Welcome to Aspire Psychology

Clinical Psychology for Adults in Warwickshire and the UK.

About Me

Dr. Jenny Hainsworth, BSc MSc ClinPsyD

Clinical Psychologist

My name is Jenny Hainsworth and I am a clinical psychologist offering counselling and therapy for adults in Warwickshire and the UK. I am based in Leamington Spa (near Warwick, Kenilworth and Coventry) and clients can access face-to-face sessions at The Cloisters in Leamington or sessions via Skype. Skype calls can make therapy sessions accessible to clients who live in other parts of the UK and at more flexible times including evenings for those who work or have other commitments during the day.


I have considerable experience of psychological assessment and intervention with adults presenting with a range of difficulties in relation to their physical health including adjustment to long-term medical conditions and psychological trauma resulting from surgery, medical procedures, in-patient admissions; past dental treatment; and childbirth. I have specific expertise in working with people who have kidney disease and dental anxiety/phobia.


I have contributed to high quality health-related research over the years and have published in a number of peer-reviewed journals. I was part of the NAP5 steering panel in relation to Accidental Awareness during General Anaesthesia in the UK.

I am an HCPC registered practitioner and receive regular supervision in relation to my clinical practice. I keep up to date with my Continuing Professional Development through training and appropriate workshops and adhere to the HCPC Code of Ethics and Conduct in my work.

You can also find me listed on the following directories:

I am registered with BUPA , AXA Health, AVIVA and Vitality Health should you need to claim the cost of your treatment through your medical insurance provider.

Making the decision to see a therapist can feel daunting and a big step to take - but it can be a positive one. Please read on to find out more about how I could help you.

How can Aspire Psychology help?

Life brings many challenges, and it is understandable that at times we might look for support in facing them. I set up Aspire Psychology to offer a more tailored and easily accessible service to adults experiencing mental and/or physical health difficulties in Leamington Spa and Warwickshire. Aspire Psychology aims to provide a high quality service to all clients who attend. I work with people from all walks of life and backgrounds, coming to me with a diverse variety of problems to work through. I am trained in a number of approaches including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Trauma-Based CBT but also draw on other models of therapy in my work with clients to ensure interventions are tailored to a client’s specific needs.

I understand the impact that mental health difficulties and long-term health conditions can have not only on the person experiencing them but also their families and other relationships. As well as many years’ experience in working with a number of commonly experienced mental health problems, such as anxiety and depression, I also have particular expertise in working with physical health conditions including kidney disease as well as dental anxiety/phobia.

Areas of Interest

Physical health and adjustment; Dental anxiety/phobia; Pain management; Stress related disorders; PTSD and Trauma-related difficulties; Anxiety disorders including panic attacks and phobias; Depression and low mood; Bereavement and loss; Sleep difficulties; Work-related stress; Fatigue; Birth-related issues.

Specialist Interests and Expertise in the Following Physical Conditions

Cardiac conditions

Gastrointestinal disorders

Musculoskeletal conditions

Neurological disorders

Kidney disease

Oncology

Pain management

Physical disability

Rheumatological conditions

Physical Health & Chronic Illness

I have considerable experience of working with people who are living with a long-term health condition, including chronic pain, and the challenges faced in adjusting to this.


I also have specific expertise in helping people with chronic kidney disease from diagnosis through to active dialysis treatment and transplantation and the impact these changes can have on a person's lifestyle and wider family.​It is not unusual to feel anxious or depressed when faced with these physical health challenges and exploring these issues further can help in eventual acceptance and adjustment to a life-long condition.

Common Mental Health Problems

I have many years’ experience of working with people who are experiencing anxiety, depression, stress and stress-related conditions as well as PTSD, trauma-related symptoms including those arising from childbirth, medical procedures, in-patient admissions and surgery.

Many people have periods in their life when they experience symptoms of anxiety, low mood or chronic stress. In fact it is well recognised that 1 in 4 people will experience some form of mental health problem each year. Looking after our mental health is just as important as our physical health and recognising that you are finding it difficult to cope is an important first step to finding the help that you need.

Dental Anxiety & Phobia

​I was responsible for the provision of a specialist assessment and treatment psychology service to adults with severe dental phobia and a range of more complex difficulties at Birmingham Dental Hospital from 2003 to 2006.

I have helped many dental patients to manage their anxiety in relation to their treatment including dental examinations, visiting the hygienist, impression taking, needle phobia and local anaesthetic injections, and fillings.

I understand the embarrassment that many clients can experience in relation to their oral health and the impact that dental anxiety and phobia can have on their quality of life.

