Counselling for individuals in Sandhurst and online

Each one of us is unique

Each one of us is unique. Our way of being in the world is, to a large extent, already predetermined by the way we experienced life in our younger years. Raising our awareness of these patterns offers us the opportunity for change.

Sometimes we come to therapy because something has happened: a loss, a relationship ending, a change at work, a health scare. Sometimes nothing obvious has happened at all, and yet life feels heavier than it should. Whatever brings you, individual counselling gives you an hour that is entirely yours, with someone whose only job is to listen carefully and help you make sense of what you are carrying.

Who individual therapy is for

I work with adults of all ages and from all walks of life. Some of the reasons people come to counselling include:

• feeling anxious, on edge or unable to switch off — you may find my page on anxiety counselling helpful
• low mood, flatness or depression
• stress and burnout at work or at home
• bereavement, loss and grief
• low self-worth and a harsh inner critic
• anger that feels hard to manage
• relationship difficulties, including with family
• past experiences of abuse or bullying
• questions of identity, sexuality or spirituality
• life transitions, such as becoming a parent, children leaving home, retirement or menopause

You don’t need to have a label for what you are feeling. Many people simply say, “I don’t feel like myself any more,” and that is a perfectly good place to start.

Therapy for men

Men have emotional needs exactly as women do. They feel anger, grief, shame, sadness and anxiety in the same way. Historically, cultural gender roles have kept many men away from therapy; the expectation to be strong, to cope and to keep going has meant that a lot of feelings were never given a voice.

That is changing. More and more men of all ages now recognise the benefits of understanding themselves and what makes them happy. In our sessions there is no need to have the right words, or to have everything worked out. We can go at your pace, and we can be practical as well as reflective: many men I work with value the coaching element of my approach, which helps turn new understanding into real change.

Therapy for women

Women often lose their sense of identity through life transitions and societal pressures: caring for children or parents, juggling work and home, changes in relationships, and the physical and emotional shifts of perimenopause and menopause. Over time this can lead to low self-esteem, loneliness and a critical inner voice that is hard to quieten.

Therapy can help you rediscover yourself: what you value, what you need, and what you would like the next chapter to hold. Therapy can help you leave with a stronger sense of empowerment and a kinder relationship with yourself. If hormonal changes are part of your story, you may also like to read about my menopause support.

How I work

I am an integrative psychotherapeutic counsellor, accredited by UKCP and a member of BACP, with over 20 years’ experience. Integrative means I draw on humanistic, psychodynamic and cognitive perspectives, choosing what fits you rather than asking you to fit a single model.

My signature approach, The Heart Mind Body Solution, blends traditional psychotherapy with neuroscience-based coaching and mindfulness. In practice this might mean:

• Counselling — exploring your feelings and the patterns that began earlier in life, so they no longer run the show
• Coaching — clarifying what you want and taking small, achievable steps towards it
• Mindfulness and the body — as a trained yoga teacher, I sometimes bring in simple breath and body awareness to help calm the nervous system

We will always agree together what feels useful. Nothing is imposed.

What to expect in your first session

Before we meet, we will have a free discovery call by phone. It is a chance for you to tell me a little about what is happening and to ask any questions, and for us both to get a feel for whether we could work well together.

In the first session I will ask about what has brought you to therapy, a little about your history, and what you would like to be different. We will also agree the practical terms of working together, including confidentiality. It is completely normal to feel nervous; most people find that the nerves ease once they start talking.

Practicalities

• Where: in person at my practice in Sandhurst, Berkshire, or online by Zoom from anywhere in the UK
• Length: sessions last 50 minutes
• Frequency: weekly, with regular reviews so we can check how things are going
• Commitment: some people agree an initial six sessions and then review; many prefer to work open-ended
• Fees: £120 per session, paid by bank transfer before each session — see prices for full details

You will find answers to other common questions on my FAQs page. Please note that I am not a crisis service. If you are in immediate danger, call 999 or go to A&E; for urgent mental health support call NHS 111 (option 2), or Samaritans on 116 123.

Take the first step

Reaching out is often the hardest part. If something here resonates with you, I would be glad to hear from you. Book a free discovery call and we can talk about how I might help.