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Jessica Chance Vaccaro

​Originally from the US, over the past 20 years I have lived in London, Bristol, Utrecht, the Hague and, currently, in Norwich, England.

I am committed to a holistic person-centred therapeutic approach, meaning that I believe wellbeing must encompass both our physical and emotional/mental states. I actively research the somatic effects of stress and trauma, and I believe this is especially important when working with perinatal issues: pregnancy and birth are such all-encompassing physical experiences.
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My approach is integrative and humanistic – I offer my clients warmth, active listening, deep empathy, humour and non-judgemental understanding. I am committed to my professional development and frequently take part in workshops and seminars.​

My working life has included fundraising in the voluntary sector, teaching Pilates, research about ethnic conflicts in sub-Saharan Africa, advocating for refugees, and facilitating groups for new mothers.

In addition to my training, I am a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), which has a strict code of ethics and an established complaints procedure. In accordance with the BACP policies, I am fully insured and adhere to the GDPR guidelines with regard to privacy of information. I also undertake regular supervision.

Qualifications

  • Certificate, Foundation for Infant Loss, 2025. 

  • Certificate, Compassion-Focussed Therapy for Post-Natal Depression, 2023.

  • Certificate, Working with Baby Loss, SANDS, 2023.

  • Certificate, Somatic Trauma Therapy with Babette Rothschild, 2022-23.

  • Certificate, Introduction to Perinatal Mental Illness, Risk, Care and Treatment, Tavistock & Portman NHS Foundation Trust, 2021.

  • Certificate, Perinatal Mood Disorders & Perinatal Loss and Grief, Seleni Institute, 2021.

  • Certificate, Foundation Course for Infertility Counselling, British Infertility Counselling Association, 2021.

  • Diploma, Humanistic and Integrative Counselling, Bath Centre for Psychotherapy and Counselling, 2015.

  • CPD trainings include: Infertility Counselling, Coaching Techniques for Counsellors, Mental Health First Aid, Working with Suicidality, Short-Term Counselling, Trauma and Attachment-Avoidant Clients and Working with Shame.

  • Certificate in Community Mediation, Open College Network, 2010.

  • Doctoral-level research, International Relations, London School of Economics, 2003 – 2005.

  • MA African Studies, School of Oriental and African Studies, 2002.

  • BA Religion, Smith College, 1998.