About me
I offer an integrative approach, which means I don't believe there is just one way to help. Instead, I draw from different therapeutic ideas and methods tailored towards you as an individual. I offer a safe, supportive space where you can talk openly and be truly heard. I understand how daunting it can feel to reach out for counselling, and I want you to know you don’t have to go through things alone.
My approach is warm, compassionate, and non-judgmental. I will walk alongside you at your pace, helping you explore what’s troubling you, understand yourself more deeply, and find new ways forward. I draw on a range of approaches, such as CBT, Transactional Analysis and Attachment theory.
Whether you’re struggling with your mental health, relationship difficulties, loss, low self-esteem, or feel stuck, I provide a calm and confidential space to support your healing and growth. My hope is that you leave each session feeling a little lighter, more empowered, and more connected to yourself.
I have been qualified for 16 years and am an experienced Accredited Counsellor and Psychotherapist offering individual and couple relationship counselling in Worthing and the surrounding areas. Whatever you choose to bring to your counselling sessions, however big or small, we can work through it together.
I can offer:
....... a flexible approach and tailor the therapy to meet your needs:
- Short-term counselling (typically two to six sessions) to individuals and couples. We can address specific issues such as anxiety, anger, bereavement, depression, low self-esteem, unresolved trauma, addiction, ADHD, loss of identity, family crisis, trauma from childhood, and relationship difficulties, including communication issues. Workplace difficulties, i.e. bullying or stress. family crises, relationship difficulties, panic attacks, and workplace difficulties, e.g. bullying or stress.
- One-off session to address a specific problem.
- Longer term with you to facilitate self-exploration. This work often involves working at depth, exploring a desire to change, and searching for more meaning in life.
- I am currently offering face-to-face counselling in Ferring, West Sussex, as well as telephone and online therapy via Zoom.
- Rewind technique for trauma and phobias.
- I am approved by BUPA, AXA, AVIVA & WPA and can claim on your behalf.
Counselling and Psychotherapy are talking therapies. They provide a safe, supportive, and confidential space to discuss concerns. I have been asked, "Is this important enough to bring to counselling"? My answer is always "yes"; if it matters to you, in any way, big or small, it's important. During the counselling session, various issues are explored, and I have outlined a few of them below.
Depression
The term ‘depression’ can cover a wide range of symptoms, some much more serious than others, from an inability to concentrate, persistent insomnia, general fatigue, feeling sad and empty, lack of pleasure in activities, periods of crying (possibly for no apparent reason), feelings of worthlessness, to having suicidal thoughts. There are different types of depressive reactions, ranging from mild mood fluctuations or 'the blues' to severe clinical depression.
For most people, a depressive reaction is triggered by a set of life events which they find difficult to cope with. I hope that together, we can explore and understand the many factors, both present and past, that have led you to feel the way you do.
If you are suffering from depression you are not alone, according to the Government's Mental Health Handbook about 12 per cent of the population experience depression severe enough to require treatment at some time or other in their life.
ADHD
Living with ADHD can feel overwhelming at times. You may notice difficulties with focus, organisation, restlessness or managing emotions. It’s common to feel misunderstood, frustrated, or that you’re always “trying harder” than others.
In counselling, I offer a safe and supportive space to explore how ADHD affects you day to day. Together, we can explore strategies to support focus, emotional regulation, and self-esteem, while also recognising the strengths and creativity that often accompany ADHD.
I work with you to help you better understand your unique mind and develop practical tools for everyday life.
Anxiety
Anxiety is what we feel when we are worried, nervous or afraid of things that may happen now or in the future. The causes of anxiety can range from environmental factors to genetics and are commonly triggered by stress. It is important to recognise that you have anxiety and to find a way of overcoming it. Anxiety can be identified both physically and psychologically, and everyone is different in what and how they feel. I can help you learn how to manage your anxiety and give you coping strategies to use when you are feeling out of control. You perceive a danger or threat, and your body automatically prepares you to fight, freeze, or flee (our fight-or-flight mechanism). The Polyvagal Theory can help you understand your nervous system and how to move into a position of safety.
Bereavement
You may have suffered a bereavement and are trying to understand that the person you loved is no longer here. As time goes on, you may experience depression, and adjusting to the loss can be a long and painful process. Counselling can be beneficial as you may feel that expectations from society, friends and family to 'get on with it' can prevent you from letting your grief out. The counselling relationship can be the place where you are understood, your grief is accepted as a normal part of life, and you can let some of your emotions out in a safe place.
