About Me
I’m Ava Winter, a psychotherapist working with adults and couples, offering in-person sessions in Guernsey and online across the UK.
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My work is shaped by both professional training and personal experience. I have lived through times when emotional wellbeing, health, and life circumstances have all felt challenged at once. These periods taught me how painful it can be when life changes in ways we did not choose, and how powerful psychotherapy can be when you are met with an empathetic, attuned presence that supports healing.
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I work with adults who are struggling emotionally, feeling overwhelmed, or finding themselves stuck in patterns that no longer feel manageable. Many people come with anxiety or depression shaped by trauma or the impact of earlier life experiences. Others seek support for relationship difficulties, illness, loss, or significant life changes. Some come because they want a deeper understanding of themselves and a greater sense of ease in their lives.​
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​​​Professional Membership, Experience and Training​
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I am a qualified psychotherapist and counsellor, an accredited member of the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS), and a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). I work within the ethical and professional frameworks of both bodies. I am also a member of the British Transpersonal Association.
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Before training as a psychotherapist, I worked in secondary and adult education in Guernsey, the UK, and overseas. Alongside my teaching career, I trained as a counsellor and psychotherapist and moved into supervised clinical practice in 2020, while continuing to complete my training and advanced professional study.
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I hold a Level 6 Diploma with Distinction in Transpersonal Psychology, a Level 5 Diploma in Integrative & Humanistic Psychotherapy and Counselling, and a Level 5 Diploma in Relational (Couples) Counselling. My experience spans private practice, voluntary sector counselling services, and counselling training settings.​
Alongside my psychotherapy practice, I am the founder of Clear Light Academy, a counselling and psychotherapy training centre in Guernsey. Through this work, I train and support future practitioners, contribute to professional education, and remain closely engaged with the evolving theory, ethics, and practice of psychotherapy. Please feel free to visit Clear Light Academy to find out more about the training courses we offer.
My dog Layla gets me outdoors no matter the weather, and reminds me how lucky I am to live somewhere I can walk on the beaches and cliff paths regularly. I had thought I’d be able to introduce her to you as my resident therapy dog, however at two years of age and still completely nuts, it's not looking likely any time soon.
She’s a daily reminder that progress doesn’t always look neat or linear, and that you don’t have to be perfect to be completely loveable.
A little about me
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Outside of my work as a therapist and educator, I value connection, humour, and time in nature. ​I enjoy spending time with friends and family, travelling, camping in Herm, swimming, and playing the piano, though like many of us I don’t always manage to prioritise the things that matter most. Much of the time I’m simply juggling the realities of work, family, and life more generally.
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