done this, so she doesn’t plan to.) She brings her knowledge and understanding, gained through lived experience, to her work with children, teens and families in many ways that she hopes enable them to feel deeply understood, warmly accepted, well supported and far less alone.
Please visit the Testimonials page to read about client’s experiences of working with Catherine.
We also offer a hybrid approach blending face to face and online therapy. Many clients find the flexible approach beneficial and more accessible. Our therapists also blend therapeutic approaches and personalise it for you.
Our therapists....
Meet Essere's Associate Therapists:
Jo
Jo is our finance and admin support.
She has an NVQ in business administration and is qualified as a legal secretary. She worked in various administrative roles before becoming a learning support assistant after the birth of her eldest daughter.
In 2023 Jo started her own business as a Virtual Assistant and is currently completing her AAT Level 2 qualification in bookkeeping. Jo is a busy mum of two who is really enjoying the new direction her career has taken. She really enjoys working with Essere Therapies and is passionate about what we are doing due to her own experiences in life and having worked with many children who would benefit so much from the services Essere Therapies provide.