About me
Hi, I’m Ash.
As I sit down to write this, I wonder how I can capture what therapy is really like in just a few short introductory words.
It may be that you’re struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, isolation, relationship issues, work stress, bereavement or loss. Maybe there are feelings of shame, or moments when you find it hard to be gentle and kind toward yourself. You may really want to try to understand it, to move forward and heal, but are just unsure how.
It can feel strange considering therapy, the idea of sharing your thoughts, feelings, and experiences with someone who is initially a stranger. Sometimes it can be difficult to share how you really feel with friends or family, through fear of judgement, of not wanting to burden others or simply not knowing how to put it into words. Therapy offers a space that’s just for you, where you can bring whatever is going on, without judgement or expectation, a space where you don’t have to hold it all together.
I work in a person-centred way, meaning you are free to bring whatever you want to sessions. I will not give you advice, tell you what you should or shouldn't be thinking, or tell you what to talk about. Instead, I’ll be alongside you, listening with care, compassion and understanding, as we make sense of things together. Over time, this can help you feel more connected to yourself, more able to trust yourself, to understand yourself and your experiences more deeply, and to move towards the changes you want to see.
One of the most important factors in therapy isn’t a particular technique or method, but the therapeutic relationship that is built. That can feel uncertain at first, as in this moment any potential therapist you choose to support you on your journey, is a stranger. But it is important for you to feel comfortable, for you to feel safe, for you to feel as though you may just be able to trust this person with those things that you are finding difficult, the things that are causing you pain.
For this reason, I offer a free introductory session of up to an hour, to see how we would fit. If this feels like too much for a first session, we could have a short phone call, I am happy to work in a way that feels most comfortable for you. The first session can be daunting, meeting a stranger and sharing aspects of yourself that may feel painful. But it is in this sharing that the potential for healing can arise.
If any of this resonates with you, please feel free to get in touch by phone or email. I’d be really glad to hear from you.
‘The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change’ – Carl Rogers
Training, qualifications & experience
- Diploma in Person-Centred Therapeutic Counselling
- BA Honours Degree in Psychology
- Member of the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists
- Current Volunteer Counsellor
- Previous Volunteer Group Facilitator Peer Talk
- Previous Mental Health First Aid Training
- Enhanced DBS Certificate
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.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Therapies offered
Fees
£35.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
I offer a free initial session, with no obligation to continue, for you to get a feel for how we may be able to work together.
Sessions are one hour long and priced at £35. I work on an appointment-by-appointment basis, without the need for long-term commitment.
Depending on your location, options for sessions include remote video sessions online, telephone, or face-to-face counselling in a warm and welcoming space in Kirkham.
How many sessions you have is completely up to you, some people may experience relief from a few sessions whilst others may find it helpful to engage in more long term therapy. Both are perfectly ok, there are no limitations on sessions.
When I work
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early morning | |||||||
| Morning | |||||||
| Early afternoon | |||||||
| Late afternoon | |||||||
| Evening |
