What is integrative counselling?

Integrative counselling recognises that each person is unique, and there isn't a one- size-fits-all solution. It's about truly understanding You. Your life experiences, your challenges, and your strengths. By embracing a variety of therapeutic approaches, I aim to support your personal growth, enhance your self-awareness, and foster healing in a way that genuinely resonates with you.

What can I help you with?

Reaching out for support is deeply personal, and your unique needs are at the heart of our work together. You might be looking to explore certain feelings, thoughts, or experiences that feel too complex to untangle, or perhaps you need support with a specific concern that’s been affecting your life. I welcome whatever you bring to our sessions, but I also offer a list of areas I can support with:
• Anxiety
• Bereavement
• Burnout
• Chronic illness
• Depression
• Feeling sad
• LGBTQ+ counselling
• Loneliness
• Low self-confidence
• Low self-esteem
• Neurodiversity
• Relationship problems
• Self-harm
• Separation and divorce
• Sexual abuse
• Sexual assault
• Social anxiety
• Stress
• Suicidal thoughts
• Trauma

Is counselling confidential?

Yes. Counselling is meant to be a safe space where you can explore difficult emotions and express what’s on your mind, knowing that what you share won’t be disclosed to anyone. There are a few rare exceptions, which I always discuss in the first session with a client.

How many sessions will I need?

I understand that this might seem like a lot to think about, but I'm here to support you every step of the way. Before you start, it might be helpful to reflect on a few things:
• What do you hope to achieve from our counselling sessions?
• How long have these feelings or challenges been part of your life?
I offer flexible counselling options, whether you prefer short-term or ongoing sessions. In our first meeting, we'll take some time to discuss what's brought you to counselling and find a path that feels comfortable for you. As we continue, I'll regularly check in with you to make sure you're feeling supported and that our work together is meeting your needs.

LGBTQIA+ Counselling

Our sexuality, gender identity, and the way we experience relationships are personal and unique. Life as an LGBTQIA+ person can bring challenges around identity, relationships, discrimination, or feeling misunderstood. Counselling offers a safe, affirming space to explore these experiences, whether you have a clear idea of what to discuss or are simply trying to make sense of things that feel unclear. I provide an open, non-judgemental space to explore your identity at your own pace. I use the terms LGBTQIA+ and GSRD (Gender, Sexuality, and Relationship Diversity) to reflect the wide variety of identities, expressions, and ways of relating. These descriptions may or may not fit your experience, and it’s completely okay to simply want space to explore. As a BACP-registered counsellor, my approach is inclusive and shaped by your needs. You don’t need to explain or educate, you are welcome as you are, and our work together will focus on what matters to you.

Anxiety

Anxiety can take many forms: worry, tension, restlessness, or fear. It can make everyday tasks feel overwhelming and leave you feeling drained, often appearing when life feels uncertain or out of control. Living with anxiety doesn’t mean weakness; it can reflect a heightened awareness and sensitivity to your surroundings. Counselling can help notice and understand these feelings without being consumed by them. During counselling, a safe and supportive space is provided to explore the underlying causes of anxiety and the patterns that trigger it. Anxiety is not a failing, it’s a signal that something in life needs attention, care, or reassurance. Together, practical strategies can be developed to respond to difficult thoughts and emotions with understanding rather than fear, helping to build calm, clarity, and confidence. Counselling isn’t about eliminating anxiety completely, but about learning to live fully alongside it, with self-compassion and support. You don’t have to navigate it alone, and the goal is to help you feel empowered to manage anxiety and live a calmer, more fulfilling life.

Life transitions

Life is full of changes, some we can see coming and others that take us by surprise. How we respond to these shifts, and the feelings they stir up, can shape the way we see ourselves, our relationships, and our lives. Counselling around life transitions can give you space to prepare for the changes you know are on the way, as well as to make sense of the ones you didn’t expect. Life transitions can show up in many different ways. It might be retiring, becoming a parent, changing jobs, or moving home whether nearby, across the country, or abroad. Sometimes changes happen within relationships, like getting married, children leaving home, finding yourself single again after a breakup or divorce, or beginning a new relationship after time on your own. Other transitions may involve leaving home for the first time, facing illness or an accident (your own or a loved one’s), or coping with the death of someone close. Even shifts in work patterns, moving from full-time to part-time, or adjusting to working from home can stir up more feelings than we expect. These moments, whether chosen or unexpected, can feel exciting, unsettling, or overwhelming, sometimes all at once. I offer a supportive space where you can bring whatever you’re going through, explore what these changes mean for you, and find your own way through them with care and understanding.

Bereavement and Grief

Grief affects everyone differently, and there’s no right or wrong way to experience loss. Losing someone you care about can bring a mix of sadness, anger, guilt, confusion, or numbness, sometimes all at once. These feelings can be overwhelming, and it’s natural to want support in making sense of them. Counselling offers a safe, compassionate space to explore grief at your own pace. I work with people to reflect on their emotions, share memories, and process the impact of loss on their relationships, daily life, and sense of self. This can include exploring feelings of regret, navigating changes in family or social dynamics, coping with anniversaries or reminders, and finding ways to honour and remember the person who has died. I provide an open, non-judgemental environment where your experience is validated and understood. Counselling isn’t about “moving on” or forgetting—it’s about finding your own way to live with grief while holding on to the connections that matter. You don’t have to face this alone, and my aim is to support you with compassion, understanding, and practical guidance as you navigate this difficult time.