Emma Thompson

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I understand how difficult you might find it to talk to someone, even a counsellor, about your deepest concerns but I am glad you are here. Counselling is about you - knowing where you are, how you got there and the choices you can make to change things. Choices that may have seemed impossible before.

Are you feeling anxious, stressed, upset, depressed, overwhelmed? Or perhaps you just have a vague sense that something isn't right? Struggling along alone? Perhaps you have been bullied, bereaved, hurt? You might be feeling angry, isolated, sad, anxious or even completely numb.

I am a qualified counsellor and a Registered Member of the BACP, working face to face in person in Sittingbourne and online. I offer a non-judgemental, supportive and safe environment to work through your thoughts and feelings to live a life which is more fulfilling for you. I will provide a calm, confidential space and time to help you identify the changes you want to make and develop the skills you need to maintain those changes.

To begin, we would speak via phone or email about what you need help with and want from counselling (please see my Privacy Policy on my website for more information). If you then are happy to do so, we will arrange an appointment. If we are unable to work together, for whatever reason, I may be able to recommend someone else who can help you.

At the first appointment, we will discuss what has happened previously in your life and what is happening now. We will talk more about your hopes and goals for counselling, and discuss how many appointments you might like and how often (usually I offer weekly sessions, or you may prefer fortnightly). I offer 6 sessions to start with, but you can choose a different number or change it later - either to have more or fewer sessions if needed - as you wish. You can end counselling whenever you feel ready. It is usually helpful to have at least one last session to tie up any loose ends, but it is your choice.

We will review our work at regular intervals to make sure you are getting what you need. I will not give advice, tell you how to live your life or judge you. Instead, I will help you to think things through (perhaps in very new ways!) and support you as you choose how to move forward.

I specialise in helping people who are anxious (or have anxiety) and/or think poorly of themselves. Poor self-image, low self-esteem and Imposter Syndrome are really difficult to live with. I would like to help you get out of that stuckness become the person you want to be and can be.

I also specialise in helping people with chronic pain and chronic illnesses - particularly CFS/ME, fibromyalgia and hypermobility syndromes. These are very real physical illnesses with numerous debilitating symptoms, but the mental and emotional impacts of living with these conditions can be worked with in counselling. You might have been offered counselling before and been told that your condition is “all in your head”, or that it is somehow your fault. I won’t tell you that - because I have these conditions myself, and I know that they are real, physical and very difficult to live with. The emotional and mental impact can be devastating, and then feeds back into making things worse. I want to help you manage your condition as best you can with your limitations, and have the fulfilling life you deserve.