Janet Mitchell

What is counselling? Therapist often have a reputation of only being necessary if you have a mental illness. This isn’t the case, you can go to therapy if you’re feeling stressed, not sleeping well or just want someone to talk to. Think of it less like seeing your GP and more like a personal trainer.

Emotions can be hard to fix but talking about your feelings out loud to a counsellor can help. Some people, especially men, internalise their feelings rather than voice them but talking has powerful psychological benefits whether it’s a mental illness you’re struggling with or just need to talk to someone who knows how to handle stress. A good therapist can help you ‘hash out’ your feelings.

Verbalising how you are feeling can be part of the solution. The brain and body get a lot out of talking, especially if you’re fighting the exhausting uphill battle against your own negative feelings or intense emotions like fear, anxiety or aggression. Holding back thoughts and emotions is stressful and can make you feel awful or be more susceptible to getting sick but opening up and talking can contribute to overall improvement in your well-being and more importantly, help you understand how and why you feel the way you do and can help you handle your emotions more effectively in the future.

I know from personal experience how hard it is if you’re struggling to cope on your own, especially if you feel stuck in a continuous loop of anxiety, worry and negativity or feel bogged down by depression. Counselling can help make sense of what’s happening, learn the reasons why you think, feel and act the way you do and help you regain more control of your life by making helpful changes. It can help you look at things from a different perspective.

I provide a compassionate, caring, calm, space where you can express your thoughts, feelings, fears or worries and talk openly without fear of being judged. I tailor sessions to suit the individual, personalised for you. We work at your pace, because everyone brings something different to counselling so how many sessions are needed and how quickly progress is made will be based on your own personal journey. Regular weekly sessions are an important part of the process in order to develop a strong therapeutic relationship.

The clients I work with cover a wide range issues from psychological, physical and emotional abuse; addiction; anger; anxiety; bereavement and loss; depression; guilt; infertility; low self-esteem; low self-confidence; miscarriage; panic attacks; personality disorders; post-natal depression; redundancy; relationship issues; self-harm; separation and divorce; shame; smoking; still-birth; stress; suicidal thoughts; trauma; work related stress, etc. This is not a comprehensive list so feel free to contact me if your issue is not shown.

Currently, I offer confidential online sessions via Zoom or telephone, and as from 19 July 2021, hope to return to face-to-face sessions. I’m a member of the National Counselling Society and work to their ethical framework and best practice guidelines. I’m also fully insured.

Expressing how you’re feeling is healthy and can make it easier to break out of negative thought patterns later. It can feel embarrassing or uncomfortable the first few times, but the more you open up, the easier it will get to share how you feel.

Finding the right therapist for you, who you feel comfortable talking is important. So, if you like the sound of me, reach out. You have my contact details.

“If you always do what you always did, you’ll always get what you always got”
Albert Einstein

I work afternoons and evenings, Monday - Thursday and some Saturday mornings.   Fees for weekdays are £40 for a 50 minute session and £50 for a Saturday. 

In addition I offer a sliding scale of fees for NHS staff, students, OAPs and in certain circumstances.  

Finding a therapist you’re comfortable talking to is an essential factor in the counselling process and I’m here to help.  Please contact me for further information.  

I work with a wide range of difficulties including struggles with abuse - emotional and physical; addiction; anger; anxiety; bereavement and loss; depression; guilt; infertility; low self-esteem; low self-confidence; miscarriage; panic attacks; personality disorders; post-natal depression; redundancy; relationship issues; self-harm; separation and divorce; shame; smoking; still-birth; stress; suicidal thoughts; trauma; work related stress; trauma etc. This is not a fully comprehensive list so please contact me for further information if your issue is not shown.