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

I am Arusha, I live with my family just outside the North Lakes, in Dalston, near Carlisle, we spend lots of time in our garden 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, and we have our challenges, but they are my absolute world.

My daughter has a wide range of additional needs including learning disabilities and being autistic. 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. Our biggest sons are both pretty strong willed, cuddly, caring and loopy, and growing by the day, my eldest boy is neurodivergent too, so I have a wealth of personal understanding of supporting the highs and lows that can bring. Our youngest is growing into a little speedy ball of cuteness, currently giving all the snuggles and giggles! Then 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 wild swimming, jumping in muddy puddles, being ever so slightly silly with my children, animals of all shapes and sizes, photography, and using my caring nature.

Cumbria is my home, though I have lived in many places and I love to travel. I love the Cumbrian fells, especially the north Lakes, and having open spaces close by 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 North Lakes therapy services to my wider community throughout Cumbria and the Eden valley.

My experience

I first trained in a CBT therapy approach in 2004 after completing a degree in Psychology, and later qualified as a therapeutic counsellor in Person Centred Counselling in 2009. I 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, trauma and attachment, DBT and mindfulness, as well as regularly 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 both adults and children with trauma, anxiety, low self esteem, 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 ADHD 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, North Lakes and Cumbria therapy and counselling services

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