My approach to counselling
We start with you.
You might arrive knowing what you want to explore, or simply knowing that things don’t feel right. Either is a place to begin.
My approach is person-centred and relational. This means I take time to understand your experience from your perspective, and we build a relationship in which you can feel comfortable being yourself.
You have a say in what we explore and how we work. I bring careful listening, curiosity and reflection to help you make sense of what’s happening.
What person-centred counselling means for you
Your feelings, experiences and priorities guide our work. We might begin with something that happened this week, a loss you’ve carried for years, or a feeling you can’t quite explain.
My role is to listen and help you explore. I may ask questions, reflect what I’m hearing or gently draw attention to connections we notice together. You can tell me when something fits, when it doesn’t, or when you’d like to take a different direction.
The relationship we build matters. We’ll take time to develop trust, and you’re welcome to tell me how you’re finding our sessions, including anything that feels uncomfortable or unhelpful.
What happens when we first meet?
Your first session gives us time to start getting to know each other. We’ll talk about what has brought you to counselling, what you hope support might offer and any questions you have.
We’ll also go through how we’ll work together, including confidentiality and its limits, and the practical arrangements for sessions.
You don’t need to prepare a complete account of your life or share the most painful parts straight away. If you’re unsure where to begin, I can help us find a starting point.
As our work continues, there’s room to return to something important, explore a new concern or pause with feelings that need more time.
When words don’t come easily
Sometimes it can be difficult to explain what’s happening inside. You might find it easier to explore your experiences visually, through images, colours, drawing or mapping things out on paper.
If that feels helpful, we can bring creative approaches into our sessions. They can offer another way to express feelings, notice connections or explore something you haven’t yet found words for.
You don’t need to be artistic, and there’s no right or wrong way to do it. We’ll explore what you create together, guided by what it means to you.
Creative approaches are available to adults as well as children and young people. They’re always optional—if you prefer to talk, that’s equally welcome.
Making room for grief and change
Grief can affect your relationships, your identity and your sense of what the future holds. Our conversations can include whatever feels connected to your experience.
You may want to remember someone, explore a complicated relationship, speak about guilt or anger, or think about how to manage everyday life. You may also be grieving something other people haven’t recognised as a loss.
We won’t work towards a prescribed way of grieving or a deadline for feeling different. Together, we can explore what helps you carry your experience and what you need as life continues to change.
We’ll check in regularly about how counselling is feeling, whether our focus still fits your needs and whether you want to continue, adjust our work or prepare to finish.
Could this way of working suit you?
You don’t need to decide from a webpage alone.
A free 20-minute introductory call gives us a chance to meet, talk about what you’re looking for and consider whether my approach feels right for you.
You’re welcome to ask questions about sessions, creative approaches or support for your child. There’s no obligation to continue.
Book a free introductory call
If you’d prefer to write first, you can send me a message through my contact page.
FAQs
Do I need to know what I want to talk about before starting?
Not at all.
Many people come to counselling knowing exactly what they want to talk about, while others simply know that something doesn't feel right and they're not sure where to begin.
You don't need to prepare anything or have the "right" words before your first session. We can start with whatever feels most important to you on the day, even if that's simply talking about how things have been feeling recently.
Part of my role is to help you make sense of what's going on at a pace that feels comfortable for you.
What if I find it difficult to open up?
That's completely okay.
Opening up to someone new can feel daunting, especially if you're used to coping on your own or have spent a long time keeping things to yourself.
There is no expectation that you share everything straight away. Counselling isn't about being pushed to talk before you're ready. We build trust over time, and you can share as much or as little as feels comfortable.
Many people are surprised by how naturally conversations begin to flow once they realise they're in a space where they won't be judged, rushed or expected to have everything figured out.
How many sessions will I need?
There is no set number of sessions.
Some people come for support during a particularly difficult period, while others find it helpful to have longer-term support as they adjust to life after a significant loss.
We can regularly review how things are feeling and decide together what feels right for you.