The word bereavement means "to be robbed of something valued. Grieving is a process of adjusting to that loss and is universal. Although most often applied when the loss involves a death, it can be applied to many other situations such as loss of a job or relationship.
https://www.denisepeasecounselling.co.uk/worthing/blogs/post/15/The-Pain-Of-Grief.html
Addiction
Having worked for a drug & alcohol agency, I can help you to explore your relationship with these substances. Whether you are drinking too much alcohol, spending too much time on the internet, taking drugs, overeating, shopping, gambling, or eating too much chocolate, you can stop or control these repetitive behaviours. If you feel you are out of control and would like help, we can explore the problem together and find an exit in the maze of addiction.
Self Esteem
Self-esteem is an issue often explored in counselling. There can be many reasons a person feels low self-esteem. Frequently, messages from childhood get stuck in a loop, and a person may repeat such beliefs to themselves, consciously or subconsciously. Messages such as, 'you're stupid, be seen and not heard, can't do anything right, will fail, you're fat, you're ugly' etc, can be believed. Through awareness, we can choose whether to accept or reject them, and, consequently, create new, healthy beliefs. Low self-esteem can also occur if you have been bullied as a child, and this can cause deep wounds. Bullying in adulthood can make you believe that you are in some way inadequate. Perhaps mistakes you have made in life have been so significant that you can't forgive yourself and so suffer depression.
Anger
Anger is an emotion we often believe is unhealthy. We might receive the message that it's 'wrong' to be angry, so we end up suppressing our anger. You might find yourself feeling resentful, with your anger bubbling up and being expressed through sarcasm and blame. When we 'lose it' and feel uncontrollable anger, our heart rate and adrenaline levels rise, and at that point, it can be challenging to think rationally. There is a fine line between acknowledging anger and venting it until it is out of control. Counselling allows you to explore the underlying issues that can help you identify your triggers. Through this awareness, you can learn to recognise and manage your anger (anger management) correctly. Anger can be a motivating force that helps us make positive changes.
I am offering a 6-week anger management course.
During the 6 weeks, you will learn the following principles of anger management:
- To understand your anger and become more aware
- Understand the PolyVagal nerve theory
- What triggers your anger
- How the body and brain act when you are angry
- Communication skills
- Problem-Solving
- Cost-benefit analysis of getting angry
- Strategies for Managing Your Anger
- Identifying your cycle of anger and making changes
Currently, I am offering 1-2-1 Anger Management sessions face-to-face in Ferring or online via Zoom.
Please visit denisepeasecounselling.co.uk to read a brief case study on a client who has benefited from an anger management course.
Couples Counselling
You may feel unhappy or frustrated with certain aspects of your relationship, but you can’t seem to alter things, no matter how hard you try to communicate. Perhaps your partner has had an affair, and you are both struggling to make sense of the betrayal and whether you can repair your relationship.
Relationship counselling can help – whatever your sexual orientation, background, or marital status- whether you come alone or with a partner. Some people need to find a way through specific issues, while others may want to improve their ongoing relationships.
Why do couples come for counselling?
Often, a couple will seek counselling because of an affair or a build-up of painful experiences between them that has led to it becoming almost impossible for them to communicate effectively. Discussions about what is difficult between them either degenerate into angry exchanges of blame and judgement or end up in icy silence. Either way, both people are left feeling hurt, distressed and isolated from each other.
What can couples hope to gain from counselling?
With love comes heartache, which is not as negative as it may seem at first. If you didn't care deeply for someone, disagreements and problems would only be annoying. The more someone matters to you, the more you will mind when things go wrong. Happiness in a relationship does not depend on harmony; meeting problems together and doing so in the right way can deepen love.
A couple that learns to tackle differences positively can strengthen and expand their relationship. You might feel hurt after an emotional or physical betrayal and see your relationship as over. Perhaps you've been together a while, and the relationship has become stale. I can help you both explore your needs and look at ways to reconnect with your partner.
The key to unlocking almost any relationship problem is good communication. A couple in counselling will learn to listen, talk and even argue with their partner in a healthy way. It means examining your fundamental ways of behaving and sometimes breaking lifelong habits of everyday living.
Everyday habits that get in the way of helpful communication are:
- Not saying what you mean.
- Making something else the issue.
- Not talking.
- Nagging.
- Changing the subject.
- Being a know-all.
- Disguised criticism.
- The way you say it.
When is the right time for counselling?
It’s never too early. Often, by the time of your first appointment, the cracks in the relationship have started to show. Bitterness and resentment may have built up, and the fear of being hurt or rejected blocks any chance of change. There may have been a betrayal of trust; you just discovered that your partner had an affair. It might feel like the end, and separation or divorce seems like the only option.
