Louise Barrington

Hello and welcome.

I am a Registered, Accredited Humanistic Integrative Counsellor and an experienced EMDR Trauma Therapist. My training has incorporated a range of different counselling models so that I'm able to draw from a number of approaches in our work together. I believe that, as we are all unique individuals, we need therapy which is able to embrace our uniqueness rather than expecting us to fit in with one particular way of working.

I believe we get the most benefit from counselling and psychotherapy when we are able to work together in a way which lets us feel safe and accepted, for our weaknesses as well as our strengths. When we can enter into a trusting therapeutic relationship, we are able to heal, grow and move our lives forward. I offer a safe and welcoming counselling space where we can explore whatever has brought you to counselling.

My experience includes working with adults who have experienced childhood sexual abuse and trauma; both drug, alcohol and other addictions; relationship difficulties and relationship breakdown, mental health problems such as anxiety, depression and Bipolar; bereavement and loss; feeling 'stuck' in life, feeling "is this it?", as well as work with children and young people. I offer both short-term and long-term therapy.

I decided to train as a therapist because I believe that sometimes in life, we can feel isolated, alone and unable to cope. It may be that we are surrounded by friends and family but may not feel we can share our problems, anxieties or fears with them, because we feel they won't understand, we don't want to burden them with our problems, we fear rejection, feel shame, or because we at times may just not have anyone we can turn to.

Counselling is a unique relationship where you can explore your worries and difficulties without fear of judgement, shame or rejection. Together through counselling, we can work through whatever may be causing you pain and distress so that you can make sense of, and process, your experiences from the present and the past so that you can make different choices about your future.

In addition to my accredited Counselling training, I have also undertaken a range of additional qualifications and trainings to further enhance my practice. I am a qualified EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) Practitioner. EMDR is a specialist trauma psychotherapy created to help people process blocked and stuck memories which may be interfering with the here and now, for example by causing flashbacks and panic attacks. In addition to trauma and post -traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) EMDR is also used for anxiety, urge reduction and a range of other difficulties. In fact, EMDR is useful whatever your difficulties are and can be used as a stand-alone therapy or integrated with other models I am trained in.

I am also a qualified Therapeutic Coach and also integrate some aspects of this into my therapy where appropriate.

I work in South East London, with easy access to a range of means of public transport, and with free on-street parking locally.  My practice is convenient for Croydon, Beckenham, Crystal Palace, Penge, Wimbledon and other areas of South East London and I am close to mainline rail stations with direct lines from London Bridge and Victoria, tram links and bus routes.

I'm currently holding sessions in person, online or via phone call.

My fee is £60.00 per counselling session of 50 minutes duration.

Initial consultation/assessment sessions are also for 50 minutes and are charged at the same rates.

EMDR sessions are priced at £75.00 for a 50-minute session.

Some concessions may at times be available for counselling students, subject to space availability.

If you have any questions, or would like to arrange an initial assessment to explore your needs and to see if we can work together, please feel free to contact me by telephone or email and I will respond as soon as I am able to.