Cheryl Brunton

About Me

Hi, I’m Cheryl, a qualified person-centred counsellor offering online, telephone and in-person counselling for adults. Online counselling is available throughout the UK, alongside face-to-face sessions from my comfortable counselling room in Central Stockport.

Life can feel exhausting when you’re constantly trying to hold everything together.

You may be struggling with anxiety, stress, burnout, low self-esteem or emotional exhaustion. Perhaps you’re constantly overthinking, worrying about things you can’t control, replaying conversations or finding it difficult to switch off.

Maybe you’re someone who puts everyone else’s needs before your own, finds it difficult to say no or feels responsible for keeping everything running smoothly. On the outside, you might appear confident and capable, while underneath you’re feeling overwhelmed, anxious, drained or simply not yourself.

Or perhaps you can’t quite explain what’s wrong. You just know that things don’t feel right anymore, or that the ways you’ve always coped don’t seem to be working.

Sometimes we become so used to meeting expectations, supporting others and carrying on that we lose sight of how we’re actually feeling.

Counselling offers a warm, supportive and non-judgemental space where you can slow down, feel understood and begin making sense of what you’re going through, at your own pace.

How Counselling Can Help

Anxiety, stress and emotional difficulties can affect so many areas of life, whether they’ve been present for years or developed in response to particular circumstances.

You might find yourself questioning your decisions, worrying about what others think, anticipating the worst or feeling guilty when you take time for yourself.

Sometimes the things we struggle with on the surface are connected to deeper feelings of not being good enough, fear of disappointing others or past experiences that have left us questioning ourselves.

Exploring these feelings and recognising patterns in our thoughts, relationships and expectations can help us develop a greater understanding of ourselves and why certain situations affect us so deeply.

Through my counselling work, I’ve supported adults experiencing anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, work-related pressures, relationship and family difficulties, parenting challenges, bereavement, redundancy and significant life changes.

There are also times when it feels as though you’re using every bit of energy you have just to get through the day. Things that might seem small to someone else can feel overwhelming when you’re already juggling so much.

We all have different emotional and mental resources, and what feels manageable one day might feel impossible the next. Counselling can offer a space where you don’t have to explain or justify why things feel difficult, but can begin to recognise your needs, understand your limits and develop greater compassion towards yourself.

Neurodivergence can sometimes bring additional challenges, particularly around anxiety, emotional overwhelm, rejection sensitivity, masking and managing everyday expectations.

As a neurodivergent counsellor, I bring both personal and professional understanding of ADHD and autism, including the experiences of adults exploring or adjusting to a later-life diagnosis.

However, whether your experiences are connected to neurodivergence or not, the focus is always on understanding you as an individual, rather than defining you by a diagnosis or label.

My Approach to Counselling

As a person-centred counsellor, I believe that you are the expert on your own life.

Counselling isn’t about being told what to do, receiving advice or having someone else decide what’s best for you.

Instead, it’s an opportunity to explore your thoughts, feelings and experiences in a supportive relationship built on empathy, genuine understanding and acceptance.

My approach is calm, warm and down-to-earth, offering a safe and confidential space where you can talk openly without worrying about being judged, criticised or saying the wrong thing.

Opening up isn’t always easy, particularly if you’re used to keeping things to yourself, being independent or feeling that you should be able to manage everything on your own.

You may question whether your feelings are reasonable, worry about disappointing others or find yourself minimising your own experiences.

Having somewhere your feelings can be acknowledged without judgement or the need to justify them can help you begin to understand yourself differently.

There’s no expectation to arrive knowing exactly what you want to talk about, and no pressure to share anything before you’re ready.

Together, we can explore whatever feels important to you, at a pace that feels comfortable.

Over time, counselling may help you recognise patterns affecting your wellbeing, develop greater self-awareness and self-compassion, and feel more confident in yourself and your decisions.

Counselling isn’t about changing who you are. It’s about giving yourself the opportunity to reconnect with yourself, understand what matters to you and find a way forward that feels right for you.

Areas I Support Clients With

My experience includes supporting adults with:

• Anxiety, worry and overthinking
• Stress, burnout and emotional exhaustion
• Depression and low mood
• Low self-esteem, confidence and self-worth
• People-pleasing and difficulty setting boundaries
• Emotional regulation and rejection sensitivity
• Health anxiety
• Work-related stress and career pressures
• Relationship difficulties
• Family issues and parenting challenges
• Bereavement, grief and loss
• Trauma and difficult life experiences
• Redundancy and significant life changes
• Living with chronic health conditions
• ADHD, autism and later-life diagnosis
• Feeling stuck, lost or disconnected from yourself

You may recognise yourself in several of these areas, or perhaps you’re finding it difficult to put into words exactly what you’re experiencing.

That’s okay. You don’t need a diagnosis or a clear reason for seeking counselling.

Whatever you’re facing, you don’t have to go through it alone.

Online and In-Person Counselling

Online counselling is available to adults throughout the UK, offering the flexibility to access support from the comfort of your own home.

This can be particularly helpful if you’re juggling work and family commitments, find travelling difficult or simply feel more comfortable talking from familiar surroundings.

Telephone counselling is also available, alongside face-to-face appointments at my comfortable counselling room in Central Stockport, with nearby parking, good transport links and lift access.

Whichever option you choose, you’ll receive the same warm, supportive and person-centred approach.

Taking the Next Step

Reaching out for counselling can feel daunting, especially if you’re used to managing things yourself or putting your own needs last.

If you feel counselling might be helpful, you’re very welcome to get in touch.

A free 20-30 minute introductory call offers the opportunity to ask questions, talk about what you’re looking for and see whether working together feels like the right fit. There’s no pressure or obligation, just an opportunity to talk.

Sessions last 50 minutes and can take place weekly, fortnightly or monthly.

Whether you’re looking for a one-off session, short-term support over 6–12 sessions or longer-term, open-ended counselling, we can explore what best suits your individual needs.

What works for you is always at the centre of these choices.

You don’t need to wait until things become too much before giving yourself the time and space to be heard.

My fees are £50 per 50 minute session.

A number of concession slots are offered for various reasons where possible.

I offer a free 20-30 minute introductory session to see if you are happy to work together.