About me
Hello, I’m Madeleine, an experienced BACP Accredited counsellor based in Heworth, York.
Life can feel overwhelming at times. You might be overthinking, feeling stuck or lost, or struggling with relationships or friendships. You may also be finding it hard to manage the pressures of university, work or major life changes.
Alongside my private practice, I work as a university counsellor, supporting young adults through the challenges that often come with this stage of life. This means I have extensive experience working with 18–40-year-olds, including LGBTQ+ and autistic clients. I regularly help people with anxiety, low mood, self-esteem and relationship difficulties.
Whatever has brought you here, you are very welcome.
Counselling is a space where you can focus on what matters to you. It can help you:
- Understand and manage anxiety and overthinking.
- Build self-esteem and feel more confident in yourself.
- Feel less overwhelmed and more able to cope day to day.
- Recognise your needs and have healthier relationships.
What I can offer:
Before we start: A free 15 minute conversation so see whether counselling with me feels right for you.
A space to feel truly heard, understood and accepted: You can bring whatever you want to talk about; if it is feeling of concern to you, it is important.
No judgment: Worry about being judged by others or feeling like a burden is very common. In counselling you can speak freely; I won't judge you and you won't be burdening me.
A focus on your needs: I won’t impose an agenda, talk about myself or offer unsolicited advice. If it feels helpful to you, I can share my thoughts or information.
Counselling sessions
Sessions can be weekly or fortnightly. I offer less frequent sessions to clients coming to the end of their counselling or returning clients wanting occasional support.
How long do I need to have counselling?
This varies from person to person.
Long standing difficulties can take time to understand and work through. However, even one session can bring a sense of relief from starting to talk things through.
You are welcome to have a few sessions focusing on a specific issue or see me on an ongoing basis for as long as you need.
What will the counselling sessions be like?
In your first session we will focus on what has brought you to counselling and what is feeling difficult at the moment.
In future sessions, it is usual to build on our initial conversation exploring your experiences, thoughts and feelings in more detail. We can also start to look at new ways forward with problems. You are welcome to bring new topics at any point.
What kind of counselling do you offer?
I offer person-centred counselling, a humanistic approach grounded in empathy and respect. In practice, this means you can talk about what matters to you, at your own pace, without pressure, judgment, or being told what to do.
What will this be like?
My aim is to understand you as fully as possible, so you feel genuinely heard and accepted. When we feel truly understood, we can begin to make sense of our thoughts and feelings, see things differently and explore changes that feel right for us.
Where will I have my counselling sessions?
I work from home in a quiet residential street in Heworth, York (YO31).
Sessions take place in a calm, comfortable, dedicated counselling room. This environment may help you feel more at ease than a more formal office setting. The room is on the first floor.
Getting here:
By car: Free on street parking just outside is always available.
By bus: Local bus stops for the 9, 11 and Coastliner are a 5-10 minute walk away.
By bike: You are welcome to leave your bike on my drive or in the garage.
On foot: I am a 30-45 minute walk away from the city centre, University of York and York St John University.
University student counselling in York
I offer counselling for university students in York, from undergraduates through to PhD candidates, including those currently studying, on placement, or taking a break from university.
I support students experiencing academic stress, anxiety, procrastination, perfectionism, and feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or uncertain about direction during or after university.
Sessions are flexible to fit around changing academic timetables, placements, and part-time work, with week-to-week adjustments where needed. I offer in-person counselling in a calm, confidential room in Heworth, York, away from the university campus, as well as online sessions.
LGBTQ+ counselling in York
I work with LGBTQ+ clients in York who want a supportive space to explore sexuality, gender identity, coming out, relationships, and mental health. I also work with people who prefer to see a counsellor who is part of the LGBTQ+ community; I am gay/lesbian and understand these experiences from both a personal and professional perspective.
Autism counselling in York
Many of the people I work with are autistic or exploring whether they may be autistic. Person-centred counselling can be a helpful approach, as it values your individual experience rather than expecting you to mask, adapt, or fit a certain way of communicating.
Sessions can be shaped around what helps you feel most comfortable. In our first meeting, we can talk about how you prefer to communicate, any sensory needs and anything that would make the space easier or more accessible for you.
Getting in contact
You are welcome to contact even if you are unsure about starting counselling or not quite sure what to say. A couple of lines about yourself and how you are feeling is enough.
If you are unsure whether counselling is right for you we can use the 15 minute introductory call to talk it through and see what feels helpful for you.
I am also happy to answer any questions you may have at any point.
Training, qualifications & experience
I am an accredited member of BACP - The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.
Alongside private practice, I work as a university Mental Health Practitioner (University of York, Open Door team), so I understand first-hand the pressures students and young adults face in their studies and day-to-day life.
I mainly work with younger adults (18-40s) with a focus on understanding and managing feelings of anxiety, depression and low self esteem. I also support people with a wider range of concerns including trauma, bereavement, relationship difficulties, and periods of crisis.
I have worked in universities for 12 years and have an in depth understanding of the academic, social and relationship pressures university students face.
I was a counselling tutor at York City Council for 5 years teaching on the CPCAB Level 2 and 3 courses Counselling skills and Counselling Studies courses.
I have also worked as a counsellor at Phoenix Health and Wellbeing in Leeds and as a Young Person's mentor at York Mind.
I hold a CPCAB (Counselling and Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body) Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling. I am trained in person centred counselling.
- Fully insured
- Enhanced DBS certificate
- Registered with the Information Commissioner's Office.
I undertake a minimum of 30 hours Continuing Professional Development annually, in line with my BACP accreditation.
I hold an MA and BA from the University of Sheffield.
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.
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.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Other areas of counselling I deal with
In addition to above I work with the following more specific issues:
Anxiety including panic, worry, fear, overthinking, nervousness, unease, tension, distress, spiralling, restlessness and feeling on edge.
Depression including low mood, feeling down, empty, emotional numbness, hopeless, flat, miserable, unhappy and tearful.
- Guilt
- Loss
- Low motivation
- Procrastination
- Self criticism
- Shame
- Shyness
- Self esteem and confidence issues
I work with the following student specific issues
- Academic stress
- Homesickness
- Housemate difficulties
- Long distance relationships
- Starting university
- Adjusting to university life
- Finishing university
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£40.00 - £50.00
Additional information
I have one £40 session available for clients with a limited income. This is currently taken.
Free initial 15 minute Zoom or phone call for anyone to ask any questions you have about counselling with me.
When I work
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Zoom sessions are available between 9am and 5pm
Face to face sessions are available between 10am and 5pm.
Further information
I hope you have got the information you need after reading this far, but please email me if there is anything more you need to know. More information can also be found on my website http://www.madeleinebentleycounselling.co.uk/
I work from home in Heworth, York, YO31 1EF.
My office hours are Monday-Friday 9am-5pm. During these hours I respond to all emails within 24 hours. If you don't see a reply from me, please check you spam folder.
I look forward to hearing from you.