As a counsellor, the words I most hear from couples are, "We've tried everything - counselling is our last resort." One thing's certain: counsellors rarely hear the complaint, "It's too early for our relationship!"
How can counselling help?
Destructive patterns of relating can be recognised and addressed.
To rebuild trust and lay new foundations for your relationship.
Conflict and communication can be improved.
New relationship skills can be learned.
The impact of change and loss can be examined.
Relationships can be more successful.
In relationships, we tend to repeat the same old patterns. We often want things to be different, and if that's the case, perhaps it's time to try a new approach. I find many clients go through life doing the same old thing, but hope for a different outcome. Most of this is unconscious, and together, we can unpick and understand your stuck patterns. My belief is that through awareness, we have a choice, and it doesn't have to be more of the same old thing.
If you are experiencing problems in your relationship and would like the opportunity to untangle the issues and learn new skills along the way, please contact me for an assessment. This can take up to 60 minutes and will help you decide whether counselling is right for you at this time.
It is my understanding that treatment is not just about fixing what is broken, but also about nurturing what is best.
https://www.denisepeasecounselling.co.uk/worthing/blogs/post/17/You-can-t-change-your-partner.html
I have completed an extra 80 hours of training on Zoom. I am finding online counselling highly effective and feel so lucky to be able to support clients going through a difficult time by offering online sessions via Zoom.
Additionally, for many, online counselling is more convenient than face-to-face counselling because it eliminates the need for travel and parking and allows counselling in the comfort of one's own home.
If online or telephone counselling is an option for you, please don't hesitate to contact me through my contact page.
I can offer evening and daytime appointments, either face-to-face, by telephone, or via Zoom.
For more detailed information, please visit denisepeasecounselling.co.uk
Training, qualifications & experience
Advanced Diploma in Integrative Counselling and Therapy.
Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills
Certificate in Couples Counselling
Certificate (101) - Institute of Transactional Analysis
Certificate in Online and Telephone Counselling
INLPTA Diploma in NLP
Trained in working with substance abuse
Motivational interviewing
Foundation Certificate in Bereavement Counselling 2022
I have experience in working with adults, teenagers and older people.
Member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy.
Awarded Accreditation (2014) from the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy.
Member organisations
BACP is one of the UK’s leading professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy with around 60,000 members. The Association has several different categories of membership, including Student Member, Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP, Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Accred) and Senior Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Snr Acccred). Registered and accredited members are listed on the BACP Register, which shows that they have demonstrated BACP’s recommended standards for training, proficiency and ethical practice. The BACP Register was the first register of psychological therapists to be accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA). Accredited and senior accredited membership are voluntary categories for members who choose to undertake a rigorous application and assessment process to demonstrate additional standards around practice, training and supervision. Individual members will have completed an appropriate counselling or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but they won’t appear on the BACP Register until they've demonstrated that they meet the standards for registration. Student members are still in the process of completing their training. All members are bound by the BACP Ethical Framework and a Professional Conduct Procedure.
Accredited register membership
The Accredited Register Scheme was set up in 2013 by the Department of Health (DoH) as a way to recognise organisations that hold voluntary registers which meet certain standards. These standards are set by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
This therapist has indicated that they belong to an Accredited Register.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Other areas of counselling I deal with
- Couples relationship counselling
- Mid life crisis
- Low self esteem
- Loss of confidence
- Loss of identity
- Spirituality
- Understanding anxiety and learning coping mechanisms
- Addictive Behaviours e.g Gambling, Shopping, Eating, Alcohol, Drugs
- Relationship issues
- Difficulties with speech e.g. stammering
- Anger management
- Depression
- Rewind technique for phobias and trauma
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£45.00 - £90.00
Concessions offered for
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
£65 per session for individuals
£65 Assessment for individuals
£65 per session for anger management
£90 Assessment for couples
£90 per session for couples
Company Referral Fee is Negotiable
Reduced rate of £45 for student/trainee counsellors
(A reduced rate of £45 is offered if parents are in receipt of benefits, have proof of low income or are single parents on a low income)
If you have private health insurance, you may be covered for counselling. Please check with your insurance company.
Short/Long-term therapy
When I work
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Further information
An initial one hour appointment will be offered to allow us to explore the best approach for your difficulties. Depending on the outcome of the assessment I may offer either 6 -12 weeks or long term therapy, whichever is most appropriate for your needs. You will then be able to decide if counselling is the right step for you and whether we can work together. Appointments are offered on a weekly basis at a regular time for 50 minutes. I aim to offer you an appointment within 5 days or less.
Currently I am able to offer face to face counselling daytime and evening appointments from a location in Ferring. Also, I am offering Counselling via zoom for clients who wish to work this way. Please contact me for further information.
