Freya Lawlor

I’m Freya, a qualified Counsellor and Psychotherapist. For the past 6 years I have been supporting people with their mental health in schools, sixthforms and universities, as well as for charities and in private practice.

I’m an integrative counsellor, which simply means I draw from a range of therapeutic techniques and theories to help you build your own emotional toolbox. Some people like to get creative, some prefer quiet and space to think, and others want to be gently challenged. I believe each of us knows our own mind best. My role is to offer guidance and suggestions, drawing on my training and experience, while you stay in the driving seat. Clients often tell me I’m easy to talk to and compassionate, but that I’m also not afraid to ask the difficult questions. I believe you need both: a space where you feel safe enough to be honest, and someone who will gently challenge you when it could help you move forward.

Below are some of the areas I most often work with. This list is by no means exhaustive, so if what you’re dealing with isn’t here, you’re still very welcome to get in touch.

Anxiety
I know first-hand how much anxiety can affect everyday life, and it can feel even harder when the world feels uncertain.

I believe anxiety needs support for both the mind and the body. Together we might look at how to question anxious thoughts that aren’t helping you, get to know the different sides of yourself with kindness and curiosity, and use mindfulness and relaxation to calm your body when it’s on high alert.

ADHD
ADHD, whether diagnosed, suspected, or discovered later in life, can affect far more than focus. Many people I work with describe feeling overwhelmed, misunderstood, or exhausted from years of trying to keep up in systems that weren’t built for how their brain works.

I offer practical strategies for the day-to-day challenges, such as planning and getting started on tasks, losing track of time, and feeling hurt more deeply by criticism or rejection than others seem to.

But I also think it’s important to go deeper than practical tools. Living with a neurodivergent brain in a world designed for neurotypical ones can leave you doubting yourself and carrying a lot of shame, often for years before anyone puts a name to what’s going on. Many people have spent a long time believing they’re lazy, too much, or not enough, when really they’ve been trying to work in ways that were never designed for them.

Together we can make sense of your experience, build self-compassion, and find ways of working that suit you rather than ones you’re expected to fit into. I have particular experience supporting students and young adults. Please note that I don’t provide diagnostic assessments.

Creative burnout
I’m passionate about creativity. I believe it’s a natural part of being human, and that art, in whatever form, can be a language for feelings and experiences that are hard or impossible to put into words. Yet in our increasingly digital world, it can feel harder and harder to create freely.

Our sessions focus on rediscovering lost passions and letting go of shame around your creativity. We might use journal prompts, creative exercises and mindfulness, always at a level that feels comfortable for you.

Sexual Trauma
If you’ve experienced sexual violence or abuse, whether recently or a long time ago, you deserve support that feels safe, unhurried and led by you. There’s no right way to feel and no timeline to follow.

I have trained with sexual trauma specialist Zoe Lodrick and completed Rewind training, a method for working with traumatic memories that doesn’t require you to go over every detail of what happened.

Our work together might include understanding why your mind and body respond the way they do (many people find it a relief to learn that their reactions are normal), and using gentle worksheets designed for people who have experienced trauma, created by Janina Fisher, author of Transforming the Living Legacy of Trauma. I’m very mindful of working at your pace. You decide what you share and when.

If you’re wondering whether counselling could help, get in touch. I offer a free 15-minute chat so you can get a feel for how I work, ask any questions and decide whether I might be the right fit for you. I hope to understand your life and what it is really like to experience what you are going through.

Free 15 minute initial chat