About me
Sometimes life can leave us feeling lost, anxious or overwhelmed. Perhaps you're feeling weighed down by worry, stuck in your thoughts, or carrying something painful that feels too heavy to carry alone. Perhaps you push your feelings down because you feel like you don’t have the right to be struggling, while longing for understanding and support. Or maybe you just need time and space to explore what is going on for you.
Whether you're carrying a burden from the past, facing difficult decisions, or simply feeling unsure about where to turn, it’s possible to find your way forward.
How I can Help
Counselling with me is a calm, non-judgemental place to talk and be heard, and I welcome you just as you are. I work gently and collaboratively, truly listening with care, respect, and openness. We can explore difficult feelings without judgment or pressure, and begin to make sense of your thoughts and experiences, always guided by what feels important to you. I work flexibly, adapting the pace and focus of our work to meet your individual needs, whether you are looking for shorter-term support or a longer period of counselling.
Who I Work With
More often than we realise, emotional difficulties don’t arise because we’ve failed to cope, but because we’ve been coping for a very long time. You may recognise yourself in some of the experiences below…
- Persistent worry, anxiety, or struggling with intrusive thoughts (including OCD and peri-natal OCD)
- Struggling with self-criticism, guilt, or shame, finding it hard to feel good enough
- Difficulties in relationships or family life, relationship betrayals
- Social anxiety, loneliness
- Struggling with anger, or feeling emotionally overwhelmed
- Experience of abuse
- The long-term impact of childhood trauma, including childhood burdens, supporting those who grew up feeling responsible for others at the expense of their own needs
- Grief, loss or life changes, including menopause
- The challenges of working in farming and rural ways of life
- Exploring neurodiversity and the personal challenges that can come with this
A Testimonial
“Please, make contact if you need to be listened to. Gail is professional and offers warmth, care and meticulous attention in a private, safe and comfortable environment. Gail has a wealth of trustworthy knowledge and a breadth of experience. You would very much struggle to find a human with more kindness” James Naylor NCPS Accred.
As a result of our work together, you may begin to experience:
Relief from anxiety and emotional distress
More freedom from patterns of guilt, self-doubt or emotional overwhelm that have held you back
A deeper, more honest understanding of yourself, with growing self-acceptance and compassion
Increased confidence and trust in your own decisions and what feels right for you
More fulfilling relationships with space for your needs as well as others
It’s natural to feel unsure about starting therapy. You’re welcome to try a session and see how it feels. The number of sessions you choose is entirely flexible and based on what feels right for you.
Getting in touch:
Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you’d like to book a free, in-person or telephone consultation, where you can ask any questions you may have, and find out if you feel I am the right counsellor for you.
- In-person sessions in a private, comfortable and dedicated setting in Bodmin, North Cornwall
- Online and telephone sessions across the UK
- Email: gail@gailanncounselling.co.uk
- Text: 07794 662493
- www.gailanncounselling.co.uk
Training, qualifications & experience
Previous experience
Before becoming a counsellor, I spent over twenty-five years working with children and families in education settings, with a particular focus on supporting vulnerable children and young people through therapeutic work.
I also continue to work with The Dreadnought Centre, a Cornish charity providing one-to-one counselling support for children and young people, and with a local men’s mental health initiative.
I have a particular interest in working with people connected to agriculture and rural life, including farmers, farming families, agricultural workers and those running rural businesses. I recognise that working and living within farming and rural communities can bring its own pressures, responsibilities and challenges. I offer informed, flexible support that can be shaped around individual and family circumstances, providing a confidential and understanding space to explore whatever is going on.
I am an accredited member of the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS) (Register number: NCPS602). I adhere to their Code of Ethics, which upholds and ensures ethical working practices at all times, and puts the wellbeing of the client at the heart of all work.
Qualifications include:
- Diploma in Person-centred Counselling and Psychotherapy (University of Plymouth)
- Certified Trauma Coach (The Centre for Healing)
- Degree in Early Years and Child Development (The Open University)
Continuous professional development includes:
- Trauma and the Body - Dissociation and Somatisation
- Child Sexual Abuse - Hope for Healing
- How to Diagnose and Treat OCD (NICABM)
- Couples Therapy - Human Givens
- Understanding Parts: A Contemporary Approach to Trauma Recovery (The Voyage)
- How to Work with Shame (NICABM)
- Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) (The Association of Psychological Therapies)
- Safeguarding Children Level 3
- Online and Telephone Therapy Certificate (BACP)
- A list of my qualifications and ongoing CPD is listed on my website
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.
The National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society This Not For Profit association of counsellors and psychotherapists aim to support the counselling profession, members and training organisations. In 2013 the NCS register was accredited by the Professional Standards Authority under the Accredited Voluntary Register Scheme. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
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.
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
Parentification trauma and childhood burdens
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£50.00 - £55.00
Concessions offered for
Additional information
I offer a limited number of concessions to those under 25 years of age, and those working in agriculture and some rural businesses.
When I work
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Further information
I run a private counselling practice in North Cornwall, Gail Ann Counselling. Here, sessions take place in a comfortable and dedicated room, where individuals can safely explore and make sense of their thoughts, feelings and experiences.
I am a registered and accredited member of the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society and I adhere to their Code of Ethics, which upholds and ensures ethical working practices at all times, and puts the wellbeing of the client at the heart of all work.
I have full professional liability insurance.
I have an enhanced DBS check.
