About me
Hello, I'm Marie, a BACP Registered Counsellor offering counselling in Basildon and Colchester, with Saturday appointments available in Colchester.
I know that reaching out for counselling can feel like a big step, particularly if you're used to managing things on your own. My aim is to offer a warm, supportive and non-judgemental space where you can talk openly about what's going on, without having to pretend that everything is okay.
Perhaps you're feeling overwhelmed, stuck, anxious or unlike yourself. You may find yourself awake at night with your mind racing, struggling with low mood or feeling exhausted from trying to keep everything together. Maybe you're dealing with bereavement, difficulties in a relationship, painful past experiences, or simply finding that life feels harder than it used to.
Sometimes we become very good at putting on a brave face, supporting everyone else and telling ourselves that we should be coping. Yet underneath, we can feel lonely, angry, frightened, disconnected or unsure of where to turn.
Counselling can give you the space to slow things down and make sense of what you're experiencing. You don't need to have everything figured out before you come to counselling, and you don't need to know exactly what's "wrong". We can start with wherever you are.
I work with adults and young people experiencing anxiety, low mood, bereavement, relationship difficulties and the effects of painful or traumatic experiences.
As an integrative counsellor, I draw on different therapeutic approaches depending on what feels most helpful for you. My work is grounded in a person-centred approach, meaning that I will listen without judgement and work at your pace. I may also draw on CBT to explore unhelpful patterns of thinking and develop ways of coping, alongside psychodynamic ideas to consider how past experiences may be influencing how you feel and relate to yourself and others today. There isn't a one-size-fits-all approach to counselling. We will work together to understand what you need and what feels right for you.
I offer face-to-face counselling in Basildon on weekdays and counselling in Colchester on Saturdays which may be particularly helpful if weekday appointments are difficult to fit around work or other commitments. I also offer online and telephone sessions.
If you're considering counselling but aren't sure whether it's right for you, I offer a free 20-minute introductory call. There's no pressure to commit — it's simply an opportunity to ask any questions, tell me a little about what you're looking for and get a sense of whether you feel comfortable working with me.
You don't have to have it all figured out to reach out. Sometimes the first step is simply saying, "I'm not okay and I need some support."
If you'd like to talk, I'd be very happy to hear from you.
Training, qualifications & experience
I am a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).
- Level 4 Diploma (Integrative) Therapeutic Counselling (CPCAB)
- Level 3 Counselling Skills (CPCAB)
- Level 2 Counselling Skills (CPCAB)
- I hold an Enhanced DBS
Professional Liability and Indemnity Insurance.
Registered with the ICO, Information Commissioner's Office.
- I have experience counselling children and young people in a secondary school environment.
- Counselling for a local CIC charity providing accessible support to individuals in the local community.
- Counselling within a performing arts college
- I am a Level 2 CPCAB counselling tutor
Member organisations
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
Alongside my counselling work, I have a background in the performing arts and experience in counselling performers and creatives. This has given me an understanding of the pressures that can come with high expectations, uncertainty, and self-doubt - experiences that many people can relate to, regardless of their profession.
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£30.00 - £50.00
Concessions offered for
Additional information
Individual Counselling (Adults) – £50
Student Counsellors Concession Rate – £30 (online) / £40 (in-person)
Further information
Working in-person at
- Basildon, Essex (town centre) Wednesday's only
- Wickford, Essex
- Colchester, Essex (Saturday's only)
and online and telephone (nationwide)
