Angela Peterson

I specialise in supporting adults who are feeling overwhelmed. 

Stress can occur with a sudden change such as bereavement, job loss or relationship ending. It can also occur with a gradual steady increase in responsibilities that leads to life being just too much to hold.

There can also be times when life is peaceful, which gives you space to remember difficult past events. These events may be troubling and difficult to process on your own.

Perhaps you have noticed that you are more angry or irritable than usual.

Your mood may have been low for sometime and you may have trouble sleeping or sleeping too much.

You may be wondering why the things that you used to enjoy doing are just no longer fun. 

You may be wondering why you feel "lazy" when you used to be so productive.

You may notice that you would rather avoid the things you used to enjoy. Your work may becoming harder to go to and deliver as you normally would. Perhaps it is hard to concentrate.

Are you finding that leaving home feels harder?

You may be having physical symptoms of anxiety showing up as aches and pains, upset tummy or feeling panicky, dizzy or faint.

You may find that you are drinking more than usual or using other substances such as food, or drugs to help change your mood, because the way you are feeling is hard to cope with.

Perhaps it is hard for you to be honest about how you are feeling. It may feel frightening and perhaps you wonder how long you can keep coping like this on your own.

Help is available here now

I have experience supporting Parents, Carers, Teachers, Students, Counsellors, NHS workers, First Responders & others.

I began working in mental health in 1989. 

I have experience of working with mental health in private practice, in community mental health work, in schools, and in various NHS hospital settings.

I have specialised experience in the field of addiction and the connection between addiction and trauma.

It is common for me to work with you alongside another pratitioner such as your GP, mental health nurse, or the 12 step programme in the recovery field.

How I will work with you

Our work together will always be tailored to you and whatever you need support with.

We work at your pace at all times and appointment times are flexible around your budget and timetable.

Sometimes counselling work is detective work. Together we explore what is happening for you.

Here are some anonymous comments about my work

"Counselling has given me space to be more me in my life."

"Coming to see you has felt like a weight coming off my shoulders."

"I am so grateful to have a place I can speak about how I am feeling and not worry about upsetting people."

" Counselling was a lot easier than I thought it would be. I enjoyed it and I would like to come back again if I need it."

"Im so relieved to be back at work again."

""I cant believe that two sessions have helped me feel so different."

I work in two ways:-

Firstly I offer counselling which means you have a private safe space to talk about how you are feeling.

Sometimes it can be huge relief to be honest with me, knowing that I am not part of your everyday life.

Secondly I offer information which helps you discover useful things about your mental health. This means you can feel more empowered and understand that the feelings you have been experiencing are understandable in your time of difficulty. 

Are you worried about difficult past experiences or Trauma?

I work in a trauma informed way, which means that I note for signs & symptoms of trauma and I take care to work safely, respectfully and with care for you.

To increase your sense of comfort and safety, I can use the practices of Capacitar, Emotional Freedom Tapping & other somatic techniques. If it is helpful, we can build a toolkit of techniques that you enjoy, to support your sense of resilience and calm.

I offer short term work and there can be a marked improvement in a short space of time (usually around 6 weeks) 

I am also available for longer term work when this is helpful for you.

Please feel free to contact me for an informal discussion about what is concerning you and to discover if I am a good fit for you.

I have session availability and you can contact me now.
 

I offer counselling for connection and support as well as education about anxiety and calm.

If it is helpful, we can build a toolkit of techniques to support your sense of resilience and calm.

I have session availability and you can contact me now.