About me
Hello, I’m Gemma. I offer a space where you can slow down, breathe and reconnect with yourself, something that’s often missing in a world focused on doing.
I’m curious about people, and I’m warm, but I won’t simply nod along. If I think you’re avoiding something, or that an old story is holding you back, I’ll say so, kindly and directly, and we’ll look at it together.
People often come to me when they:
- want to change how they interact with others, or how they show up in their relationships
- feel unable to be themselves around their family
- want to understand their part in a break-up so they can do things differently in future
- are worried about returning to work after time off
- are grieving and looking for a way through
- are stuck in a cycle of thought that isn’t serving them
How we’ll work
We’ll begin by building a relationship where you feel safe to be yourself. I’ll want to hear about you and your life: what’s working, what isn’t, and what you’d like to change. Together, we’ll make sense of the stories you tell yourself and zoom out to see the patterns in how you behave and relate to others. A session is a conversation, not a lecture. Sometimes I’ll act as a mirror, so you can see how your actions are really affecting your life. That won’t always feel comfortable, but we’ll go at a pace you can manage, and you won’t be doing it alone.
My approach is integrative, which means I draw on different counselling approaches to suit you, because no two people are the same. At its heart is the belief that you have your own capacity for growth.
A little about me
I know from my own experience how much this work can change things. I used to believe I had to be in control of everything. When I started to unpick that belief, I realised it belonged to a version of me I no longer wanted to be. I was overfunctioning, and I was suffering. Letting it go changed how I live.
Before training as a counsellor, I spent 20 years in customer service, supporting people through difficult conversations. That’s where my passion for counselling began, and it taught me how much it matters to be truly heard.
I’m a registered member of the BACP and NCPS, which means I work to professional ethical standards so you receive safe, effective support.
Training, qualifications & experience
Qualifications:
I hold a CPCAB Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling from Kingston College, with additional qualifications in L2 and L3.
Reaching out can feel daunting, and it’s okay not to know where to start. Finding the right fit matters, so I offer a free 30-minute introductory call, with no pressure, just a chance to connect and ask questions. When you’re ready, I’d be glad to hear from you.
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
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£70.00 per session
Concessions offered for
When I work
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I have some flexibility in my working hours, please get in touch and we can discuss.
Further information
My practice is in Tolworth, a short step away from the bustle of Surbiton. The room is quiet and calm, with grounding colours and comfortable chairs, so you can slow down and settle as soon as you arrive.
Getting here is easy. The K1, K4, 465 and 71 buses all stop nearby, and if you’d rather drive, there’s plenty of free parking on the surrounding roads.
