Ian Bellinger

I work with adults, children aged 11 and upwards, and teenagers.

If you are an adult

Sometimes you know what feels wrong. Sometimes it is harder to put into words.

You may be worrying all the time, overthinking things or finding it difficult to switch off. Perhaps you feel exhausted, overwhelmed or constantly on edge. You may feel low or flat, have lost confidence in yourself, or simply not feel like yourself anymore.

Things may be difficult at work or at home. You might be struggling in your relationships, feeling under pressure at work, caring for somebody else, or dealing with something that has happened or changed in your life.

Sometimes there is no obvious crisis. Life may look fine to other people, but not feel fine to you. You may feel stuck, disconnected from yourself, or have a sense that life is not quite as you would like it to be.

Or perhaps what is going on for you is something entirely different. Whatever it is, we can take time to explore it together at your pace.

I will listen carefully, ask questions when they seem useful and try not to jump to conclusions. I do not see myself as the expert on you. I will try to understand your experience from your point of view, rather than tell you what you should think, feel or do.

Talking about things does not always come easily, and you do not need to know exactly what to say. We can start with how things are now.

Before becoming a counsellor, I worked for many years as a solicitor in London and abroad. That experience gives me a strong sense of professional responsibility and some understanding of the pressure and expectations that can come with professional life.

If you are a young person

Being a teenager or young person can sometimes feel like a lot to deal with.

You might worry about things all the time or think everything through again and again. Perhaps you expect a lot of yourself at school and never quite feel that you are doing well enough.

You may compare yourself with other people and end up feeling rubbish about yourself. Perhaps you feel left out, lonely or misunderstood, or as though you do not really fit in.

Things at home or school may be difficult. You may feel angry, want everyone to leave you alone, or find it hard to explain what is going on when somebody asks if you are OK.

Sometimes things can feel strange or unreal. You might feel disconnected from yourself or from everything around you.

You may have ADHD or be autistic, be wondering whether you might be, or simply feel that you experience things differently from the people around you.

Whatever is going on for you, I will listen and take you seriously. You do not need to arrive with everything explained. We can begin with what feels most difficult at the moment.

If you are a parent looking for support for your child

You may be worried about your child but not quite know what is going on. They may seem more anxious, withdrawn, angry or unhappy than usual, or they may tell you very little even when you can see that something is not right.

Counselling can give a young person somewhere outside their family, school or friendship group where they can talk about what life is like for them without worrying about saying the right thing or reassuring somebody else.

Confidentiality helps a young person speak more freely. I will explain what confidentiality means, what its limits are, and how communication with parents will work, so that both you and your child know what to expect.

I offer some concessionary rates, depending on circumstances. I also offer concessionary rates for registered carers.