Amy Griffin
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Are you constantly juggling the needs of others, anticipating the next crisis, and feeling like there’s no room to breathe? Does chronic anxiety and a sense of overwhelm leave you exhausted, even as you keep pushing forward? If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone, and I’m here to help.
Sometimes when we are used to putting everyone else first, we really struggle to know who we are and what we want. It can leave us struggling with setting healthy boundaries, find it challenging to say no, fearing guilt or conflict - perhaps it fuels a pattern of people-pleasing.
I specialise in helping people like you – those that feel they are carrying the world on their shoulders – gain clarity, find relief and balance. Together we can create a safe space where you feel heard and supported as you define boundaries, manage anxiety and overwhelm and explore your own needs and identity. Counselling is your space to reflect, focus on you and heal. Let’s work together to help you let go of everything you have been carrying and step forward into a life that feels more aligned to who you truly are and feeling much lighter.
How I can help
Imagine if you could have the space to...
- Understand how to manage the chronic anxiety and overwhelm; break free from cycles of over-thinking, catastrophizing and constant worry.
- Take a closer look at how you can protect your energy and time by saying ‘no’ without guilt. Consider what could be helpful to prioritise yourself whilst navigating relationships with confidence.
- Re-frame your self-perception- Shift the focus from what you do for others to your inherent worth and strengths. Redefining success and value in a way that nurtures, rather than drains, you.
- Release the thoughts and emotions you’ve kept inside for years—the frustration, guilt, and sadness. Together, we’ll process these feelings and lighten the load you’ve been carrying.
- Explore your identity - Who are you when you’re not taking care of everyone else? Reconnect with your desires, interests, and values.
- Reflect on what is holding you back such as your people-pleasing and/or perfectionistic behaviours and find a sense of freedom.
What to expect
Counselling could be that space for you to work through all of this - a judgement-free zone. I can provide a confidential space for you to work through your challenges. Together, we can make sense of what’s happening. Counselling is more than just having someone to listen; I work side by side with you, building a meaningful relationship where we explore your experiences together.
I offer sessions in a peaceful, cosy room in Rayleigh, Essex, or online for those who prefer the convenience of being at home while still benefiting from the connection of face-to-face support. I also offer telephone counselling.
Reaching out can feel daunting, so I’m happy to start the conversation in a way that feels comfortable for you—whether via email, WhatsApp, or a free 15-minute chat to answer any questions you might have.
Who I work with
Many of my clients are deeply empathetic, and driven to care for others, yet struggle with chronic anxiety, overwhelm, and feeling invisible. I talk and write a lot about those that grew up feeling secondary, those that feel they need to fulfil a role of the ‘rescuer’, ‘fixer’ or the ‘responsible’ one because I’m passionate about people finding their worth outside of the roles they feel stuck in supporting everyone else.
However, it might be that none of this resonates with you and that’s ok, I’m open to working with anyone who feels my face or counselling style is what they are looking for. Counselling is your space - I’m open to exploring your challenges together.
Who I am
I’m Amy and I grew up as a self-professed ‘fixer’. I became an expert in keeping things running smoothly and highly practiced at putting myself last. The irony was not lost on me that I found myself in project and managerial roles for 15 years – holding things together for others – before I became a counsellor. So I absolutely understand the challenges of balancing a busy life and your own emotional wellbeing- I’ve felt the pain of chronic anxiety and emotional exhaustion.
I believe that the most important thing is finding a counsellor that you click with and feel comfortable enough to talk to. I believe that we can start to feel better when we find someone who understands us and you can find connection with. I'm a professional counsellor but I'm a human first so I believe being my authentic self is also important. I also believe that counselling doesn’t always have to feel serious all of the time; I believe it can also feel empowering and exciting.
Training, qualifications & experience
It might be helpful to know that I hold a diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling, with a focus on Person-Centred counselling, which forms the foundation of my work. In addition, I have completed further training in Trauma focused CBT (TfCBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) tools and Transactional Analysis core concepts (TA101).
Over the years, I’ve deepened my skills through extra training in areas that are often important for my clients including:
· Anxiety and panic disorders
· Emotional regulation
· Building self-confidence and self-esteem
· Supporting individuals in distress, including those experiencing self-harm or suicidal thoughts
· Navigating perfectionism
· Coping with overwhelm, burnout, and imposter syndrome
In addition to my private practice, I’ve worked in a variety of settings. I’ve provided support for a charity that helps individuals feeling like they have no way forward, worked in a senior school offering counselling to students, staff, and parents (often with a focus on building self-esteem and worth), and served at a low-cost agency to support the wider community.
I’m a registered member of the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP) and an accredited registrant of NCPS. This means I adhere to a strict ethical framework that guides my practice. I also hold an Enhanced DBS.
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
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£55.00 per session
Free initial telephone session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
First sessions (30 minutes) are charged at £25; I know the importance of ensuring your counsellor is a good fit and this session allows us to explore what you want from counselling and how we could work together. Ongoing sessions are charged at £55.
When I work
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Further information
*Please check your junk mail if you are waiting on a response to your enquiry from me via email - notably hotmail addresses tend to register as spam*
I also have an Instagram community, @balance_my_mood, where I share support for those that resonate with being the 'responsible' one in their family. You can join me there for a little extra encouragement on setting boundaries, ditching the guilt, building self-worth and escaping the overload.
If you thinking about working with me online and are unsure on whether online counselling is for you, I’ve written a blog on whether online counselling is right for you which you can find on my website.
For online sessions, you will need access to a good internet connection and a device that has a camera; this could be a computer, tablet or phone. For telephone counselling you will need to be in a good signal area. Having a private space to talk from is important and I suggest that headphones could be helpful.
I would usually meet clients on a weekly basis but fortnightly is also an option; together we can weigh up the pro's and con's. I find the clients often want the flexibility of not always meeting on the same day and time each week which I can accommodate - I use an online booking system which enables you to pick a day and time that suits you.
