Dominica Hamilton-Leathart

We all experience painful emotional states and life events that impact us. Indeed, we are all affected by adversity at one time or another and sometimes feel overwhelmed and defeated. Having a safe space to explore what's bothering us can be positively transformative, offering new possibilities and insights that help us grow and persevere.

My counselling practice encourages self-exploration by cultivating self-compassion, self-empathy, and unconditional acceptance, all healthy attitudes conducive to emotional well-being and reclaiming agency and autonomy over our lives. In essence, my practice aims to assist you in developing a kinder and more sensitive relationship with yourself, enabling you to deal with setbacks and other issues affecting you.

As a person-centred therapist, I maintain that we all tend to move forward and actualise our irreplaceable potential in the world. We want to realise our unique blueprint. However, circumstances outside our control can sometimes block or distort our growth. We can often lose sight of ourselves and get lost in entanglements. Feeling perpetually trapped, lost, depressed, anxious, and other similar experiences are signals that indicate a block.

Thankfully, blocks to our growth can be unlocked. No matter how many sediments may be piled on top of this tendency, the properties of healing, wisdom, and growth lie within us, ready and waiting to be tapped through personal and interpersonal connection. 

So What Would Counselling Look Like?

Each session will involve working together to explore your beliefs, thoughts, emotions, and behaviours, thereby facilitating the differentiation and expansion of your perspective and discovering and experimenting with new and effective ways of functioning. 

This process could involve unpacking and reframing self-critical attitudes toward yourself or, for example, processing painful emotions you've been avoiding for a long time that continue to impact you in the present.

Therapy enables us to safely and mindfully examine what's happening from a distance, see things from multiple angles, and promote the emergence and creation of new understandings. Gradually, you may rethink certain assumptions about yourself, relationships, and the environment and apply these insights. Every session will allow you to examine your world and consider new ways to move forward that are conducive to your well-being. 

As you become more aware of yourself and your options for constructive change, you will feel increasingly empowered and equipped to deal with life's challenges more thoughtfully and self-compassionately. 

--

More Information About Counselling

Counselling sessions are typically fifty minutes long and cost £50 per appointment. Concessionary rates are available for low-income clients, students, NHS workers, and those out of work.

Concessions operate on a sliding scale; therefore, the fee will vary depending on your financial and vocational circumstances and remain open to change throughout your therapy.  

Appointments are typically scheduled for the same time and day every week to maintain consistency and momentum. However, given that things happen, I can offer flexible appointment times. 

​Free Consultation

Research clearly shows that successful outcomes in counselling depend on the quality of the therapeutic relationship. For you to get the most out of your therapy, you must be able to find a counselling practitioner whom you trust and feel safe working alongside. With this in mind, your first thirty-minute session is free, allowing us to meet one another beforehand, introduce you to my approach, and ultimately help you determine whether my practice suits you. 

This initial meeting can occur via Zoom or face-to-face (currently unavailable). It enables us to address any questions about the counselling process and what the procedure entails. We can also review what you'd like to achieve in your therapy, although this may not always be clear from the beginning and not uncommonly changes. You're not obligated to return if you find my approach or person unsuitable.

Number of Sessions

We all work at different rates, and the process of growing cannot be rushed with a time limit. I will offer as many sessions as you feel you need. Our work together is open-ended; thus, you determine the endpoint.

We will check in and discuss your progress periodically and, depending on where you are in your therapy, go about finding a suitable ending.

Please know that you are welcome to return at any time. My door is always open should you wish to recommence your counselling.