Penny West

I'm an experienced counsellor working with depression, anxiety, relationship issues, loss trauma & life crises. Together we'll explore the challenges & difficulties you may be facing so you can go into the future with renewed confidence & motivation.

What are you looking for?

I work with adults and young people facing various difficulties : depression, anxiety, relationship issues, loss, trauma and life crises.

How I work

I am trained as Biographical Counsellor.

  In our sessions we would look at your current difficulties and the important events of your life. We would begin to make sense of what has led you to where you are now, how this is affecting you in the present and where this could take you constructively in the future. We would look at what is important to you, what is painful, what is helpful, and what you would like to be different.

The process would be guided by what you would wish to explore. Through looking at your life in this way it may become clearer to you how you can work with your challenges and find new ways to go into the future with a greater sense of well-being.

I have worked with people with a wide variety of ages and difficulties that can occur in life.

I also have a wide experience of working with young people and can offer support to parents and carers of children and young people.

My Background

In 2000 I changed direction and trained as a Biographical Counsellor. I had previously worked with and taught young people with learning disabilities and mental health problems for many years. I worked with crafts, making and teaching weaving and pottery. I am fascinated by creative processes, and counselling is a process which can create change. It requires time, care and concentration in a warm and supportive environment. This can help something different to grow and  develop in a person, and can help life feel easier and more fulfilling.

I have worked as a counsellor for the last twenty years, mainly at St Luke’s NHS Practice in Stroud, which is now St Luke’s Therapy Centre, and in other venues in Stroud.

I work with individuals, both adults of any age and young people. We can work for just a few sessions or can work longer which would give time to go into more depth. A session is sixty minutes and I find it most useful to work weekly. I offer a free thirty minute introductory session.

For more information please do contact me

I charge £45 a session and can offer concessions in some situations.

If you wish you can contact me for a conversation and further information.

St Luke's Therapy Centre has its own car park, is in easy walking distance of the centre of Stroud and is on bus routes.