My location

I see face-to-face clients at The Cloisters in Leamington Spa (near Warwick, Kenilworth and Coventry) which offers a calm and relaxing environment in which to attend sessions. I believe it is especially important to provide a safe and welcoming space for clients to talk about their difficulties. Please let me know if you need an accessible room and I can try and arrange this for you in a downstairs room at The Cloisters. There is parking on the road, however please allow enough time for your first appointment to park and arrive in good time.

Appointments

I offer face-to-face sessions at The Cloisters in Leamington Spa or Skype calls which enable clients who live in other parts of the UK to access therapy sessions. I can also offer evening Skype calls where appropriate for clients who are unable to have sessions during the day due to work commitments.


At your first appointment a comprehensive assessment covering your presenting difficulties as well as other areas of your life and history, will be completed as well as a discussion of your suitability for psychological therapy. If further sessions are agreed, clients usually attend appointments on a weekly or fortnightly basis.​


All therapy sessions including assessment last 60 minutes. The number and frequency of sessions varies according to individual need and type of therapy but a typical course of CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) is 6-12 sessions. Your progress in therapy will be reviewed regularly with you.​


Please make contact for further information about fees.

You may not know it, but you’ve already taken the first step...

It can feel very difficult making the decision to contact a counsellor or therapist, but in my experience people will struggle with a mental health issue, a personal crisis or problems with a relationship for much longer than is healthy. Sometimes a friend has proved a source of comfort, but this help can only go so far. Realising that resolving a problem requires something more means you have actually already taken the first step towards improving your life.

Frequently asked questions

What is a Clinical Psychologist?

Clinical psychology aims to reduce psychological distress and to enhance the promotion of psychological well-being. Clinical psychologists must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and have completed three years of postgraduate training leading to a Doctorate in clinical psychology, or equivalent, approved by the HCPC.

Clinical psychologists are trained to work with individuals of different ages with behavioural, emotional and/or psychological distress which disrupts their everyday functioning and well-being. They draw on their scientific knowledge to bring about positive change.

Clinical psychologists do not prescribe medications to treat mental illness. Rather, they use psychological techniques, such as cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) and other evidence-based psychological therapies.

How long will I need to attend therapy sessions?

The number and frequency of sessions will vary from person to person according to individual need and type of therapy but a typical course of CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) is 6-12 sessions. For some people a fairly short number of sessions helps to bring their problems into focus, and they feel ready to move forward; other problems may require a longer period of time.

I will regularly review your progress in therapy with you and we can discuss whether further sessions will be beneficial for you.

How long will I have to wait for an appointment?

My aim is to offer a first appointment - known as an initial assessment - within 1-2 weeks. Then we would arrange further therapy sessions either weekly or fortnightly at a time that is convenient for you and where I have availability.

Will everything I say be kept confidential?

Everything that is said within the therapy room is private – this is one of the main ways counselling and therapy differ from talking to a friend or relative. Once you are comfortable with the format of regular sessions and the safe space they provide, you will find the freedom to speak in confidence is of great value.

Note that there are some situations where I have a duty of care to share information with your GP and/or other health care providers and key professionals. These circumstances include if you disclose that you are at significant risk of harm to yourself or to someone else; and if I have concerns about the welfare and safety of children or a vulnerable person. I will always try and ensure that I have discussed this with you first and if this situation should arise so that you are kept fully informed. Prior to your initial assessment I will ask you to complete and sign a form which outlines patient confidentiality and those situations in which information might need to be shared.

Can I bring a friend or relative with me?

It is understandable that you might feel anxious before coming to your first appointment. However, a key aspect of therapy is that you should feel able to talk openly about any issues you feel are of concern to you. Having someone else with you who might be connected with those issues or who you don’t want to share this information with, can make it difficult for you to talk in confidence. I therefore prefer to see clients on their own, unless there are reasons why it would be helpful to have a friend or family member present. This might be due to the client’s age, or that another significant person in their life is involved and affected by their care needs such as someone with a long-standing chronic illness or physical health condition.

Get in touch

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about how therapy sessions work, or to arrange an initial assessment appointment. This enables us to discuss the reasons you are thinking of coming to therapy, whether it could be helpful for you and whether I am the right psychologist to help.


You can also call me on 07486 562476 if you would prefer to leave a message or speak to me first. I am happy to discuss any queries or questions you may have prior to arranging an initial appointment.

All enquiries are usually answered within 24 hours, and all contact is strictly confidential. Aspire Psychology uses any information collected in line with data protection policies as set out in the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

Find out more by reading my Privacy Policy.