Lydia Brooks

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Person-centred Counsellor. FdA, MBACP.

About me

I am a person-centred counsellor offering a warm, supportive, and non-judgemental space where you can feel heard, accepted, and understood.

I have a particular interest in supporting adults affected by difficult family issues, domestic abuse, trauma, and neurodivergence. 
I believe that you are the expert in your own life. My role is not to tell you what to do, but to walk alongside you as we explore your experiences together at a pace that feels in comfortable for you.

I offer both short-term and long-term counselling online and by telephone. Some people come with a specific issue they would like support with, while others are looking for a space to better understand themselves and work through ongoing challenges. Together, we can find an approach that feels right for you.

Difficult Family Experiences.
Many people I work with have grown up in difficult, unpredictable, or emotionally challenging family environments. Some have described feeling like the family scapegoat, carrying blame, criticism, or responsibility that seemed unfairly placed upon them.

These experiences can have a lasting impact on a person’s mental health, affecting self-esteem, relationships, boundaries, and the way we see ourselves from a young age and into adulthood. Together, we can gently explore these experiences, helping you make sense of the impact they have had and develop a more compassionate relationship with yourself.

Domestic Abuse and Trauma.
This is an area I care deeply about and have experience supporting through my work within a domestic abuse charity.

You may be recovering from emotional, psychological, coercive, financial, sexual, or physical abuse. You may be left feeling confused, questioning your own experiences, struggling with self-doubt, or carrying feelings of shame and self-blame.

I work in a trauma-informed way, recognising how difficult and traumatic experiences can continue to affect your thoughts, emotions, relationships, and sense of self. Where helpful, I can offer psycho education to help you understand the effects of abuse and trauma, supporting you to rebuild confidence, self-compassion, and trust in yourself.

ADHD, Autism and Feeling Different.
I support adults who are ADHD, autistic, or exploring whether they may be neurodivergent.

Many people come to counselling feeling exhausted from masking, overwhelmed by emotions, struggling with self-criticism, anxiety, procrastination, or feeling that they do not fit expectations. As someone with lived experience of ADHD, I understand some of these challenges personally.

Counselling can provide a space to explore your experiences without judgement, helping you develop a greater understanding, acceptance, and appreciation of yourself.

My Experience.
Alongside my counselling practice, I have worked within mainstream and SEN school settings, a domestic abuse charity, and the Alzheimer's Society. These experiences have given me the opportunity to support people from a wide range of backgrounds and life experiences.

Finding the right counsellor is important. I offer a free introductory call so we can discuss what brings you to counselling and see whether we feel like a good fit. You are welcome to get in touch if you would like to arrange a conversation.

Training, qualifications & experience

  • MBACP
  • Foundation Degree in Counselling 2021
  • Counselling Tutor Certificate in Online and Telephone Counselling 2026
  • CPCAB Level 3 Cert. in Counselling Studies 2017 
  • NCFE Level 2 Cert. in Counselling Skills 2016
  • NCFE CACHE  Level 3 Cert. in Understanding Autism 2024
  • NCFE CACHE Level 2 Cert. in Principles of Dementia Care 2020
  • NCFE CACHE Level 3 Cert. in Childcare and Education 1996

I am committed to ongoing professional development and regularly engage in CPD through workshops, professional reading, training, and BACP resources to ensure my knowledge and skills remain current and relevant.

Member organisations

BACP
British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP)

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

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy
Accredited Register Scheme

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.

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy

Areas of counselling I deal with

Therapies offered

Fees

£30.00 - £40.00

Concessions offered for

  • Low income
  • OAPs
  • Trainee counsellors

Additional information

My concessionary rate is £30 per session.

When I work

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Early morning
Morning
Early afternoon
Late afternoon
Evening

Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, NE28

Type of session

Online
Phone

Types of client

Young people (13-17)
Young adults (18-24)
Adults (25-64)
Older Adults (65+)
Organisations

Key details

DBS check

In England and Wales, the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS, formerly known as CRB) carry out criminal records checks for individuals working with vulnerable groups, such as children. To find out more, visit gov.uk , or contact this professional directly

Online platforms

Microsoft Teams
Whatsapp
Zoom
FaceTime