Mary Wallace

If you are struggling to cope with life, feeling worn down or finding your relationships are under strain, counselling can help. Living throws up difficulties for all of us and we can feel very alone when confronted with these. Stress, anxiety, grief or depression can throw us off track. If you are feeling unhappy, anxious or lost, I can help you work through your concerns and emotions to a place where you can feel peace and pleasure again.  I am an experienced and accredited member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy.

As an accredited counsellor, I have lots of experience of helping people identify the blocks that are holding them back so that they can move forward to achieve their potential and make stronger, more satisfying relationships.  I have undertaken both my base counselling training to Master's degree level (passed with distinction) and ongoing training in a range of specialist issues, including working with trauma, supporting survivors of childhood abuse and working ethically and safely online.

I will do my best to understand what is happening for you and offer both the space for you to be heard and ideas about how you might change your situation. It can really help to talk over your experiences and explore your emotions with someone who isn't involved and who can offer support and perhaps a different perspective.

I have worked with a wide range of people, supporting them through a variety of difficulties in their lives, including:

• anxiety
• depression
• relationship issues
• family issues
• separation and divorce
• loss and bereavement
• anger management
• life choices
• abuse - both current and historical
• stress at work or at home
• coping with emotionally demanding careers

Counselling is a place where you can talk privately about your life and your relationships.  Some people use this space to:

• express feelings or thoughts that they don’t feel able to express anywhere else
• work out how they feel and what they think about important events or situations in their life
• work through issues that are affecting their relationships and consider how to move forward
• explore a problem and perhaps the different options they have [or which a counsellor might suggest] for dealing with that problem
• take time out from difficult situations or feelings
• learn better ways for coping with difficult emotions or situations

I offer counselling in an area of Stockport with excellent links to the bus, train and road network, so am easily reached from all areas of Stockport and south Manchester.

SUPPORT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE:

In addition to working with adults, I am able to work with children and young people aged 15 and older. Much of the above applies to the way I work with children and teenagers, but there may be some changes in my approach to meet their developmental needs.

Just as for adults, counselling provides an opportunity for a child or young person to explore personal difficulties in a confidential and supportive environment. I have expertise in a range of creative and play techniques that help children and teens to explore their experiences and I understand the ways in which we communicate change as we grow and develop.

I will, to the best of my ability, try to create a supportive, non-judgemental environment in which your child or teenager will be given time and space to understand and gain insight into his or her emotions, behaviour and situation.

Confidentiality in work with children and young people is important and young people entering counselling with me will be assured that, as long as I do not think they are at any significant risk, what they discuss with me will remain private. If you or your young person would like to know more about how I work, please contact me by email or telephone and I'll do my best to answer your questions.

Adults
Young People aged 15 - 18

I am happy to discuss your needs or queries over the telephone initially. Our first session will be £35; after that, for a session of counselling,  I charge on a sliding scale from £50 to £75.  I ask you to choose where between these two points you feel able to pay.  I can also offer reduced session fees if you are able to book a block of sessions and pay in advance. 

Please see my Supervision profile for rates in this area of work.