About me
Are you feeling overwhelmed, anxious or exhausted from trying to hold everything together?
Perhaps life has changed unexpectedly. You may be dealing with anxiety, bereavement, family difficulties, relationship changes, a life-changing diagnosis or simply feeling that you've lost your sense of who you are.
Sometimes there isn't one obvious reason. You might be managing work, family and everyday responsibilities on the outside while privately thinking, “I'm struggling”
You don't have to wait until you're at breaking point to ask for support.
I'm Annmarie, an integrative counsellor working with adults and young people. I offer a warm, down-to-earth and non-judgemental space where you can talk openly about what is happening in your life without feeling that you need to have all the answers.
You don't need to arrive knowing exactly what to say. We can begin wherever you are.
How I can support you
My approach is integrative, I don't believe one way of counselling suits everybody. Our work together will be shaped around you, your experiences and what you need from counselling.
I particularly support people experiencing anxiety and overwhelm, difficult life changes, chronic or life-changing illness and diagnosis, bereavement and loss, family difficulties, neurodivergence and emotional wellbeing.
I also have extensive experience supporting young people and understand that counselling can feel daunting, particularly if talking about feelings doesn't come easily.
Sometimes counselling is about processing something painful that has happened.
Sometimes it's about understanding patterns that keep repeating.
And sometimes it's simply having somewhere you can finally say:
“This is how I'm really feeling.”
Lived experience and understanding
Alongside my professional training, some of my understanding comes from lived experience.
I know personally how quickly life can change when illness or diagnosis becomes part of your story. I live with Young-Onset Parkinson's and have experience of supporting my daughter with Type 1 diabetes, as well as raising neurodivergent children.
I understand the emotions that can accompany these experiences, uncertainty, worry, grief for the life you expected, changes within relationships and family life, and the pressure to keep going even when things feel incredibly difficult.
Working with young people
Before becoming a counsellor, I spent around 15 years working in education, including roles as an Emotional Wellbeing Lead, teacher and mentor.
That experience has given me a strong understanding of some of the pressures young people and their families can face, including anxiety, low self-esteem, school pressures, friendships, family changes and neurodivergence.
My aim is to provide a space where a young person can gradually feel comfortable being themselves, without pressure or judgement.
A space where everyone is welcome
My Christian faith is personally important to me, and I recognise that spirituality can be an important source of meaning and support for some people.
However, you do not need to share my faith to work with me.
I welcome people of all faiths and none, and people of all sexualities, gender identities and backgrounds. Counselling is your space, and your beliefs, values and identity will always be respected.
What might counselling with me feel like?
You won't find judgement, pressure to “get over it” or an expectation that you should have everything figured out.
Instead, we'll create space to slow things down, understand what's happening for you and explore what might help you move forward at a pace that feels manageable.
There may be difficult conversations, but there can also be warmth, humour, hope and moments when things begin to make a little more sense.
That's the thinking behind Still Waters Therapy:
A safe space to heal and grow.
Taking the first step
Reaching out to a counsellor can feel like a surprisingly big step, particularly if you're used to coping alone.
If you're wondering whether I might be the right counsellor for you, you're welcome to get in touch.
I offer counselling in person, online and by telephone, giving you flexibility to choose what feels most comfortable.
I also offer a free 15-minute introductory telephone call. This gives you an opportunity to tell me a little about what has brought you to counselling, ask any questions and get a sense of whether you would feel comfortable working with me. There's no obligation to book a session afterwards.
Sometimes the hardest part is simply sending that first message.
You don't need to have the right words. “I'm interested in counselling” is enough.
Training, qualifications & experience
- Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
- Level 3 Diploma In Counselling.
- Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills
- Post Graduate Certificate in Education
- Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Studies
- Mental Health First Aid England Certificate
- Level 2: Understanding Children and Young Peoples Mental Health.
- Level 2: Understanding Autism
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
Fees
£50.00 per session
Concessions offered for
When I work
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I can be quite flexible. If my availability doesn't meet yours, then do get in contact and we can arrange another time that suits you.
