About me
About Me
I'm a BACP Accredited Counsellor with many years of experience supporting adults, children and young people through a wide range of emotional and psychological challenges. (I'm registered with the BACP, Bupa, AXA and Mindright under my full name, Deborah Pell - Debbie is simply how I'm known day to day.)
I work in a person-centred, solution-focused way - which means therapy is shaped around you: your pace, your goals, and what matters most to you, rather than a fixed programme applied to everyone in the same way.
My approach is grounded in empathy, respect and genuine care. I offer a warm, confidential space where you can feel truly heard, understood and accepted without judgement. Together, we can explore what's troubling you, build greater self-awareness, strengthen emotional resilience, and find practical, lasting ways forward.
Working with Children and Young People
I have extensive experience supporting children and young people, gained through NHS youth counselling services, school-based counselling for children aged 7 to 18, bereavement support at the Fountain Centre at Royal Surrey Hospital, and my private practice.
Children and teenagers often show emotional distress differently to adults. It can appear as anxiety, anger, withdrawal, low mood, school refusal, changes in behaviour, low confidence, self-harm, friendship difficulties, or struggles coping with family pressures and change.
I create a calm, trusting environment where young people feel safe to express themselves at their own pace. Depending on what suits the individual, I draw on a blend of talking therapy, creative approaches and, where appropriate, play-based techniques - helping children and young people communicate their feelings, process their experiences, and build confidence and resilience.
My aim is always the same: to help young people feel understood, emotionally secure, and better equipped to manage the challenges they face.
Working with Adults
Life can sometimes feel overwhelming - whether you're struggling with difficult emotions, coping with loss, facing challenges in a relationship, or simply feeling stuck and unsure of the way forward.
Whatever brings you to counselling, I'll work alongside you with empathy, honesty and respect, offering a safe space to explore what you're experiencing and helping you move towards positive, lasting change.
Counselling gives you room to pause, reflect and make sense of what's going on for you. In a supportive and completely confidential environment, you can talk openly, without fear of judgement. Together, we'll work towards a deeper understanding of your experiences, notice the patterns that may be affecting your wellbeing, develop healthier ways of coping, and find a path forward that feels right for you.
How I Work
A strong therapeutic relationship is at the heart of effective counselling. Every person is unique, so I adapt my approach to fit your individual needs and circumstances, rather than asking you to fit a single method.
Whether you're seeking support for yourself or looking for help for your child, I offer a welcoming, compassionate and confidential space to explore what's difficult, without fear of judgement.
I offer face-to-face counselling in Weybridge, Surrey, with easy off-street parking, as well as online sessions via secure video call - whichever works best for you.
Training, qualifications & experience
Qualification & Training
- BACP Accredited Counsellor (Accredited Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) - registered as Deborah Pell
- Play Therapy Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
- Coach Practitioner, EMCC, with TPC Leadership
- Certificate in Exploring Suicidal Risks with Clients
- CPCAB Level 4 in Counselling
- TES Child Protection in Education
- TES The Prevent Duty
- TES Online Safety
- TES Health and Safety in Education
Experience
- Private practice, counselling adults and young people
- Recognised Bupa Counsellor (listed as Deborah Pell - please use this name if referencing your Bupa policy or claim)
- Recognised AXA Counsellor (listed as Deborah Pell - please use this name if referencing your AXA policy or claim)
- School Counsellor (Surrey)
- NHS Youth Counsellor (Youth Counselling Service)
- Hospice Counsellor, Fountain Centre - Royal Surrey Hospital
Professional Membership
- Accredited Member, British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy.
Member organisations
school Registered / Accredited
Being registered/accredited with a professional body means an individual must have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by their member organisation.
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
Other areas of counselling I deal with
Areas I can help with
Mental Health & Emotional Wellbeing
Anxiety · Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) · Health anxiety · Social anxiety · Panic attacks · Depression · Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) · Low mood · Stress · Burnout · Low self-esteem · Low self-confidence · Perfectionism · High sensitivity · Loneliness
Trauma & Crisis Trauma ·
Abortion · Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) · Abuse (including emotional and sexual abuse) · Self-harm · Suicidal thoughts
Relationships & Family Relationship problems ·
Affairs and betrayals · Separation and divorce · Family issues · Blended families · Non-monogamy · Sexual problems · Jealousy · Carer support
Life Changes & Identity Bereavement ·
Childhood bereavement · Miscarriage · Infertility · Childless not by choice · Redundancy · Menopause · Older people's counselling · Discrimination
Children & Young People Childhood anxiety ·
Childhood depression · Childhood bullying · Bullying · Behaviour problems · School-related difficulties · Separation anxiety · Young people's counselling
Physical & Neurodevelopmental Chronic illness ·
Chronic fatigue syndrome/ME · Cancer · Dementia · ADHD · Dyslexia
Compulsive & Addictive Behaviours Addiction ·
Alcoholism · Smoking · Internet addiction · Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) · Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder · Avoidant personality disorder · Hoarding · Eating disorders · Binge-eating disorder
Work-Related
Work-related stress
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£85.00 per session
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
£85 per 50 minute counselling session
Free initial introductory call
When I work
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Further information
Therapies I Offer
Person-centred therapy
Humanistic therapies
Solution-focused brief therapy
Positive psychology
Transactional analysis
Child counselling
Fees
£85 per 50-minute counselling session
Free initial introductory call
Availability
I offer appointments across early morning, morning, early afternoon, late afternoon and evening slots, Monday to Friday, so we can find a time that works around your life.
Location
My private practice is held in a peaceful, private space in Weybridge, Surrey with plenty of off-street parking. Online sessions are also available via secure video call for anyone who prefers, or needs, to meet remotely.
If you're thinking about counselling, taking the first step can feel like the hardest part. I offer a free introductory call so we can talk things through, answer any questions, and see whether working together feels right for you - with no pressure and no obligation.
