Counselling 

About  Counselling

Counselling offers a space to slow down and explore what is happening beneath the surface of your life. You might be feeling anxious, overwhelmed, shut down, or facing change, loss, or relationship difficulties. Together, we make room to understand your experience more fully, at a pace that feels manageable.

What happens in the first session?

In our first session, we will begin to explore what brings you and how you are experiencing your life and relationships. This session includes some information gathering and is slightly more structured so we can build a clear picture of your situation.

We will also go through a working agreement together, including confidentiality, cancellations, and how we will work. It can take time to settle into counselling, and this first meeting is also an opportunity for you to get a sense of me and how it feels to talk together.

Occasionally, there may be reasons I am not the right person to work with you — for example, a conflict of interest, something outside my scope of practice, or situations such as very early bereavement where a different kind of support may be more appropriate. If that happens, I will help you think about other options.

If we decide to continue, we agree on a regular weekly session time. We may set an initial number of sessions before a review. It often takes 6–8 weeks to find a natural rhythm together. We will have reviews along the way to reflect on how the work is going and what feels helpful. I generally offer medium-term work 12 months plus as well as much longer-term or open-ended counselling, which allows for deeper exploration. This will be thought about in the initial session.

Finding the right counsellor

Starting counselling can feel daunting, especially if it’s your first time. Our early sessions include space to talk about how I work and what you hope for from therapy. You’re welcome to share any concerns about the process or the agreement. There is no obligation to continue — what matters is whether it feels like we can work well together.

My approach

I work collaboratively, with the therapeutic relationship at the centre. I follow your experience and respond to what you bring, while helping us notice what happens in the here and now between us. At times the work may feel challenging, but we move at a pace that respects your capacity.

You may bring past experiences, present-day difficulties, or feelings that are hard to name. I believe that, with the right conditions, people can grow greater trust in themselves and develop clarity and confidence to make changes that feel real and sustainable.

When words are hard to find, we can use creative approaches. Sometimes drawing, imagery, or other methods can help express things that are difficult to say directly.

Alongside talking, I also pay attention to the body — sensations, posture, breath, and emotional responses. This can include gentle grounding practices, breathwork, visualisation, mindfulness, or Emotional Freedom Technique (tapping), if appropriate. These approaches help support your nervous system, especially when anxiety, stress, shutdown, or low mood are present.

My work is holistic, recognising the connection between mind, body, and emotional life.

And while this is serious work, it doesn’t always have to feel heavy. You are welcome to bring all parts of yourself. Therapy can hold depth, difficulty, humour, and aliveness too.

Contact me here to find out more.