My Approach - A safe space, just for you.
Starting counselling can feel like a huge step into the unknown.... because it is! My role is to offer you a safe, supportive and non-judgmental space where you can simply be yourself. Together, we can take the time to pause, breathe and gently explore what is happening for you

I believe you already hold the wisdom about your own life, and sometimes that wisdom needs the right space to emerge. Our time together is not for me to tell you what to do, but to walk alongside you - supporting you to notice patterns, feelings and insights which may lead to meaningful change, if this feels right for you.

Person-centred at Heart
My core approach is person-centred counselling. This means:-
- You are in charge of what we talk about.
- I will listen deeply, without judgment.
- We go at your pace - there's no pressure, no "shoulds."
When I've been in counselling myself, I have found myself thinking, "I didn't expect that to come up." or "That's interesting - where did that come from?" These little moments of surprise often led to further insights. I hope our sessions give you the same space for reflection.

Blending Different Approaches
While person-centred values guide everything I do, I also draw on other ways of working in an integrative way, if they feel right for you. For example:-
- Walk and talk therapy - being outdoors while we talk can feel grounding and easier than sitting face to face.
- Email counselling - if writing feels safer, we can work together in that way.
- Creative or expressive work - sometimes drawing, writing or using imagery can bring out feelings words can't capture.
- Animal assisted therapy - connecting with animals can bring comfort and ease.
- Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Transactional Analysis (TA) - these approaches can help you understand different "parts" of yourself and the patterns you may have developed
- Body awareness ("felt sense") - gently noticing sensations in the body can help unlock deeper understanding.
We will always work together to find what feels most comfortable and helpful for you.

The Importance of Relationship
Research - and my own experience - shows that the most healing part of counselling is often the relationship itself. Feeling truly heard, accepted and safe can be transformative. That is why I place such importance on building a genuine, trusting connection with you.

What I do not offer
To be clear about boundaries:-
- I do not offer CBT or set homework
- I do not offer couples or family therapy - my focus is one-to-one counselling.
This way I can give you my full attention and support.

A gentle invitation...
Counselling isn't about "fixing" you - you are not broken. It's about creating space to explore, reflect and grow, at a pace that feels right. We can sit in the messy middle together with a hope of leaving sessions lighter, clearer and more connected with yourself.
If this sounds like the kind of support you are looking for, I would love to hear from you. Click here to contact me.
You are welcome to read my testimonials also.