Name Wendy Owers
Job Title Bank Counsellor and EFT and MATRIX Reimprinting Practitioner, volunteer for SOBS groups
What is involved in your role?
I have been helping co-facilitate SOBS groups since they started in Northamptonshire. At the beginning it was during the pandemic so we could only offer online ones. Since then, I have helped at the Wellingborough and more recently the Kettering group. I have had direct lived experience of being bereaved by suicide, so wanted to be part of a much-needed safe space for people to be able to come together with others and feel comfortable to talk, laugh, cry or rant – yes, we do all those things at the groups!
As a bank counsellor I work one to one with adult clients who are looking for help with an issue they feel is now negatively impacting on their lives and wish to be able to move forward and change something. The range of issues varies and can include being bereaved by suicide, but not exclusively. I often offer EFT as an additional tool that the majority of my clients readily wish to explore. I have used this to work with traumatic events or memories. It works in much the same way as EMDR. Basically, you are left with the memory but no longer feel the intensity or re-live the events.
What is your background?
I have always worked with children and families, mostly in schools, but also in other child related establishments. Firstly, this was as a nursery nurse and later, I re-trained as a primary teacher. When I moved to Northamptonshire 15 years ago, I worked as an NVQ assessor in childcare and then as a family support worker for NHFT Sure Start. I then volunteered (I am a serial volunteer!) as a friend/mentor to a young girl in care aged 10 who is now 21! This prompted me to then work with young people in a children’s care home and then I subsequently took over the running of the service at Northants Children’s Trust, that recruits and trains the volunteers who are matched with young
people in care.
I qualified as a counsellor in 2017 and worked at Rape Crisis, MIND, Bower House and now Kelly’s Heroes as well as having my own private practice.
What motivates you?
I feel we all have the ability to find solutions to our own problems and deserve to live to our own true potential, whatever that looks like. By having a caring, non- judgemental and empathic space to explore whatever we are struggling with, we can find our own right path.
I experienced depression and anxiety in the past so went on my own journey to find my solutions. It was often a lonely and difficult road. I have learned so many different things and techniques that helped me, that I feel it only right to share some of these with anybody who it can help, as others helped me.
What do you enjoy most about your role?
Everything in both roles! I get to meet some truly inspirational people who have the courage to come along and be vulnerable, seek help and support and often go on to help others in return. It feels like a privilege to be in this position.
If you could send a message out to the entire world, what would it be?
One of Wayne Dyer’s sayings I have on my wall……
The good you do today: people will often forget tomorrow; Do good anyway. Give the world the best
you have, and it may never be enough; Give the world the best you’ve got anyway!
This month’s random question: If you had to get a tattoo today, what would you get?
‘A belief is just a repeated thought, so if it doesn’t feel good – choose another’ (right along my arm where I could see it all the time!)
