Denise Watson

You don't have to face things alone
Perhaps life has changed in a way you weren't expecting. You may be grieving someone or something important to you, living with illness or disability, feeling increasingly lonely or isolated, or struggling to make sense of changes within yourself or someone you love.

You might not even know exactly what is wrong. You simply know that things don't feel right and you'd like someone to talk to who will really listen.

I'm Denise, a person-centred counsellor with over 25 years' experience of supporting people through difficult, uncertain and changing times.

How I can help
People come to counselling for many different reasons. You may be:

• experiencing anxiety, depression or low mood
• grieving the death of someone important to you
• struggling with the loss of a much-loved pet
• living with cancer, chronic illness or disability
• feeling lonely, isolated or disconnected from others
• adjusting to retirement or changes later in life
• supporting someone living with dementia
• navigating hearing loss or profound deafness
• exploring neurodiversity or the impact this has on your relationships
• simply feeling stuck and unsure how to move forward.

Whatever has brought you here, you don't need to arrive with the right words or a clear idea of what you want from counselling.

We can begin with where you are.

What counselling with me is like
My approach is warm, accepting and person-centred. That means I won't tell you what you should do or make decisions for you.

Instead, I offer you a confidential and non-judgemental space where you can talk openly about what is happening in your life.

I'll listen carefully, help you explore your thoughts and feelings, and reflect things back to you that may help you see your situation differently. Together, we can begin to make sense of what you're experiencing and help you find a way forward that feels right for you.

For me, counselling is about working alongside you rather than positioning myself as the expert on your life.

Experience with loss, illness and changing circumstances
A significant part of my work has involved supporting people when life changes around them.

I have experience of counselling people affected by bereavement, cancer, chronic illness, dementia and disability, as well as those caring for or supporting someone they love.

I've also worked within hospice and care environments and supported partners and spouses following bereavement.

I understand that loss isn't always about bereavement either. Changes to our health, independence, relationships, work, identity or role within a family can leave us grieving for the life we once had.

Sometimes having someone outside your family and friendship circle to talk to can make an enormous difference.

Hearing loss and the Deaf community
I have many years' experience of working with people who are Deaf or experiencing hearing loss.

I hold Stage III British Sign Language qualifications and am also a qualified lipspeaker. My background has included working with Deaf people whose first language is BSL and helping communication between Deaf patients and healthcare professionals.

This experience means I understand some of the additional challenges that communication difficulties and hearing loss can bring, both for the individual and for the people closest to them.

Pet bereavement
The death of an animal can bring an enormous sense of loss.

For some people, their pet has been their closest companion, an important part of their daily routine or even their main source of comfort and connection.

Unfortunately, others don't always understand the depth of this grief.

I hold a diploma in pet loss and bereavement and offer a space where your loss will be recognised and taken seriously.

Taking the first step
I know that contacting a counsellor for the first time can feel daunting, particularly if you've never had counselling before.

You don't have to commit immediately.

I offer a free 15-minute introductory call so that we can talk briefly about what has brought you to counselling, you can ask me any questions you have, and we can get a sense of whether I might be the right counsellor for you.

I offer counselling face-to-face in the Easington, Peterlee and Harlepool areas, as well as online and by telephone.

If something you've read here feels familiar, you're very welcome to get in touch.

Dementia support

I have knowledge and experience of supporting partners of people living with dementia, and this is an area where I have found group therapy can be particularly valuable, offering connection and shared understanding.

People living with dementia can also benefit from counselling, providing a supportive space to explore what they are experiencing in the present while reflecting on meaningful memories and important experiences from their past.

Fees can be paid into a British bank account, or into a Paypal account.  If a client cancels an appointment at least twenty four hours before the session begins, I will forego the payment.  If not cancelled before this cut-off time, I will ask for a payment to be made.  For discounts to apply for any of the groups mentioned above, evidence of such status will be requested.

Whilst I have stated that I work Wednesdays and Thursdays, I can, on occasion,  make myself available at other times, when the need arises.

Deafness and Hearing Loss
I have had an interest in British Sign Language (BSL) since I was a teenager and went on to complete formal training in BSL as an adult. Over the years, I have continued to develop my knowledge and understanding through both experience and further learning.

As a hearing counsellor who uses sign language, I can offer counselling directly to BSL users. I am also a qualified lipspeaker and can support clients who communicate through lipreading.

Being able to communicate directly can be particularly valuable in counselling, where facial expression, tone and other subtle aspects of communication are important. It also means our conversations can remain directly between us without the need for an interpreter.

If you would like to explore counselling with me, please get in touch and we can arrange an initial conversation to see whether I am the right counsellor for you. Sessions can be offered face-to-face or online.

Autism and Neurodiversity
Being neurodivergent can affect how you experience and interact with the world around you. You may process information, communicate or experience social situations differently from other people, and this can sometimes leave you feeling misunderstood, overwhelmed or isolated.

Everyone's experience is different. Counselling offers a space where you don't have to fit into somebody else's expectations. We can explore the challenges you are experiencing, understand what works for you and recognise your individual strengths and needs.

Neurodiversity and Addiction
For some people, neurodivergence can also play a part in their relationship with alcohol, drugs or other addictive behaviours.

If you are struggling with addiction alongside experiences associated with ADHD, autism or other forms of neurodivergence, I can offer a space to explore these together rather than viewing them as completely separate issues.

Understanding what may be driving a behaviour can be an important part of finding healthier ways to cope and moving towards meaningful change.