As you're here, I'm guessing that life is feeling really difficult for you right now. Maybe you're feeling incredibly sad, depressed even, and you're looking for someone to share the load? Perhaps you feel like you're failing in life, or as though you're trapped on the wrong path and there's no turning in sight? Or maybe a sudden life event has left you so distressed it's hard to know where to begin?

If life feels like this, or anything similar, counselling can and really does help. But you may be wondering how? I clearly remember wondering that myself. I thought about seeing a counsellor for years, but I always found a reason not to. I didn't want to seem weak, didn't see myself as mentally ill, and if I'm honest, I was scared about what counselling would be like.

Yet when I took that step, it felt such a relief. Being able to talk openly was a release. Soon I felt more hopeful, and gradually I reconnected with what I really wanted and valued. I came to understand how my past had shaped me and so became more self-acceptant, learning to treat myself more kindly and no longer negatively comparing myself to others. I also learned new ways to manage anxiety, and found myself feeling calmer and more optimistic. It wasn't always easy, but I can honestly say that my first experience of counselling was literally life-changing.

Finding Hope

Put simply, counselling helped shift my glass from half empty to half full. By this, I don't mean being blindly optimistic. Far from it, it's more about developing a deep understanding that you are in fact good enough, so even when life hits you hard, you have the resources to cope, to find calm, to accept your emotions without fear, and an inner conviction that essentially you'll be ok no matter what.

Qualifications and Experience