About me
I’m Natalie, a Relationship Therapist specialising in working with parents (couples, co-parents and single parents) to improve communication; manage conflict and parenting decisions; rebuild intimacy and trust, and approach parenthood as a team.
Parentime: Relationship counselling for parents
For many parents, their relationship issues began with the arrival of their first child. As the children grow up, the issues change and evolve too. You might have noticed difficulties arising from:
- Roles and responsibilities
- Lack of sleep and independence
- Lack of time and capacity for intimacy
- Changes in sexual desire and preferences
- Differences in parenting
- Postpartum recovery and mental health
- Affairs, betrayal and other crises
These can lead to feelings of anger, irritability, loneliness, tension, fear, doubt and disconnection. You might be arguing more than ever before and worrying about the future of your family.
Alternatively, if you’re co-parents, you may want to work on communication, boundaries and managing blended families. While if you’re a single parent, you may wish to focus on recovering from separation, unhealthy relationship patterns, or starting to date again.
How I can help
I use a blend of systemic, psychodynamic, attachment, narrative and behavioural theories to help you understand the dynamics you get stuck in; where the patterns have come from; what unconscious thoughts and feelings lie beneath; and learn skills to transform your relationships.
I’ll listen with patience and warmth, while also being active and collaborative; asking questions to dig deeper and even challenging ideas when it could be useful.
My position is to encourage responsibility rather than blame, and compassion rather than shame.
Together we will work on connection, respect, trust, vulnerability, acceptance, and how you can learn to tolerate difference and discomfort.
Training, qualifications & experience
I’ve worked within NHS Talking Therapies, private sector and charity sector, providing counselling, CBT and crisis interventions. I currently work in a lead role within a charity providing wellbeing support for automotive workers.
- Level 5 Diploma in Relationship Counselling (Relate)
- Relational Life Therapy Level 1 Certificate (Relational Life Institute)
- Diploma in Psychological Therapies (Association for Psychological Therapies)
- Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies (CPCAB)
- Level 2 Certifcate in Counselling Skills (CPCAB)
- Low intensity psychological interventions in the context of long-term, persistent and distressing physical health conditions (Surrey University)
- Post Graduate Certificate in Low Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Interventions (UCL)
I also complete CPD annually in topics such as safeguarding, suicide, domestic abuse, autism, bereavement and loss.
Member organisations
COSRT is the UK’s leading membership organisation for therapists specialising in sexual and relationship issues.
All members must abide by their Code of Ethics and the performance of accredited members is regularly monitored.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Therapies offered
Fees
£60.00 - £90.00
Additional information
For individual clients:
- Daytime before 5pm - £60
- After 5pm - £65
For couples:
- Daytime before 5pm - £80
- After 5pm - £90
Further information
For couples and pairs, we’ll have an initial session with both of you, then the following two sessions will be with each of you individually. This allows space for you to clarify your perspectives separately and share anything you may not feel comfortable discussing in front of your partner.
If we’re all comfortable to continue working together, we’ll then revert to joint sessions going forwards, with the option to have individual sessions occasionally if requested.
