How I can help
Whatever has brought you here, there is space to explore it.
People come to counselling for many different reasons. Sometimes there is a particular experience, relationship or loss that feels difficult to navigate. At other times, you may simply feel overwhelmed, disconnected from yourself or unsure of what needs to change.
You don’t need to have everything worked out before you begin. Counselling can offer a space to slow down, make sense of what you are experiencing and explore what might help you move forward.
You don’t need to arrive with the right words or a clear explanation. We can begin wherever you are.
Sometimes the thing that brings you to counselling is only the beginning of the story.
Our experiences are rarely isolated.
They can be connected to relationships, loss, change, past experiences and the way we have learned to understand ourselves.
What I can support you with
Anxiety & depression
You may find yourself constantly thinking, worrying or anticipating what might go wrong. Perhaps your mind feels difficult to switch off, or you feel exhausted from trying to keep everything under control.
Depression can feel different. You may feel flat, disconnected, withdrawn or as though everyday life has become harder to engage with. Sometimes there is a clear reason for how you feel; sometimes there isn’t.
Counselling can offer a space to slow down and explore what you are carrying, how it may have developed and what you might need now.
Trauma & attachment
Difficult or painful experiences can continue to affect how safe we feel, how we relate to others and how we respond to situations in the present. Sometimes these experiences are recent; at other times, they may have happened much earlier in life and still shape how we experience ourselves and our relationships.
Counselling can offer a space to explore these experiences gently, understand the patterns they may have created and consider what might help you feel more secure, connected and able to make choices that feel right for you.
Self-esteem & confidence
The way we see ourselves can be shaped by our experiences, relationships and the expectations we have absorbed from others. You may find yourself doubting your abilities, comparing yourself to others or feeling that you are somehow not enough.
Sometimes this can lead to a harsh inner voice, difficulty accepting yourself or a tendency to put your own needs aside.
Counselling can offer space to explore where these beliefs have come from and how they affect the way you live and relate to yourself.
Relationships
Relationships can be a source of connection, belonging and support, but they can also leave us feeling hurt, misunderstood or unsure of where we stand. You may find yourself repeating patterns, struggling to communicate what you need or finding it difficult to set boundaries.
Sometimes it can be hard to understand why certain relationships affect us so deeply, or why we respond in ways we don’t always recognise.
Counselling can offer space to explore your relationships, understand the patterns within them and consider what healthier, more authentic ways of relating might look like for you.
Loss & bereavement
Loss can change the shape of everyday life. You may be grieving the death of someone you love, but loss can also come through the end of a relationship, changes in family life, illness, or something you had hoped your life would be.
Grief doesn’t always follow a predictable path. You may experience sadness, anger, guilt, loneliness or moments when you feel surprisingly okay, only to find the feelings return again.
Counselling can offer a gentle space to make sense of what has happened, talk about what you have lost and find a way of living with the changes that have followed.
Life changes & transitions
Life can change in ways we choose and in ways we don’t. Relocation, immigration, illness, changes in family or work, or reaching a point where the life you have no longer feels quite right can all leave us questioning what comes next.
Transitions can bring a mixture of emotions – excitement, uncertainty, grief, relief or a sense of being caught between what was and what is yet to come.
Counselling can offer space to make sense of these changes, reconnect with what matters to you and explore how you want to move forward.
My counselling experience
Alongside my wider counselling experience, I have supported people through some particularly difficult and painful experiences, including cancer and illness, anticipatory grief and bereavement, and the effects of sexual abuse.
These experiences can be difficult to put into words and may bring a mixture of emotions, including fear, grief, anger, shame, uncertainty and loss. I offer a compassionate, non-judgmental space where you can talk about what you are experiencing at a pace that feels manageable for you.
My experience includes supporting people with:
- Cancer and the emotional impact of illness
Through my work with Macmillan - Anticipatory grief, loss and bereavement
Through my counselling experience with St Wilfrid’s Hospice - The effects of sexual abuse
Exploring the impact of difficult experiences - Loss and significant life changes
Emotional impact of difficult transitions and changes